driving lights question

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

Originally Posted by arcascomp

Yup, mine has a non illuminated switch for the front fogs and no tell tale in the dash either - but there is a big white tell tale in front of me when I bother to look where I'm going!

like my 96 mk2 then, presume yours is and not a late mk1.

think if dipped heads on hard to tell fogs are in terms of big white up front, unless
play with dips, then off and fog on and see white blob grow around edges lol.

think some have reconfigured as spots, from main beam though theres little if any
room for adjustment of beam.

perhaps better with lower wattage bulbs as DRLs?

[R1cho]

Originally Posted by Thomas-the-Terrano2

like my 96 mk2 then, presume yours is and not a late mk1.

think if dipped heads on hard to tell fogs are in terms of big white up front, unless
play with dips, then off and fog on and see white blob grow around edges lol.

think some have reconfigured as spots, from main beam though theres little if any
room for adjustment of beam.

perhaps better with lower wattage bulbs as DRLs?

can tell if fogs are on, on my 99, if got full beam on its goes further if fogs on at same time its wider, if that make sense

[AD Ent]

Tell Tales on mine are at 110mph. Just below the 4x4 lo/hi

[Terranosaurus]

Theres a lot of misinformation in this thread.

In law there are 6 types of forward facing lamp

1. Front position lamps (these are what we call parking or side lights)
   
2. Optional front position lamps
   
3. Dipped beam headlamps
   
4. Main beam headlamps
   
5. Front Fog lamps
   
6. Optional main beam headlamps (these are what we all call driving and spot lights)

Front position lamps
It is legal to drive on only these (and the rears) lamps on a street lit 30mph road - I wouldn't advise it but it is legal
They must be lit at all times the vehicle is in motion between sunset and sunrise and in reduced visibility regardless of what other lights you are using.

Optional front position lamps
Additional marking type lights but can only be used with the above unless they are compliant with every part of the regulations in which case they could be used instead


Dipped and main beam headamps
Must be used when vehicle is in motion between sunset and sunrise and in reduced visibility regardless except as provided for by the above in street lit 30mph areas and below for fog lamps


Front fog lamps
These must be fitted no more than 1200mm from the floor
There is no requirement for a tell tale
May only be used at times of reduced visibility, at which tiimes they can be used instead of dipped or main beam headlamps, but must be used with front position lamps


Optional main beam headlamps
Very few restrictions on position of fitment (roof lights are legal for instance)
May only be used with main beam headlamps and must extinguish automatically with them.
There is no requirement for a telltale


A few extra things
All lamps used on vehicles first used after 1st April 1986 must "bear an approval marking" - ie BS marks for older lights or E marked for more recent. This includes the bulbs, and is why most HID upgrades are not legal.
There is no maximum wattage for dip/main/fog or optional lamp bulbs however very few bulbs above 55w or 55/60w for H4 bulbs are E marked and those that are are very expensive.


The above is all taken from the law - http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1.../contents/made - there have been a couple of amendments to that act since it came into force but none effect the above

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

nice one trs, longtime no see on here btw.


so applying your knowledge but slightly off thread,

any idea when hazard lights began to be fitted, and when became legal requirement.
I'm thinking 1980 ish for legal fitment may be same time as rear fogs?

[Terranosaurus]

Originally Posted by Thomas-the-Terrano2

nice one trs, longtime no see on here btw.


so applying your knowledge but slightly off thread,

any idea when hazard lights began to be fitted, and when became legal requirement.
I'm thinking 1980 ish for legal fitment may be same time as rear fogs?

hazards early 70's, rear fogs late 70s based on my knowledge of Mk1 and Mk2 escorts which were fitted with each respectively mid way through the production runs

[Terranosaurus]

Hazard Warning Lights
From MOT manual

Hazard warning devices are not required on vehicles first used before 1 April 1986, but if one is fitted it must be tested.

From the legislation

Every hazard warning signal device shall–

(a) be operated by one switch;

(b) cause all the direction indicators with which a vehicle or a combination of vehicles is equipped to flash in phase;

(c) be provided with a circuit-closed tell-tale in the form of a flashing light which may operate in conjunction with any direction indicator tell-tale; and

(d) be able to function even if the device which controls the starting and stopping of the engine is in a position which makes it impossible to start the engine.

Rear Fog Lights
From MOT manual

one rear fog lamp which is required to be fitted to the centre or offside of vehicles first used on or after 1 April 1980

from the legislation

Where two rear fog lamps are fitted to a motor vehicle first used on or after 1st April 1986 or to a trailer manufactured on or after 1st October 1985 they shall form a matched pair

In the case of a motor vehicle first used before 1st April 1980 and any other vehicle manufactured before 1st October 1979, any number may be fitted...

In the case of a motor vehicle first used on or after 1st April 1980 and any other vehicle manufactured on or after 1st October 1979, not more than two may be fitted...

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

cheers thats quite a period for hazards then from introduced to compulsory.

seem to think you could buy retro fit kits at one time. was trying to recall first
car we had with them, could be my first mk2 escort an early ex mod didnt but
my later one with square headlights did,.

interesting that front fogs dont need a tell tale, so atleast all our early r20s
are legal after all....


hey as an afterthought imagine giving one of the old semaphore indicator cars
the hazard treatment, would they both flick up or be made to go up and down!

[arcascomp]

Originally Posted by Thomas-the-Terrano2

like my 96 mk2 then, presume yours is and not a late mk1.

Mine is one of the last MK1's with the square headlights, I think it was registered in May 1996 - wouldn't be surprised if there isn't the odd bit of MK2 in there if they got short of parts in the factory!

[Lazy-Ferret]

Originally Posted by arcascomp

Mine is one of the last MK1's with the square headlights, I think it was registered in May 1996 - wouldn't be surprised if there isn't the odd bit of MK2 in there if they got short of parts in the factory!

My Wolseley 2200 Landcrab was one of those, made it nightmare when you went to get parts for it, as no matter how much logic you applied, you always got the wrong part first time. It had the older gearbox, but the newer brakes on the front, so had the older (and luckily better) Do-nuts, but the newer CV's. On the back though it had the older brakes. Luckily, the engines were assembled else where, so everything on the engine was the newer spec, except the air filter assembly.

It is amazing just how many things get changed when they do an update, even silly things, like the number of splines on the window winder handle... DOH.

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

wolseley 2200, dad got one but think sub frames rotted, it eat driver shafts.

had always had 2 litre vauxhalls, rwds, 101 and victor, got the 2200 as first fwd
but never got to tow with it, shame, wheel at each corner etc. was like a limo
after previous motors, but it went for a granada 2.0 litre, the mk1 like sweeny,

dad still says best tow car ever owned, metal brown with beige vinyl roof well 70s!