Dimmed headlights?

[PatoriaN]

Hey guys,


Not sure if this is an issue or not, but i noticed that my headlights seemed to have dimmed for a moment (happened a couple of times in a row) when I was parking my car. I noticed it whilst the lights were shining up on the brick wall in front of me.

Is this an issue? or something else?

Also, a second question, how do you turn you lower lights (fog lights?) on whilst your main headlights are on? I turn my dial to the right for the main headlights but not sure how to have them all running.

Thanks for the help.

[ATYPIC]

Also, a second question, how do you turn you lower lights (fog lights?) on whilst your main headlights are on? I turn my dial to the right for the main headlights but not sure how to have them all running.

Just pull the dial towards you.

[MarcusAurelius]

when your headlight selector is in main headlights mode. then pull the selector out ONE click, towards you to turn your foggies on. pull it out further (a second click) and your tail foglights'll turn on

[JexL]

i think your referring to the static cornering lights. when you turn left or right the corresponding fog light also turns on. so when your parking and turning into the spot an extra light will turn on and then when your straighten up it will turn off.

[gavs]

Hey guys,


Not sure if this is an issue or not, but i noticed that my headlights seemed to have dimmed for a moment (happened a couple of times in a row) when I was parking my car. I noticed it whilst the lights were shining up on the brick wall in front of me.

Is this an issue? or something else?

Also, a second question, how do you turn you lower lights (fog lights?) on whilst your main headlights are on? I turn my dial to the right for the main headlights but not sure how to have them all running.

Thanks for the help.

Your owners manual funnily enough has a wealth of knowledge in it in regards to answering these type of questions. Does the dimming happen when you're turning your steering wheel? It's possibly your static cornering lights illuminating and then turning off.

[wai]

Also, a second question, how do you turn you lower lights (fog lights?) on whilst your main headlights are on? I turn my dial to the right for the main headlights but not sure how to have them all running.

As others have pointed out, there are ways to do this, only you also need to be aware that Australian road rules require the headlights to be off when the fog lights are on. This is mainly because there are no aiming/light pattern requirements for fog lights and if used in normal conditions can be blinding to oncoming drivers.

You might even see warning notices on freeway/motorway signs reminding drivers that it is an offence to use fog lights other than when there is fog. You can be fined for using them at other times or in conjunction with dipped headlights.

Essentially, fog lights are auxiliary headlights and so are used in place of headlights.

Driving lights are additional headlights and can be used with headlights, however if used with dipped headlights, they must be aimed and meet the light patternrequirements for dipped headlights. If they can't be aimed or meet the light pattern requirements for dipped headlights, then they must be connected so that they can only be turned on when headlights are on high beam.

[PatoriaN]

Thanks for the info guys, I appreciate the help.

I am aware of the road rules for them, just wasnt sure how to activate them when required! You can tell that I have been driving a very old car

Ill have to check the cornering and the lights, it was whilst I was parking so this is likely it. I havent seen it happpen whilst driving normally.

PS - I did check the manual, which has been very helpful, obviously I missed this believe it or not, its actually embarrassing asking that question!

[JexL]

on the topic of fog lights. what about the new passat they seem to have their yellowy fogs always on a DRLs. thats technically illegal ye?

[wai]

on the topic of fog lights. what about the new passat they seem to have their yellowy fogs always on a DRLs. thats technically illegal ye?

I don't believe that DRL's are legally required as not all new cars have them, and so they can possibly get away with it as long as they go out (which they do) when the headlights come on. As fog lamps, yellow is perfectly OK, and actually preferred as it is the blue portion of white light that scatters and causes a lot of the back glare in fog. This is also why the French have their cars with yellow headlights.

[mythik]

I think one point which has been overlooked is the fact the vehicle in question has electromechanical steering. When the car is at lower RPM levels, the steering mechanism will load the electrics causing the lights to dim slightly. This is normal.

[gavs]

I don't believe that DRL's are legally required as not all new cars have them, and so they can possibly get away with it as long as they go out (which they do) when the headlights come on. As fog lamps, yellow is perfectly OK, and actually preferred as it is the blue portion of white light that scatters and causes a lot of the back glare in fog. This is also why the French have their cars with yellow headlights.

If it is considered a DRL, then it needs to conform with the above specs that I posted. So long as it meets the temperature requirements for the light beam and the luminocity, there isn't an issue what colour it is.

Wai, you above comment is incorrect, there are specifc beam pattern, illumination and cut-off positions and light pattern changes due to dirt and sand-blast requirements in ADR 50/00 for front fog lamps. It is also illegal to drive during night hours without headlights illuminated and there is no mention in at ARR Feb 2009 editon that mentions the use of foglamps without headlights.
Mind you, driving through the mountains one night when it was super foggy, I turned my headlights off because even being HID, they just reflected off the fog, so I just had the fogs on.


Not trying to have a go at you mate, just getting the facts out there I spend many a day trawling through teh ARR and ADR manuals, just the nature of my job

[pologti18t]

I don't believe that DRL's are legally required as not all new cars have them, and so they can possibly get away with it as long as they go out (which they do) when the headlights come on. As fog lamps, yellow is perfectly OK, and actually preferred as it is the blue portion of white light that scatters and causes a lot of the back glare in fog. This is also why the French have their cars with yellow headlights.

How often have you seen yellow foglights on a new car?? France ditched selective yellow headlight requirements years ago (EU requirement).

[wai]

on the topic of fog lights. what about the new passat they seem to have their yellowy fogs always on a DRLs. thats technically illegal ye?

ADR 13/00 (Table 1) lists Daytime running lamps shall be white, so technically they do not comply. Fog lamps can be white or yellow and cornering lamps can be white or amber.

[gavs]

Daytime running lamps are referenced in ADR 13 yes, but have their own chaper specific to them in the ADRs, it's ADR 76/00 which states that a DRL must be no less than 400cd and no more than 800cd in light intensity, the light must not have an illuminating surface area of less than 40 cm squared, the light shall be white and measured by using a light source at a colour temperature of 2865 Kelvin which falls into the yellow spectrum. However, for non replaceable light sources, this falls into a test proceedure that the colour of the light must fall into a specific grouping thrichromatic range, basically draws of a table pattern, similar to a cross.

For the passat example given (just realised we are waaaaaay off topic to the OP's question here!) then the colour of the light must fall into the specified limit for yellow-ness of the light, otherwise it would not be able to be complied.

[Gladiator]

Uhh are lights meant to be on when the switch is in the 'O' position? Can't seem to drive with no lights on lol.