Turn on Fglights on their own, without low beams

[skag1T]

I am looking for a mod to be able to turn in the fog lights on their own, without the lower beam.

Lower beams are useless on a foggy day and actually mess up the whole thing, I don't understand why Toyota decided to turn on both fog and lower beams at the same time. Fog lights are supposed to be the only lights used on a foggy day, and they are supposed to be as low as possible.

Has anybody done this ? Any thoughts ?

Thanks

 

[4Regrets]

Oy...

:nono:

 

[CavPro]

Most if not all states require headlights during inclement weather. It's not just a toyota thing.

 

[samwhich]

I am looking for a mod to be able to turn in the fog lights on their own, without the lower beam.

Lower beams are useless on a foggy day and actually mess up the whole thing, I don't understand why Toyota decided to turn on both fog and lower beams at the same time. Fog lights are supposed to be the only lights used on a foggy day, and they are supposed to be as low as possible.

Has anybody done this ? Any thoughts ?

Thanks

Yes

ANTMAN'S Thread - Page 2 - Toyota 4Runner Forum - Largest 4Runner Forum

 

[MossJenks]

As mentioned, it's a federal law - all manufacturers have them setup exactly the same way for vehicles sold in North America.

I don't know about the "on a foggy day" part. In light fog it's fine having the low beams on and makes you more visible to others. But in thick fog and really heavy snow the OP is right - the low beams being on ruin it and make the fog lights pretty much useless other than increasing the width of illumination. The original idea with fog lights were to mount a wide beam light down low where it would hopefully be under the fog and not bounce back in your eyes. The best ones have always been yellow for increased contrast and decreased glare. These days because of the federal regs fog lights are mostly just for show. And I guess it's a good regulation - your average person is a moron who would invariably use the fog lights incorrectly. Run the fogs on clear nights to "look cool" and run the headlights in the fog because "it's hard to see in the fog so more light is better". You just have to look around and see how many people put blue bulbs or blue tint on their fog lights.

 

[Friggin Idiot]

I've been planning on doing [MENTION=65614]Antman[/MENTION]'s Mod. It may be federal law but I've certainly encountered conditions where having the headlights on is more of an impairment to vision than having them off. On the other hand if DC can legislate the weather so that I never encounter that again, I'll be happy not to go digging into the dashboard.

 

[MossJenks]

I've been planning on doing [MENTION=65614]Antman[/MENTION]'s Mod. It may be federal law but I've certainly encountered conditions where having the headlights on is more of an impairment to vision than having them off. On the other hand if DC can legislate the weather so that I never encounter that again, I'll be happy not to go digging into the dashboard.

It's federal law that a vehicle sold as new have the fog lights set to only come on with the low beams. However, the modification and use of lighting equipment are covered under state rather than federal law.

 

[kenwilliams0803]

It's federal law that a vehicle sold as new have the fog lights set to only come on with the low beams. However, the modification and use of lighting equipment are covered under state rather than federal law.

So when did this happen? My 2012 JK runs them independently and I see others do it too. Wiring has never been touched for lights at least.

 

[tjnptel1]

It's federal law that a vehicle sold as new have the fog lights set to only come on with the low beams. However, the modification and use of lighting equipment are covered under state rather than federal law.

if that's the case, how are german cars able to turn on fog lights with just parking lights on. I was able to do that in the MB and BMW.

 

[skag1T]

Yes

ANTMAN'S Thread - Page 2 - Toyota 4Runner Forum - Largest 4Runner Forum

Awesome, thank you samwhich.

 

[skag1T]

As mentioned, it's a federal law - all manufacturers have them setup exactly the same way for vehicles sold in North America.

I don't know about the "on a foggy day" part. In light fog it's fine having the low beams on and makes you more visible to others. But in thick fog and really heavy snow the OP is right - the low beams being on ruin it and make the fog lights pretty much useless other than increasing the width of illumination. The original idea with fog lights were to mount a wide beam light down low where it would hopefully be under the fog and not bounce back in your eyes. The best ones have always been yellow for increased contrast and decreased glare. These days because of the federal regs fog lights are mostly just for show. And I guess it's a good regulation - your average person is a moron who would invariably use the fog lights incorrectly. Run the fogs on clear nights to "look cool" and run the headlights in the fog because "it's hard to see in the fog so more light is better". You just have to look around and see how many people put blue bulbs or blue tint on their fog lights.

That's exactly my point, if you really had heavy fog, the low beams will blind you. Wasn't aware of the "federal law". Seems like cars are build for retards nowadays ... too bad.

 

[Crikeymike]

That's exactly my point, if you really had heavy fog, the low beams will blind you.

Especially if they're LED or HID with that brighter white colored light.

When I lived in the PNW, I had dichroic lens fog lights wired in separately specifically for fog and snow driving, and those were the best. They were on a different vehicle than I have now though.

 

[skag1T]

Crikeymike, I am thinking the same thing, after looking at that mod - it is very involved.

Thank you everybody for the feedback.

 

[SnowYeti]

I run mine through my Switch Pros, plus I can now adjust the intensity.

Our Jeep JK turn on with running lights only, factory.

 

[BigCountryT4R]

Most if not all states require headlights during inclement weather. It's not just a toyota thing.

Many cars came from the factory that would allow you to turn on the fogs with parking lights. Mostly GM vehicles from the late 90s-2000s when they had fogs.

 

[BigCountryT4R]

As mentioned, it's a federal law - all manufacturers have them setup exactly the same way for vehicles sold in North America.

I don't know about the "on a foggy day" part. In light fog it's fine having the low beams on and makes you more visible to others. But in thick fog and really heavy snow the OP is right - the low beams being on ruin it and make the fog lights pretty much useless other than increasing the width of illumination. The original idea with fog lights were to mount a wide beam light down low where it would hopefully be under the fog and not bounce back in your eyes. The best ones have always been yellow for increased contrast and decreased glare. These days because of the federal regs fog lights are mostly just for show. And I guess it's a good regulation - your average person is a moron who would invariably use the fog lights incorrectly. Run the fogs on clear nights to "look cool" and run the headlights in the fog because "it's hard to see in the fog so more light is better". You just have to look around and see how many people put blue bulbs or blue tint on their fog lights.

It's not a federal law to be allowed to run fogs with your parking lights. Like I previously mentioned, cars are sold this way from some manufactures especially GM cars. Some states do require you to run your fogs only with your headlights. It is state by state restrictions but not a federal law.

 

[Backwood]

My 2017 Tacoma would let you run the fog lights with just the DRL... No low beams and No mod needed.

 

[Hammeredsole]

I've been planning on doing [MENTION=65614]Antman[/MENTION]'s Mod. It may be federal law but I've certainly encountered conditions where having the headlights on is more of an impairment to vision than having them off. On the other hand if DC can legislate the weather so that I never encounter that again, I'll be happy not to go digging into the dashboard.

Lol, not to mention you're not going to find federal agents looking for someone with their headlights off while the fogs are on.

 

[IndyFastlane]

My 2017 Tacoma would let you run the fog lights with just the DRL... No low beams and No mod needed.

Yes. This 4runner is actually the first vehicle I’ve ever owned that would not allow the fogs to come on with only the parking lights.

I don’t necessarily want to go driving around with them running that way, but that setup is useful in some situations.....for instance when we pull into a campground after dark...fogs give enough low light for us to navigate to our spot safely without lighting up the whole place without low beams.