fog lights on a new 2009 Honda Accord EX

Do fog lights really work well? I never had them and forgot to check
them out when I went to the dealer. Is it worth $200+ when buying a
new Accord?

 

If you routinely drive in the fog, you would already know what they
are for. Since you have to ask, I assume you don't drive in fog and
in that case, no, they are not worth it. In fog, the low aimed beams
help you see the road with less reflection back at you off the fog
cloud.

If they are aimed correctly (down at the road, not level or up like
extra headlights) the most they will do for you in normal conditions
is highlight the occasional pot hole at night that you might have
missed with the regular headlights.

 

Thanks.
I know what they are for but having never had them, don't know how
well they work. In all my years of driving in various states, I
don't recall many cars having them.

 

Hi,
Fog lights helps when driving in foggy road. U sed to live on the shore
of lake Superior where many days are deep in fog. You drive with low
beam and fog lights on in the fog so to make yourself more visible.
Some folks seems to think they are show off or something.

 

Hi,
In England they have fog lights in the front and back of a car. Driving
with it when it is not foggy is against law. You get ticket. I don't
know if it is so yet.

 

Unless they are amber-yellow, they are worthless for driving in fog,
because the white light gets reflected back at you. They serve mainly to
irritate oncoming drivers, and to add a little extra illumination when
there *isn't* any fog. If you want real help with driving in fog, look
for aftermarket fog lights that are amber-yellow and can be switched on
and off by you.

 

Our '85 Volvo had fog lights (never used them in Phoenix) and I was
surprised to find the rear part was to light a brighter light (was it the
brake lamp filament?) on one side. Not sure what that is about, but that was
the way it was designed.

Mike

 

Unless the fog lights are aimed correctly about the only thing they do
it to light up the area directly in front of the car that the
headlights don't illuminate. Factory or dealer installed fog lights
act more as a cosmetic function than improve visibility. The reason
it is so difficult to drive in fog, it that the light is reflected
back off of the small water droplets, and even the low beams cause
this reflection. If you install them yourself, it is possible to be
able to turn them on and off independent of the main lighting and with
proper aiming they will definitely help, but if the dealer installs
them, they will be wired to come on with your headlights basically
defeating their purpose.

 

Unless the fog lights are aimed correctly about the only thing they do
it to light up the area directly in front of the car that the
headlights don't illuminate. Factory or dealer installed fog lights
act more as a cosmetic function than improve visibility. The reason
it is so difficult to drive in fog, it that the light is reflected
back off of the small water droplets, and even the low beams cause
this reflection. If you install them yourself, it is possible to be
able to turn them on and off independent of the main lighting and with
proper aiming they will definitely help, but if the dealer installs
them, they will be wired to come on with your headlights basically
defeating their purpose.

=================================================
The only time I wished I had fog lights was off-road, trying to get off a
mountain top one night. I couldn't see anything but fog when the headlights
were on and the parking lights were too dim. I had to scout on foot for
twenty feet or so at a time because I couldn't see the sides of the road.
They would have been worthless if they required the headlights to be on - I
would have had to unplug the headlights.

Mike

 

The Germans also had the bright red fog light on the rear when we were
there (courtesy of the US Army) in the 70's. In a dense fog, that
bright red light was the only thing you saw when coming up on another
car from the rear. It was also illegal there to drive with the fog
lights on when there was no fog.

 

I just want to thank all who replied here. Very helpful advice.
Thanks to all of you!!

 

Many years ago, a friend imported a 930 from Germany. It had a small
light hung at the bottom of the rear bumper on the driver's side. I
found out that it was an intensely bright tail light/brake light, that
only came on when you used the fog lights. We had one very foggy
night and I found that I could see this light approximately 100 feet
further out than his regular lights.
--

- dillon I am not invalid

Hi, I'm Michael Phelps and Olympic Gold isn't the only
Gold I'm thinking of.

Hi, I'm Michael Phelps and when I'm on Maui, Wowwie.

 

Just picked up 2009 EX-L 4 cyl Accord, wife has 2008 same had fog
lights installed on both wouldn't be without them. Really nothing to
do with fog but more with additional lighting that doesn't impede
other motorists. Where we are we have some very dark parkways through
heavily wooded type country. They are great for giving you just that
much more light close up on roadway. In rain and in fog again they do
assist with seeing road lines and shoulder better. They get $440 here
and I always do my best to get them thrown in at end of deal as deal
breaker. Figure actual cost to dealer minimal.

George in NY