Tell me about fog lights

[LavaRand]

I bought a Toyota Sienna and found out that the LE package doesn't come with fog lights...just plastic punch-outs in the bumper.

This is odd to be me because if fog lights are important, it doesn't seem like something that you should have to pay extra for...you don't have to pay for the deluxe trim level to get elevated brake lights or backup lights after all.

So if fog lights are optional, what are they for? I can easily add them back into my van because the parts are compatible, but what am I missing?

I use this van a lot for ski trips in the snow; are fog lights good or important for that kind of driving? Is it a problem to have the fog lamps on when there's oncoming traffic or are you supposed to turn them off to avoid blinding other drivers?

 

[FatOrangeCat]

On my 2017 Focus SEL, the factory fog lights work very well to compliment the headlights. I added the yellow tint on the lenses and winter / snow driving was improved as well.

 

[edyvw]

I bought a Toyota Sienna and found out that the LE package doesn't come with fog lights...just plastic punch-outs in the bumper.

This is odd to be me because if fog lights are important, it doesn't seem like something that you should have to pay extra for...you don't have to pay for the deluxe trim level to get elevated brake lights or backup lights after all.

So if fog lights are optional, what are they for? I can easily add them back into my van because the parts are compatible, but what am I missing?

I use this van a lot for ski trips in the snow; are fog lights good or important for that kind of driving? Is it a problem to have the fog lamps on when there's oncoming traffic or are you supposed to turn them off to avoid blinding other drivers?

It depends on the vehicle. Is your Sienna new model or older? I had 2nd generation Sienna, and headlights were absolutely abysmal, so fog lights made a difference once I put LED bulbs in.
New Sienna has LED headlights. They are not anything special, but far better than 2nd generation. What fog lights do is help in low visibility to light up side of the road where sidewalk is or dividing line. They won't project far, just maybe 10ft, but those 10ft should be lit up good, and more to the side.

 

[LavaRand]

It's a 2013, so a 3rd generation van. Sienna is now on the 4th generation since 2021.

 

[vavavroom]

Don't worry too much about it unless you live in an area that sees a lot of fog. Most factory fog lights are not proper fog lights and are functionally more or less supplemental driving lights. On some vehicles they function automatically as curve lights when you turn the blinker on which is useful.

Proper fog lights are mounted very low below the bumper and just above the road so they can throw light under a layer of fog that hovers just above the ground. If your fog lights are more than a foot above the ground or even higher, for example integrated into the headlights, they are pretty much useless as fog lights.

 

[LenZee]

I bought a Toyota Sienna and found out that the LE package doesn't come with fog lights...just plastic punch-outs in the bumper.

This is odd to be me because if fog lights are important, it doesn't seem like something that you should have to pay extra for...you don't have to pay for the deluxe trim level to get elevated brake lights or backup lights after all.

So if fog lights are optional, what are they for? I can easily add them back into my van because the parts are compatible, but what am I missing?

I use this van a lot for ski trips in the snow; are fog lights good or important for that kind of driving? Is it a problem to have the fog lamps on when there's oncoming traffic or are you supposed to turn them off to avoid blinding other drivers?

From what I know you don't have the wiring. On ebay there are kits under $100 including everything.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1729043272...TEpKfAqRFH5tr6q6vvsDE2K5+d|tkp:Bk9SR67H56nbZA

 

[ecotourist]

The fog lights on our Volvo (it came that way, mounted in the air dam) made driving in fog or snow much easier. You get a better view of the roadside as well.

 

[Cujet]

An aftermarket set that is DOT approved and provides a truly superb beam pattern are the Rigid D-Series SAE Fog, clear. They are the best I've found after going through many options. I installed these because my wife kept hitting the garbage can because she could not see it.

I replaced my 2009 F150's OEM fog lights which were truly awful. Huge improvement. I wired them to come on with the parking lights. So pretty much anytime the headlights were on, they were on, high beam or low.

https://www.amazon.com/Rigid-Indust...lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=AOX3CBQ2HACEK

LED high beams with the fogs on. Absolutely spectacular. No dim spot directly in front of the truck that is so typical of Ford's high beams. With the low beams on, they really provide much better close up lighting without any upward light to annoy oncoming drivers.

 

[vavavroom]

With the low beams on, they really provide much better close up lighting without any upward light to annoy oncoming drivers.

Unless the road is wet, then fog lights turn the road in front of your vehicle into a blinding mirror for oncoming drivers.

 

[meep]

Great posts. I’ll second that many oem fog lights are almost decoration only. They are supposed to be wide, low, and short range. They are supposed to glow the street lines and curb immediately in front of you so you can creep along at 7mph in thick fog. I much prefer auxiliary low beams, or distance pencil beams, neither of which are easy to do well.

 

[edyvw]

It's a 2013, so a 3rd generation van. Sienna is now on the 4th generation since 2021.

You are right, 3rd gen. I forgot old one.

 

[eljefino]

Factory fog lights are dumb in fog as mentioned above, and by Daniel Stern Lighting's webpage.

However, driving in snow, particularly rutted snow, is a great application for fog lights. They throw shadows over the top texture of the snow on an angle that provides greater contrast to the driver's eyes when compared to headlight height. Amber color makes them even better. You can get the OE style kit if looks are important or wire whatever you like up yourself in the bumper knockouts if that's your plan instead. Wife's OE Prius fogs are a stupid joke.

 

[hank2]

I've owned a good number of cars that had factory fog lights in the past, but I no longer do. I found them useful a lot of times, some models more than others. Rain, snow and fog, in that order. A couple of Nissans I once owned had them properly mounted very low and slightly flayed to the sides. On one of them, I had replaced the bulbs with amber bulbs which is definitely the way to go. Many newer vehicles just treat them as driving lights.

 

[vavavroom]

I've owned a good number of cars that had factory fog lights in the past, but I no longer do. I found them useful a lot of times, some models more than others. Rain, snow and fog, in that order. A couple of Nissans I once owned had them properly mounted very low and slightly flayed to the sides. On one of them, I had replaced the bulbs with amber bulbs which is definitely the way to go. Many newer vehicles just treat them as driving lights.

That's because too many drivers have been using the fog lights as supplemental driving lights so that's what they have mostly been turned into. That still doesn't make them legal to use under general conditions but at least they do less harm compared to proper fog light under improper conditions.

 

[97prizm]

I bought a Toyota Sienna and found out that the LE package doesn't come with fog lights...just plastic punch-outs in the bumper.

This is odd to be me because if fog lights are important, it doesn't seem like something that you should have to pay extra for...you don't have to pay for the deluxe trim level to get elevated brake lights or backup lights after all.

So if fog lights are optional, what are they for? I can easily add them back into my van because the parts are compatible, but what am I missing?

I use this van a lot for ski trips in the snow; are fog lights good or important for that kind of driving? Is it a problem to have the fog lamps on when there's oncoming traffic or are you supposed to turn them off to avoid blinding other drivers?

You really want a set with DOT/ECE stamped on them. Something with an approval. Check out the drive as they did a recent review and explanation.

 

[dk1604]

On my gen 4 Subaru Legacy, I find the fog lamps help supplement the factory halogen head lights in rain and snow. They mostly light up the road immediately ahead of, and to the side of the car aiding in line visibility when rain makes them harder to see at night.

If you are considering aftermarket options, be mindful that LED lights may not run hot enough to melt snow. I learned this unexpected lesson last year when I replaced the halogen bulbs on my Legacy's fog lamps with aftermarket LEDs. While driving on the highway during a snow "event", it didn't take long for my fog lamp "ports" to get completely filled with snow rendering them useless. Needless to say, I'll be switching back to halogens for this winter.

 

[Snagglefoot]

I’ve found the stock fog lights on the GMT 900 Chevy trucks to pretty much useless. Has anyone come across a viable replacement that works well?

 

[hrv]

On my gen 4 Subaru Legacy, I find the fog lamps help supplement the factory halogen head lights in rain and snow. They mostly light up the road immediately ahead of, and to the side of the car aiding in line visibility when rain makes them harder to see at night.

If you are considering aftermarket options, be mindful that LED lights may not run hot enough to melt snow. I learned this unexpected lesson last year when I replaced the halogen bulbs on my Legacy's fog lamps with aftermarket LEDs. While driving on the highway during a snow "event", it didn't take long for my fog lamp "ports" to get completely filled with snow rendering them useless. Needless to say, I'll be switching back to halogens for this winter.

YUP they had the same issue when they went to LED on traffic lights... In the winter they would not melt the ice and snow that gets on the lens...

 

[Egg_Head]

For a minivan? You need to go for the rallye look. This is the setup and it will repel garbage cans:

Step 1:
https://a-premium.com/product/2-5-i...rget=&target_id=&ad_position=&adtype=pla_with

Step2: (Unless you can find a set of Marchal fogs with amber lens)

https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/...=bl_ast_dp_brandLogo_sto&terms=500 series fog

 

[johnmyster]

Americans don't really know how to use fog lights.

They're meant to be extremely short throw, for extremely slow driving, in extreme glare situations. They need a hard upper cutoff aimed below horizontal. Heavy fog, heavy snow. When used they are not used to compliment low beams. They are used as the only source of frontal driving lights under those conditions.

Most US vehicles have them wired to run with lows, which is problematic. Drivers like the extra light, then aim them high (into eyes of oncoming traffic) rather then as they are intended.