MY05OBW - Converting RHS reversing light to fog light

Barry

Barry

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Joined
Aug 20, 2009
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1,775
Location
Melbourne, Vic.
Has anyone converted one of the reversing lights to a fog light?Have been thinking about this for some time.
It would look great having a BRIGHT red globe illuminate the clear glass. :cool:
Ridiculous IMHO that a vehicle suited to driving remote roads in atrocious conditions doesn't have a rear fog light - something that even Hyundai had on the base model Excel about 20 years ago!
(And, unlike Excel 'steering wheel attendants' :lildevil: OB drivers have the intelligence to NOT use rear fog light on urban roads in clear weather, so as to "blind" following drivers! :twisted:)
Any ideas or traps?

Is it legal?
 
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You'll probably find the circuits are there but not used for Oz. My MY'97 OB had an extra set of tail lights in the tail gate; I just wired them up to the brake circuit to give more warning.
 
Kevin said:
You'll probably find the circuits are there but not used for Oz. My MY'97 OB had an extra set of tail lights in the tail gate; I just wired them up to the brake circuit to give more warning.
Click to expand...

Good point Kevin,
The manual shows the fog lights on euro spec. OBWs, and the switch locations are just blanked off. Will have a look :ebiggrin:
 
I believe that you really don't need rear fog lights in Australia - we do not have the thick kind of fog that lasts a long time like it does in europe. You mention no-brainer excel drivers that drive around with their ultra bright rear fog lights on in clear weather, I have seen any Land Rover drivers doing the same thing and I'd put my money on it that you'll find yourself doing the same thing if you create this rear fog light..

I really believe that rear fog lights (and factory front low fog lights on the spoiler) should be banned in Australia as they are not needed with our weather conditions. The use of the low front fog lights at all times that the headlights are used is not the intention or true function of these lights and as a result are being used incorrectly by the majority of road users. These lights should turn off with the low beam light use, then back on with the high beams like a set of driving lights...

Sorry for the rant, but its something that drives me nuts - that and those who think its ok to drive along the freeway with their high beams on regardless of on-coming traffic...

Personally, this is one thing that I cannot see the point of working towards.

Cheers

Bennie
 
The old ORS forum had a thread on wiring these up for Gen 3's - ahh might have been Eden or the bloke who owns the white lifted H6 with sxt bar, roof tray, etc etc (cant remember name clearly).

Not sure about the Gen 4's but there is a good chance the wells are already there... may just need to fit connectors and wire them up... rip that rear gate liner off and have a looksy
 
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I agree with you Bennie regarding abuse of front fogs as 'driving' lights. However, would be nice to have the rear 'just in case'. Will use a 'light up' button switch on the dash, so I dont forget.

As a public service I will also be able to pull in front of those dumb Excell drivers and flash them, to remind them to turn theirs off!
 
yeah i wired mine to come on with the brakes. i had to buy an extra lamp holder and drill out a hole on the left hand side.
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i just wired them higher break lt on the tail gate
as for the excell i'm pretty sure they came on with the head lights.
 
Hello Barry

I am going to mount a compact pair of 55 watt driving lights under the part that sticks out over the licences plate. I will mount them next the the lights that light up the plate and wire them to there own switch. This will give off a lot of light, and tail lights wont have to be modified.

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Nate
 
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Hi Nate,

I'm trying to remember if the rear of your model Legacy has lenses in the tail gate.

One of the reasons I'm thinking of the conversion is that there is nothing external to get damaged / stolen.

However, yours sounds like an equally elegant solution. Are there red lenses available for them?
 
I dont know if red lenses are out there for them. On my Leggy all of the red lenses have break lights in them factory. I dont under stand why Subaru has not given equal and better lighting for the places the like there cars to drive.:biggrin:

Yes the plate is in the tail gate!
The 4 red ones along the top are break lights, the bottom are just reflectors, amber is turn the back up lights suck!
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Nate
 
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A strip of LEDs inside the 'garnish' [i.e. Red plastic name plate on the trunk lid] would make a fantastic rear fog light! :lildevil:
 
I always wanted that name plate lit so SUBARU would stand out! :raz:

I wander if anybody has done any thing with that?


Nate
 
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Circuit for rear fog light mod.

OK, here is how I want my rear fog light circuit to operate:

  1. Take power from the front fog light circuit (so the rear can only be turned on when the front fog lights are on).
  2. Utilise a 'triple pole' (?) switch (so the rear fog light defaults to off, even if the front fogs are on until turned 'on').
  3. Ensure the 'stop light setting' of the fog light is always active when the rear fog light is on (as it would if the stop light was permanently 'on').
I intend using a 'missile switch' cover with either:

  • A small toggle switch, or
  • A small illuminated 'button' switch under the missile 'hood'.
(Jaycar have a very nice grey/steel fleck coloured carbon fibre 'missile switch' cover. Would look very understated on the dash. :cool: )
 
I had a missile button in a car when I was a teen. but It was used to fire large bottle rockets. :lildevil: That was to much fun and stupid:raspberry:



Nate
 
Switching for rear fog light.

Barry said:
OK, ...
I intend using a 'missile switch' cover with either:

  • A small toggle switch, or
  • A small illuminated 'button' switch under the missile 'hood'.
(Jaycar have a very nice grey/steel fleck coloured carbon fibre 'missile switch' cover. Would look very understated on the dash. :cool: )
Click to expand...

Mr Turbo,

This post of yours, below, is pretty much what I want to do.
mr turbo said:
I put a rocket/missile switch cover on my fan cut out/kill switch today. :)

I did this because there was a small incident on our recent trip where I bumped the switch, that turned off the fans, & caused my engine to overheat. :redface: :furious:
Something I most defiantly don't want to happen again. :shake:

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Regards
Mr Turbo
Click to expand...

However, because this circuit is for the thermo fans, I presume that the circuit is 'off' with the switch in the up position, and with that with the cover (and therefore the switch) 'down' the circuit is permanently 'on', for the fans to operate.

For the fog lights I would need the opposite:
Cover and switch UP = rear fog ON,
Cover and switch DOWN = rear fog OFF (i.e. 'Natural' position = OFF)

Does this make sense?
 
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My fan switch works this way.

Cover up & switch up = Fan is turned off

Cover down & switch down = Fan operates normally

Hopefully this makes sense.

Regards
Mr Turbo
 
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