New Elantra fog light question

[nothermark]

Just curious - i got my new toy and it does not have the fog lights.
how hard would it be to put them in? Different/missing bracketry or
just buy the parts, snap in, and connect the harness?

nothermark

(Burning music cd to try that next)

 

[hyundaitech]

I'd first check to see if there are even connectors there. The wire
harness may well be different. You'll need a new headlamp switch to be
compatible with the fog lamps. Again, proper wiring may not be present
there, either.

 

[BAin]

you could put a relay under the hood wire to the parking lamps. then wire
the fog lamps to it.

 

[nothermark]

you could put a relay under the hood wire to the parking lamps. then wire
the fog lamps to it.

I know how to add them. What I was wondering was how hard it would be
to add them using the factory wiring. Hyundaitech answered that for
me in that he indicated thre is a different switch and possibly
harness. That tells me I can plan on adding some aftermarket
components if I want to add more lights. I am thinking of driving and
fog lights that give more than "road presence".

 

[Brian Nystrom]

I am thinking of driving and
fog lights that give more than "road presence".

I hope you're not saying that you're one of those inconsiderate types
who think that driving with fog lights on all the time is a good idea.
One man's "road presense" is another's "major eye irritant". For the
record, auxilliary lights (fog or driving) should ONLY be used when the
conditions warrant. Not only is that the considerate thing to do, it's
the law in most states.

 

[Swingman]

One man's "road presense" is another's "major eye irritant". For the

record, auxilliary lights (fog or driving) should ONLY be used when the
conditions warrant. Not only is that the considerate thing to do, it's the
law in most states.

Can you say more about what conditions warrant the use of auxilliary lights?
It seems like folks with four-light setups drive with them all on as a
matter of course. Also, why do you consider the extra lights a major eye
irritant, assuming of course that they are placed below the regular
headlights and properly aimed?

 

[Brian Nystrom]

Can you say more about what conditions warrant the use of auxilliary lights?

Fog lights, by by DOT regulation, are supposed to be wired to the low
beams so that they can only come on when the low beams are on. They're
useful in fog, rain and snow. I have occasionally used them on very
twisty and lightly travelled back roads where they help to illuminate
the road edges. Otherwise, they should not be used in clear conditions,
since they serve no purpose.

Not many cars have auxilliary driving lights, which are essentially
"super-high-beams" that provide improved long distance visibility. By
DOT regulation, they have to be wired to the high beams. As with high
beams, they should only be used in open areas under clear conditions,
when there is no oncoming traffic. The improved performance of modern
high-beam headlights have made driving lights essentially superfluous
other than for off-road use.

It seems like folks with four-light setups drive with them all on as a
matter of course.

Why? What possible purpose could it serve under clear conditions on
typical roads? All it does is blind and/or annoy other drivers without
providing any benefit to any one. It's pointless.

Also, why do you consider the extra lights a major eye
irritant, assuming of course that they are placed below the regular
headlights and properly aimed?

Do you actually drive a car? If so, the answer should be obvious.
Unnecessary use of fog lights is irritating to other drivers and it's
just plain inconsiderate. Although proper aiming helps, bright lights
are still bright lights.

 

[Swingman]

Fog lights, by by DOT regulation, are supposed to be wired to the low
beams so that they can only come on when the low beams are on. They're
useful in fog, rain and snow. I have occasionally used them on very twisty
and lightly travelled back roads where they help to illuminate the road
edges. Otherwise, they should not be used in clear conditions, since they
serve no purpose.

Not many cars have auxilliary driving lights, which are essentially
"super-high-beams" that provide improved long distance visibility. By DOT
regulation, they have to be wired to the high beams. As with high beams,
they should only be used in open areas under clear conditions, when there
is no oncoming traffic. The improved performance of modern high-beam
headlights have made driving lights essentially superfluous other than for
off-road use.


Why? What possible purpose could it serve under clear conditions on
typical roads? All it does is blind and/or annoy other drivers without
providing any benefit to any one. It's pointless.


Do you actually drive a car? If so, the answer should be obvious.
Unnecessary use of fog lights is irritating to other drivers and it's just
plain inconsiderate. Although proper aiming helps, bright lights are still
bright lights.

Thanks for the details. Yes, I drive and understand how irritating the
lights of other vehicles can be. It seems to me there are multiple causes
for that though, such as incorrect aiming, no apparent standard for headlamp
height above the ground, and driving with the highbeams on. I just wondered
how much of a problem extra driving lights (wired to the low-beams) present
to others?

Regarding Hyundai factory installed driving lights, are the extra lights on
the Elantra GT wired to the low-beams?

 

[Pete & Cindy]

Thanks for the details. Yes, I drive and understand how irritating the
lights of other vehicles can be. It seems to me there are multiple causes
for that though, such as incorrect aiming, no apparent standard for
headlamp height above the ground, and driving with the highbeams on. I
just wondered how much of a problem extra driving lights (wired to the
low-beams) present to others?

Regarding Hyundai factory installed driving lights, are the extra lights
on the Elantra GT wired to the low-beams?

Yes they are wired to the low beams and will go off when you flip yer lights
to high beam....

Pete...

 

[Brian Nystrom]

Yes they are wired to the low beams and will go off when you flip yer lights
to high beam....

Pete...

Pete's correct. The auxilliary lights on Hyundai vehicles are fog
lights, not driving lights and are wired appropriately.

Your response raises an interesting question. I wonder if the reason
that many people leave their fog lights on all the time is that they
confuse them with "daytime driving lights" that are common on many cars
and assume that they should leave them on? Unfortunately, the
terminology of automotive lighting is somewhat ambiguous and confusing
if you don't know the precise definitions of the various types of lights.

 

[Swingman]

Pete's correct. The auxilliary lights on Hyundai vehicles are fog lights,
not driving lights and are wired appropriately.

Your response raises an interesting question. I wonder if the reason that
many people leave their fog lights on all the time is that they confuse
them with "daytime driving lights" that are common on many cars and assume
that they should leave them on? Unfortunately, the terminology of
automotive lighting is somewhat ambiguous and confusing if you don't know
the precise definitions of the various types of lights.

I think you're right. I've been driving for many years (carried a
commerical license for a time), and never learned the
definitions/differences between "driving", "auxilliary", and "fog" lights.

 

[Brian Nystrom]

I think you're right. I've been driving for many years (carried a
commerical license for a time), and never learned the
definitions/differences between "driving", "auxilliary", and "fog" lights.

Just to be clear "auxilliary" refers to any lights that are added to the
car, be it fogs, driving lights or something else.