Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting fog lights or high beam - one or the other?!?

Hey guys...got a question for all.

Had to bring my CSVT to the shop for some electrical work. When I picked it up and was testing all the lights, I realized that my fog lights would turn off when I switch on the high beams. This doesn't hapen when I'm only "flashing" the high beams (pulling the lever towrds the steering wheel).

This can't be a normal, factory setting is it?!?

That's the way they work on my '98 SVT.

That's the way to it's working on my car , a 99 SE tour. But fog turns off when i flash hi beam too, as long as i remenber. I will double check.

Nic.

That is the way the car is designed. Somewhere in the FAQ there are instructions for easily modifying the fog light circuit so that they can be turned on anytime the park lights or headlights are on. I've never bothered with it because I don't have problem with the factory strategy.

it is my understanding that many states hav elaws saying that you can only have two forward pairs of lights on on a car. since we have seperate hi and low beams the fog need to turn off when the high beams are turned on

so yes this is how the lights should work. when you flash the lights the fogs stay on

now if you want to have the fogs on all the time or with out the headlights do the fog lamp mod

I manually installed my fog lights, the wiring diagram (Mitchell Ondemand 5) said to hook the low 12V voltage from the Dimmer switch to the switch, which goes to relay to enable relay, which turns fogs on if its on Dim, On, Highbeam

I did a wiring modification under the dash in my 98 Mystique to make the fog lights stay on whether the high beams are on or not, as long as either set of headlights are on.

I got the idea from a FAQ a few years ago that dealt with turning the fogs on with just the park lights. I have issues with doing that but I studied the wiring diagram and came up with a simple way of doing the high beam/fog light combo.

See what I mean?
(Note: Geocities sucks: http://www.geocities.com/contourkev/fog2.html )

It comes from Dimmer switch 12V to foglamp relay, to switch, to ground, complete circuit, relay turns on

Relay gets power from fuse in engine compartment, sends power to both fog lights, and fog light indicator light. I dont know how Ford originally wires it, but this setup is working fine so far....

Flashing would be fine, but you are kind of killing off the reason to have highbeams if the foggies stay on while the highs are on. With the foggies illuminating the foreground so well, your eyes become adjusted to the brightness. When your highs are on, now you have to strain to look past the bright band directly in front of the car.

And, as stated, most states do have laws saying that you can only have two lamps (fogs/lows, lows/highs) on at one time. I doubt youll get pulled over, but just so you know.

Your also adding more of a load on your alternator for a look that few will ever see.