xc60 Rear Fog Light

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Foringo

Who is it that frowns on two rear fog lights?

Errr the car directly behind you, especialy if it is a low car ....

[wimorrison]

When I said earlier that it was many years since I did an investigation into vehicle lighting, it was actually 22 years ago which shows that the requirment for a single light between the centre and offside is not new

and I agree that people who drive with the rear light on thinking it makes them easier to see in conditions that don't warrant it being on are a pain in the backside - can make it ery difficult for the folloing driver - imagine if there were 2 lights!

In fact while talking of lighting I also get annoyed with people who drive with parking (side) lights on - it is impossible to see them and this is actually illegal in UK - but they are slightly better than those who drive without any lights in very poor weather. This morning in the fog I would say that 50% of driers had no lights on and many who did have lights only has side lights - and why do people drive all the time with front fog lights on (no matter what the weather?

Rant now over

[Foringo]

Originally Posted by Clan

Errr the car directly behind you, especialy if it is a low car ....

The idea is to use fog lights in poor visibility only...in which case the light level from one or two lights is attenuated by the fog or poor weather...hence the reason for using them. If they still dazzle (be it a Lotus or an HGV) it's because they are driving too close...simples! Agree that if people use their fog lights in good conditions this is a problem...but that's illegal and another matter entirely.

[Foringo]

[topcatt]

Foringo,

You are not the only one to go for the classic wood trim - I've selected it as well as I didn't fancy the tin can/Ikea alternatives. Still 3 weeks from delivery, but glad to hear that it looks good.

Regarding fog lights, MB are exactly the same: two lenses but only one with a bulb. Citroen also did this on a ZX I had years ago. I think it is a safety thing, but I agree it makes a car look cheap and nasty so I avoid using rear fogs unless it's absolutely necessary, which in a roundabout way might be what was intended !

[tem]

The XC60 that I have, has two rear fog light bulbs, installed, but only one works.

I thought, they may change over, when selecting, the headlights for right hand driving (active bending headlights), but no.
Why put a bulb on each side, when only one is selected, to work?

tem.

[Foringo]

Originally Posted by topcatt

Foringo,

You are not the only one to go for the classic wood trim - I've selected it as well as I didn't fancy the tin can/Ikea alternatives. Still 3 weeks from delivery, but glad to hear that it looks good.

Regarding fog lights, MB are exactly the same: two lenses but only one with a bulb. Citroen also did this on a ZX I had years ago. I think it is a safety thing, but I agree it makes a car look cheap and nasty so I avoid using rear fogs unless it's absolutely necessary, which in a roundabout way might be what was intended !

Hi Topcatt....yes, really getting to like the combination of colours of my new car! Barrants Blue with Soft Beige / Expresso leather which I think is really complimented by the classic wood finish...in some lights looks a bit like 'piano black' but it's real wood and a bit classier! To me the Volvo leather appears to be of a higher quality than in my previous Audi. PS I've owned two Citroens in recent years and both had twin rear fog lights....so no consistency even for the same manufacturer!

[Foringo]

Originally Posted by tem

The XC60 that I have, has two rear fog light bulbs, installed, but only one works.

I thought, they may change over, when selecting, the headlights for right hand driving (active bending headlights), but no.
Why put a bulb on each side, when only one is selected, to work?

tem.

Hi Tem...we must be on the same wavelength as I checked this very thing today when I found that the fog light looked fully functional...a bit disappointed to find it wasn't quite that sophisticated. Anyway I emailed the following message to Volvo and it will be interesting to see if I get any response. I have had my new XC60 SE LUX AWD for just over a week now and I’m very pleased with it but have a query about the functionality of the rear fog light which I find a bit difficult to understand and I wondered if you could pass this on to the appropriate person at Volvo to answer? The Owner’s Handbook states that there is only rear fog light that works and this is indeed the case but on close inspection the ‘non-working’ light on the nearside is in fact wired up and is complete with reflector and bulb. I would prefer two working fog lights but accept that Volvo probably believes that one is safer. I assume that for reasons of safety that for left hand drive markets (e.g. UK) Volvo enables the right hand fog light and vice versa for right hand drive in order that the one working fog light is on the correct side. As this car may be used on the Continent this means it won’t meet with what is accepted as safe practice in those Countries. There is facility in the menu system to change the xenon headlights from left to right hand mode and I wondered if it was possible to change the functionality of the rear fog lamps automatically when the headlights mode was changed? I assume that this is something that can be easily programmed-in and would not add any additional cost or complication to the car and would improve safety and make everything a bit more thought-out. Presumably for cars with non-xenon headlights the correct rear fog could still be programmed for left or right operation via the menu system? Another point I’m also wondering about is that in three years time when the MOT is due will the non-functioning near side fog light mean an automatic failure as I understand that all installed lights must be working…even though the car is type approved? Many Thanks

[tem]

Originally Posted by Foringo

Hi Tem...we must be on the same wavelength as I checked this very thing today when I found that the fog light looked fully functional...a bit disappointed to find it wasn't quite that sophisticated. Anyway I emailed the following message to Volvo and it will be interesting to see if I get any response. I have had my new XC60 SE LUX AWD for just over a week now and I’m very pleased with it but have a query about the functionality of the rear fog light which I find a bit difficult to understand and I wondered if you could pass this on to the appropriate person at Volvo to answer? The Owner’s Handbook states that there is only rear fog light that works and this is indeed the case but on close inspection the ‘non-working’ light on the nearside is in fact wired up and is complete with reflector and bulb. I would prefer two working fog lights but accept that Volvo probably believes that one is safer. I assume that for reasons of safety that for left hand drive markets (e.g. UK) Volvo enables the right hand fog light and vice versa for right hand drive in order that the one working fog light is on the correct side. As this car may be used on the Continent this means it won’t meet with what is accepted as safe practice in those Countries. There is facility in the menu system to change the xenon headlights from left to right hand mode and I wondered if it was possible to change the functionality of the rear fog lamps automatically when the headlights mode was changed? I assume that this is something that can be easily programmed-in and would not add any additional cost or complication to the car and would improve safety and make everything a bit more thought-out. Presumably for cars with non-xenon headlights the correct rear fog could still be programmed for left or right operation via the menu system? Another point I’m also wondering about is that in three years time when the MOT is due will the non-functioning near side fog light mean an automatic failure as I understand that all installed lights must be working…even though the car is type approved? Many Thanks

Please let everyone know, the reply that you get. Thank you.

I mailed them several months ago, regarding the same issue.

They replied :- "Volvo, after much research, think that it is safer for following drivers, if only one rear fog light is operational. (If two rear fog lights, were operational, then this could distract, when the brakes, were applied) Also, this complies, with current, European Legislation".

They did not reply, to my question, regarding changeover, with the Active Headlights, when driving in Europe.
I visit Mainland Europe, numerous times, each year and I feel, the earlier suggestion, regarding the rear fog light, being positioned, in the centre, could be, the best solution.

tem.

[wimorrison]

This link gives the appropriate page of the RVLR which may help

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1989/Uks..._16.htm#nsch11

seems clear enough to me