Fog lights

[AznGA]

What is the true definition of fog lights? What's it's purpose? They have short and wide beam that don't even help at nights. Are they just for looks?

[Big Joe]

i always thought they helped illuminate the ground in a fog call me crazy though

[Jordon'sGrandAm]

naw fog lights are there for show. they do nothing unless you upgrade the bulb from what ppls say and there way better. but who knows.

[Dave C]

Uhhh,
The fog lights on my Grand Am don't do anything worth mentioning, but on other cars (like an Alero that I used to drive) they actually light up the road better... And the Alero had an adjustable beam so you can point them down on the road or else in peoples eyes ;)
-Dave

[AznGA]

Grand AM fogs can be adjusted too.

[Chain]

They sure work good when the road it wet. You know how you can hardly tell if your lights are on when the road it wet. With the fogs on it really lights up the road. I think I put in 80 watt bulbs.

[Gimli]

They are FOG lights, designed to give better lighting IN THE FOG! What a novel concept hey!

When fog is present having a very bright long-range light is very bad because all the light do is reflect on the fog and causes glare that reduces your vision. In that particular situation you need a light that has a pronounced angle towards the ground so the light oesn't reflect back into your eyee.

[Bouchie11982]

Originally posted by Big Joe5313
i always thought they helped illuminate the ground in a fog call me crazy though

thats what i thought also...and yet it is true :P its meant for distance and helps illuminate the driving distance for the driver to see better

[Artic]

Originally posted by Bouchie11982
helps illuminate the driving distance for the driver to see better Nope those would be called driving lights ;)

[Bouchie11982]

no no im talkign about teh fog lights...:P

[Big Joe]

this thread is crazy....FOG!!! lights they explain themselves. i cant believe people are actually arguing over this

[JoeyK]

Kinda interesting to sit back & watch thogh, eh? Glimi hit the nail right on the head.

[Chain]

LOL yeah I am sure everyone knows they are for the fog, which they do work quite nicely. But I have found that snow and wet pavement they work well also.
They will also get you a nice ticket if you have them too high using them for driving lights.

[BBT]

Yes, these are nominally 'fog' lights. In that they are set and aimed low so as to light the road wide and close to the car for fog and snow and rainy weather. The problem with these on our GAs is that they are really more of a cosmetic light installed for looks and not any real functionality. They may add a little light, but they are far from being truly effective. If you want good fog lights, get a Euopean version with higher wattage and better optics & lenses to really do the job. GM does not know how to make or specify a good lamp.

The fact that many members have installed Silver Stars attests to the ineffectiveness of the factory lighting.

As for me, I would prefer the landing lights off a Boeing 727 so that I can see WAY down the road at night.

[firecracker]

The OEM fogs I bought for my Grand Am actually throw quite a bit of light. They make a noticable improvement in visibility directly in front of and off to the sides.

[ccarr8705]

Shoot, my fog lights are brighter than my headlights when I have my headlight covers on, so I need the fog lights or I wouldnt be able to see.

[BBT]

Originally posted by ccarr8705
Shoot, my fog lights are brighter than my headlights when I have my headlight covers on, so I need the fog lights or I wouldnt be able to see.

Maybe there's a hint here. I dunno, maybe you should REMOVE the covers for night time driving? So you can actually SEE down the road? If you're using your factory fogs in order to see down the road, then you are most likely over driving your lighting system.

I have never heard of the term 'Deer in the fog lights'. :lol:

[Gimli]

Originally posted by BBT

I have never heard of the term 'Deer in the fog lights'. :lol:

Hmmm, interesting, that means that driving with only the fog lights on is a good way to avoid hitting deers!

[BBT]

I think with fog lights all anybody would see of the deer would be its feet. Followed perhaps by the deer in the front seat.

[JoeyK]

... Then you'd get bit by the deer & need a bambalance!:D Ok, ok,.. maybe not everone's heard that one.

[BBT]

Oh I've heard that and it's hilarious! I have been searching for it on the internet for a long time. Do you know where I can find it?

[syclonedave]

REAL fog lights are yellow, because that color doesn't reflect off the fog as much as whiter light & are a wide - flat pattern, close to the ground. But those haven't been around for years.

What's on most cars now a days is just for looks.

I changed out mine for some better driving lights with 80 watt H-3 lamps. Pretty bright & a good close-up light to use with the silver stars.

[BBT]

The colour really doesn't matter. It is the optics/lenses and the mounting and aiming that is of the most importance.

['01GTgirl]

well with my hella angel eyes, my fogs are brighter than my high beams. i have just the circle of the angel eyes with the driving lights, so i just turn them on when i wanna use my "high beams" other drivers love me :)

[JoeyK]

Originally posted by BBT
Oh I've heard that and it's hilarious! I have been searching for it on the internet for a long time. Do you know where I can find it?

Try a file swapping service & enter in "Bob & Tom" It was origionally recorded & ran on Q95 in Indianapolis, IN. on "The Bob & Tom" show. Funny bit & from what I remember, a true story. That's where they got the idea on the "Tommy boy" movie.

[RocketFast321]

I think they are on the a GA to make it look cool at dusk with the parking lights on. Other than that I see no other use than making the car look cool. Now my 55w driving lights now they work on dark roads.

[JoeyK]

Mine work fine as they were intended for, fog. Really, they aren't designed to light the way through the darkness like driving lights. The reflector & lense are designed for wide,low light distribution (not far, like driving lights) to be able to undercut the fog & see.

[Hondacappilla]

if ne one has ever drivin in dense fog you soon find out why you have fog lights. the help you see the ground in front of you because in dense fog if you cut on your high beams you will cut your visibility and the low beams are not aimed to help you see through the fog

[TA^Guy]

Originally posted by syclonedave
REAL fog lights are yellow, because that color doesn't reflect off the fog as much as whiter light & are a wide - flat pattern, close to the ground. But those haven't been around for years.

What's on most cars now a days is just for looks.

I changed out mine for some better driving lights with 80 watt H-3 lamps. Pretty bright & a good close-up light to use with the silver stars.
Correct.

The amber lense would make it a true 'fog' light because as stated it doesn't reflect off the fog as much. Also correct about the light pattern being low to the ground to help reduce glare and put the light where it's needed the most, on the road.

This is why alot of European automobiles and vehicles in Europe use headlights and 'fog' lights with a amber lense. I know the topic was aimed towards front mounted fog lights (no pun intended), but in many European countries rear mounted red fog lights are also a requirement. This would help other drivers to see you in dense fog conditions and help prevent a rear end collision. A few examples are the Oldsmobile Aurora and just about any Range Rover with those bright red lights in the bumper.

I also agree that the factory driving lights on most all modern automobiles is simply for looks/styling. Notice the 880 bulbs in the factory driving lights are only 27 watts. Main reason I upgraded to the 885 bulb that runs at 50 watts. And to be honest, it made a huge difference.

[cyrrus]

I always though that my fog's didn't do much. the when I got home one night. totally pitch black. I had the headlight beaming at the trees then I turned on the fogs. I noticed a big difference. I was also told that what we have aren't really fogs but flood light. It helps by adding a flood a light in the front. I do want to change mine to something much better since i mostly drive at night.

[BBT]

Originally posted by TA^Guy
...

I also agree that the factory driving lights on most all modern automobiles is simply for looks/styling. Notice the 880 bulbs in the factory driving lights are only 27 watts. Main reason I upgraded to the 885 bulb that runs at 50 watts. And to be honest, it made a huge difference.

Do you have a plastic or metal housing for your fog lights? Just wondering about heat with the higher wattage bulbs. I too would like a brighter bulb in my 95, but I worry about heat on the housing - although I hardly use my fogs now. I would though for night time driving if they were brighter.

[syclonedave]

I put some higher wattage bulbs in mine, they looked great for a few hours. Until the housings melted.

[Antalive[DM]]

i just like them. They look good on GT's

[TA^Guy]

Originally posted by BBT
Do you have a plastic or metal housing for your fog lights? Just wondering about heat with the higher wattage bulbs. I too would like a brighter bulb in my 95, but I worry about heat on the housing - although I hardly use my fogs now. I would though for night time driving if they were brighter.
Now sure what the housing is made of. But I have upgraded the 880 to a 885 in both my truck and the GA.

While doing it I found all the chrome plating in one of them on the GA nearly completely flaked off. But that was before the upgrade was done. So far no problems with melting or anything and I always have them on.

[BBT]

OK. Thanks for the info. I may try 885s in 95 GT sometime soon then. I like having extra light in ront of me. Real useable light that is. Someday, Silverstars will be in my car.