Hello! Log in or Register   |  Help  |  Donate  |  Buy Shirts See all banner ads | Advertise on TheSamba.com  
TheSamba.com
 
Put rear fog lamp in US taillights?
Page: 1, 2, 3  Next
Forum Index -> Vanagon Share: Facebook Twitter
Reply to topic
Print View
Quick sort: Show newest posts on top | Show oldest posts on top View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
IdahoDoug
Samba Member


Joined: June 12, 2010
Posts: 10234
Location: N. Idaho
IdahoDoug is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 10:55 am    Post subject: Put rear fog lamp in US taillights? Reply with quote

Anyone successfully add a rear foglamp assembly into a US taillamp? I always have rear fogs on my vehicles and the Vanagon will get one. If I can avoid mounting an external one, I'd love to. I'm sure the european taillights have the factory rear fogs integrated, so wondering if anyone's used one as a model and found a way to add it to US models?

Thanks in advance,

DougM
_________________
1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
riceye
Samba Member


Joined: March 09, 2006
Posts: 1658
Location: Caledonia, WI
riceye is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 11:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I dug up this old thread for you:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=185350&highlight=tail+light
_________________
'87 Westy Weekender - daily driver on salt-free roads

There's gonna be some changes made.

“I find that things usually go well right up until the moment they don't.” - Ahwahnee

"Quality isn't method. It's the goal toward which the method is aimed." - Socrates, later quoted by R.M. Pirsig
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
syncrodoka
Samba Member


Joined: December 27, 2005
Posts: 11997
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
syncrodoka is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 11:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The tail light mod isn't effective.
You can put a bulb back there and wire it but the light output is minimal. The unused section lacks any focusing reflector for the light bulb so the area is dim. In addition to that the plastic lens isn't designed to let light through effectively as it is the only tail light section that is actually a reflector and not intended to let light through.
If you want a rear fog light one your best options is a stand alone unit. If you mount it to the sheetmetal to the left of the licence plate it would be out of the way and not look like a add on as much.
The Euro tail light versions do have a section for the rear fog but there are some differences that make them unable to bolted straight onto a NA spec van I have been told. I have never held one in my hand to confirm this though.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Timwhy
Samba Member


Joined: January 01, 2009
Posts: 3990
Location: Maine
Timwhy is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 12:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pretty sure that 1621 has got a fog lamp mounted on the rear of his Westy!
Looks very nice, too!
_________________
'15 Audi A3 Quattro
'09 VW Tiguan (dead)
'87 VW Westy
'91 Tin Top
'90 Cabby
What the Westy wants the Westy GETS


http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?search_author=Timwhy&show_results=summary

http://www.youtube.com/user/TIMWHY2?feature=mhee
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Facebook Gallery Classifieds Feedback
syncrodoka
Samba Member


Joined: December 27, 2005
Posts: 11997
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
syncrodoka is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 12:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Pretty sure that 1621 has got a fog lamp mounted on the rear of his Westy!
Looks very nice, too!

Groupie. Smile Post up some pictures, certainly you have some. Wink
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Timwhy
Samba Member


Joined: January 01, 2009
Posts: 3990
Location: Maine
Timwhy is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 12:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

syncrodoka wrote:
Groupie. Smile Post up some pictures, certainly you have some. Wink


Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

_________________
'15 Audi A3 Quattro
'09 VW Tiguan (dead)
'87 VW Westy
'91 Tin Top
'90 Cabby
What the Westy wants the Westy GETS


http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?search_author=Timwhy&show_results=summary

http://www.youtube.com/user/TIMWHY2?feature=mhee
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Facebook Gallery Classifieds Feedback
syncrodoka
Samba Member


Joined: December 27, 2005
Posts: 11997
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
syncrodoka is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 12:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Shocked That is pretty funny.
Stalker
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
the caveman
Samba Member


Joined: August 09, 2004
Posts: 885
Location: island state of Montreal
the caveman is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 12:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

As my Transporter came from germany it had one rear fog light which was on the L/S. The vehicles in the UK [RHD] had them on the R/S. So i got a Hella tail light socket from someone in the UK. I had to cut the back of where the bulb went into to lens, and run a wire from left to right but now i have fogs on both sides. They are twice as bright as the stock running tail lights so whenever it's real bad out or on a highway at night i switch those on also to make me more noticable.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
syncrodoka
Samba Member


Joined: December 27, 2005
Posts: 11997
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
syncrodoka is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 1:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I forgot that IdahoDoug has a EU delivered syncro. The tail light housings might be much better for a rear fog mod, possibly be already wired for it?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
a914622
Samba Member


Joined: July 29, 2004
Posts: 835
Location: Westend of HWY2 , Wash
a914622 is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 1:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

My 87 had a gray wire that is part of the rear tail light plug in the black box (upper left front of engine bay).

I used that wire to run a speed sensor for the subaru conversion. BUT I was told that the indended use was a drivers side 21w bulb between the running light and the brake light.

I did the mod like in the post above. Added extra 10w running lights. I would like to think the mod is a good one. I have seen a lot of vanagons running around with one side out and a whimppy 5w on one side.

good luck
jcl
_________________
87 gl powerd buy 2.5subaru
75 914 getting 2.2t subaru scratch that SVX subaru
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Vango Conversions
Samba Member


Joined: October 04, 2010
Posts: 1054
Location: Seattle, WA
Vango Conversions is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 1:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Are the rear fogs supposed to be red to prevent blinding drivers behind you? I'm pretty sure it's illegal to have clear lights on the back of vehicles in the US except reverse lights of course.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Timwhy
Samba Member


Joined: January 01, 2009
Posts: 3990
Location: Maine
Timwhy is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 2:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Vango Conversions wrote:
Are the rear fogs supposed to be red to prevent blinding drivers behind you? I'm pretty sure it's illegal to have clear lights on the back of vehicles in the US except reverse lights of course.


It's not the white section but rather the postion under it. I read somewhere
that the lenses in Europe are different as well from ours. That postion for the fog lamp
has a different reflective arrangement?
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

_________________
'15 Audi A3 Quattro
'09 VW Tiguan (dead)
'87 VW Westy
'91 Tin Top
'90 Cabby
What the Westy wants the Westy GETS


http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?search_author=Timwhy&show_results=summary

http://www.youtube.com/user/TIMWHY2?feature=mhee
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Facebook Gallery Classifieds Feedback
syncrodoka
Samba Member


Joined: December 27, 2005
Posts: 11997
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
syncrodoka is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 2:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Are the rear fogs supposed to be red to prevent blinding drivers behind you?

Yes, they are just to make your car more visible in bad conditions.
The 1621 pic. above shows a yellow fog light for backing up or rear lighting for camping only really.

I did the mod posted above long ago to add more rear brake lights and the improvement is minimal as shown here- even though this example is tied into the running lights you can see the difference.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


The rear fog indicator is supposed to be much brighter than the running lights to be more effective for people seeing the vehicle in heavy fog.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
VisPacem
Samba Member


Joined: July 15, 2007
Posts: 1143
Location: Las Vegas
VisPacem is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 8:12 pm    Post subject: Re: Put rear fog lamp in US taillights? Reply with quote

IdahoDoug wrote:
Anyone successfully add a rear foglamp assembly into a US taillamp? I always have rear fogs on my vehicles and the Vanagon will get one. If I can avoid mounting an external one, I'd love to. I'm sure the european taillights have the factory rear fogs integrated, so wondering if anyone's used one as a model and found a way to add it to US models?

Thanks in advance,

DougM


Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


2x55W halogen

Simple, efficient. Dancing

You could cut the sheet metal and get an "integrated " look. I did not want the extra work. I am considering replacing or trying some LEDs when and if I can find the right type in red.

They are controlled by a switch ON with front fog lights/OFF/ON with brake lights.
_________________
LG aka VisPacemPB, *The* party Pooper

No Regrets (Nothing to do with Vanagons)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
78BayDriver
Samba Member


Joined: September 27, 2007
Posts: 247

78BayDriver is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 8:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I did a mod that I had to think twice about. What I did was dremel out the plastic between the dead no bulb section, and the other. It bleeds over and look really nice. Figured I would share.

Michael
_________________
1987 Vanagon GL 2.1 Flat Stanley (present)
1991 Golf GTi Forest Green
1981 Vanagon L 1.6 Diesel
1978 BayWindow Bus
1974 Bus
1990 Jetta
1979 Dasher Wagon
1972 Beetle
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message MSN Messenger Facebook Twitter Classifieds Feedback
1621
Samba Member


Joined: May 15, 2006
Posts: 2174

1621 is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 8:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ooh, I have groupies! Razz

The light in the picture is simply a back-up light, not intended for use as a rear fog. It just happens to be originally intended as a fog light. I've since replaced the yellow lens with a clear and it serves it's purpose well.

I also did the taillight mod to the unused section, but like Syncrodoka pointed out, the lack of a reflector and the design of the lens limits the amount of visible light. While nice, certainly not an effective rear fog light.

Stephan (The 1.8T originator) has an external rear fog on his Syncro. I would think it would get bashed up if you're really into offroading, but might give you some ideas.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

_________________
'85 Westy
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
carterzest
Samba Member


Joined: January 22, 2008
Posts: 3842
Location: Eagle, ID/Sun Valley, ID
carterzest is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 8:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

1621 wrote:
Ooh, I have groupies! Razz

The light in the picture is simply a back-up light, not intended for use as a rear fog. It just happens to be originally intended as a fog light. I've since replaced the yellow lens with a clear and it serves it's purpose well.

I also did the taillight mod to the unused section, but like Syncrodoka pointed out, the lack of a reflector and the design of the lens limits the amount of visible light. While nice, certainly not an effective rear fog light.

Stephan (The 1.8T originator) has an external rear fog on his Syncro. I would think it would get bashed up if you're really into offroading, but might give you some ideas.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.
Who is the stalker now Twisted Evil Think
_________________
Happiness=Portland, Oregon in the rearview mirror!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
madspaniard
Samba Member


Joined: August 18, 2008
Posts: 3795
Location: Alameda, CA
madspaniard is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 10:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have euro spec clear taillights from Germany in my van. I didn't pay much attention to the lens and reflector when I installed them. I did notice during installation that the two lower sections from the corner were communicated as opposed to the US version, meaning light from the brake section by the corner flowed in to the center section. I used a small roll of aluminum foil to size to separate these two section. Reason: these are clear taillights so I wanted to make sure the brake red light didn't get too diffused between the two sections, I wanted a real bright red light.

I did notice other differfences in the back of the taillight but I cannot remember now, same with wiring, can't remember. I will be pulling them out soon to do 3rd brake light so I will take pics.
_________________
1991 Westy auto w/ Peloquin TBD

"The only difference between me and a madman is that I'm not mad” - Salvador Dali
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
a914622
Samba Member


Joined: July 29, 2004
Posts: 835
Location: Westend of HWY2 , Wash
a914622 is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 11:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I like the extra light out side. Reminds me of the 86-87 porsche 911.

Maybe the third brake like could be wired in to light up half when the fogs are on and full when the brakes are on?

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

_________________
87 gl powerd buy 2.5subaru
75 914 getting 2.2t subaru scratch that SVX subaru
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
BenT Syncro
Samba Member


Joined: January 07, 2005
Posts: 1085
Location: San Francisco
BenT Syncro is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Feb 20, 2011 6:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Have foglights on one taillight in my Syncro 16 Doka. IIRC there was an additional reflector on the lens. I'll have to check next time I'm by my Syncro. Not sure about the right side because it is not the original unit. It even has a totally different harness connector.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Display posts from previous:   
Reply to topic    Forum Index -> Vanagon All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time
Page: 1, 2, 3  Next
Page 1 of 3

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

About | Help! | Advertise | Donate | Premium Membership | Privacy/Terms of Use | Contact Us | Site Map
Copyright © 1996-2023, Everett Barnes. All Rights Reserved.
Not affiliated with or sponsored by Volkswagen of America | Forum powered by phpBB
Links to eBay or other vendor sites may be affiliate links where the site receives compensation.