Fog Light Adjustment?

I was wondering if there is an adjustment for the vertical aim on the fog lights? To me they seem pointed waaay too low. I often drive some roads with very old striping that has lost all of its reflectiveness and is nearly impossible to see in the dark when it rains, or let alone be foggy. When I turn them on I can barely see any difference on the road except a little bit off to the left and right side of the car, but nothing forward enough to deem useful. It seems most of the other S550s in my area use them only to supplement the DRLs lol.

Raising them would defeat the purpose of fog lights:frusty: what you are after is auxiliary lights. Fog lights are meant to be used instead of headlights in dense fog. The actual headlights cause too much reflection of the light back to the driver causing the whiteout loss of vision.

Jay-rod427 said:

Raising them would defeat the purpose of fog lights:frusty: what you are after is auxiliary lights. Fog lights are meant to be used instead of headlights in dense fog. The actual headlights cause too much reflection of the light back to the driver causing the whiteout loss of vision.

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I understand the purpose/use of fog lights lol, and I'm not trying to raise them to a headlight level, I would just like them raised enough so that they're beneficial in poor visibility conditions. Right now they only really illuminate the front 3 or so feet of the ground directly in front of the bumper that I can't even see while sitting in the seat.

I don't use them. As for any help on a dark road they're worthless. Guessing just for the "cool" look.

My s197 had usable driving lights.

Real fog lights are typically amber not bright white.

Fog lights on most cars are just for looks and really give no assistance in fog. I have had my Mustang for almost a year and have yet to use them. As for raising them I wouldn't because then you will probably annoy the hell out of on-coming cars with more light in their eyes.

I haven't looked at mine, but they're pointed at the ground like yours. Our Explorer has an adjustment screw on the back side of the housing that will adjust them up and down. I would think these do to.

They may not help in fog but they do throw a lot more light on the road if you travel in pitch black areas like I do....and they look cool!

pmr2000 said:

They may not help in fog but they do throw a lot more light on the road if you travel in pitch black areas like I do....and they look cool!

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You must have the working ones, LOL

I drive on pitch black roads every night and mine only throw out a little side light so they just stay off.

But they do look cool.

Fog lights are supposed to be low because it reduces glare by changing the flood pattern so the light won't be bounced back at the driver.
If you want to see the signs, just turn on the high beam.
Another thing helps is reducing your dash back light when it's really dark but yes high beam can be used.

There is an adjustment knob on the light housing.
The headlights are aimed pitifully low as well. There is an adjustment screw for that as well.

Bottom left, there is a screw in there.

And here is your headlight adjuster, right on top of the housing

My fog lights automatically turn on when the headlights come on. There's gotta be a way to re-aim them.
High beams work just fine if you want to blind on-coming traffic. :lol:

Jay-rod427 said:

Raising them would defeat the purpose of fog lights:frusty: what you are after is auxiliary lights. Fog lights are meant to be used instead of headlights in dense fog. The actual headlights cause too much reflection of the light back to the driver causing the whiteout loss of vision.

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Raising them only defeats the purpose if you raise them up too high. When they're too low from the get-go, they're already defeating their own purpose by throwing most of their illumination too close to the car to be at all useful.

It may take a little experimentation to find the 'right' height.

In any case, they can and do provide good fill-in light for what the headlights don't cover as well as they perhaps should. I'd MacGyver a fix before I'd let them stay uselessly low (aka ornamentation lighting). Wouldn't be the first time.


Norm

Chef jpd said:

There is an adjustment knob on the light housing.
The headlights are aimed pitifully low as well. There is an adjustment screw for that as well.

Bottom left, there is a screw in there.

And here is your headlight adjuster, right on top of the housing

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Exactly the info I was looking for! I knew about the adjustment for the headlights but didn't wanna start taking stuff apart for a fog light adjustment if there wasn't one. Thanks! The headlights arent too bad on mine but I may try a half turn of adjustment and see what that does for them.

I went in through the wheel well to adjust my fog/driving lights. Agreed - we have very little fog, and the light pattern sucks from the factory. I adjusted mine upwards just enough to "touch" the pattern where the headlights stops. Now mine actually do something and I love them.

Cueball said:

I went in through the wheel well to adjust my fog/driving lights. Agreed - we have very little fog, and the light pattern sucks from the factory. I adjusted mine upwards just enough to "touch" the pattern where the headlights stops. Now mine actually do something and I love them.

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Do you happen to remember if it's just a Phillips screwdriver for the adjustment, or if it's a hex/torx? And did you do your adjustments with the lights shining on a wall or the lights pointed down the road?