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YOUR RESEARCHFog Lights For 03 996
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Use fog lights alone if/when necessary
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Suggestion
Both of my "asian" vehicles have been modified so that I can use fog lights alone if/when necessary.
Leading evidence: 'Use fog lights alone if/when necessary' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Use fog lights alone if/when necessary' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Don't know if I'd go so far as to say they'd serve no purpose, but they would likely be illegal in most places. That is the same reason Porsche puts a relay in so as to prevent you from having both the low beams, high beams, and integrated fog lights on at the same time. At least in California, the motor vehicle code is written that way ("not more than 2 simultaneous beams may illuminate..." or some such legal blah-blah). There are aftermarket HID fog lamps, but nothing I've seen specifically for Porsches. It came up when I was interested in upgrading the non-HID headlights in one of our other cars since you can't legally just stuff in HID bulbs like many ricers do.
The Porsche lighting system is set up so you can have fog lights on by themselves, the mode in which they are most useful in actual foggy conditions, or with the low beams for close and low light "fill-in". Fog lights are mostly useless when the low beams are on and most certainly so with high beams. "Close in" lighting from the fog lights on simultaneoulsy with other lights, low beams, result in your eyes adjusting to the close-in light, brightness, thus reducing your forward, long range night vision.
Many modern day vehicles of asian origin do not allow for the fog lights to be on unless the low beams are on, patently stupid cirumstance IMMHO. Both of my "asian" vehicles have been modified so that I can use fog lights alone if/when necessary.
Fog light beam patterns are intentionally low and wide to see "under" the fog and reduce light backscatter from the water molecules, FOG, suspended in the air directly forward. They are also often of amber tint or color to allow our eyes to have better landscape definition in marginal light.
There was an article in Christophorus a few years ago in which the Porsche lighting chief said the fog lights on the 996 serve no purpose. He said the only reason they're included is because customers demand them.
I wish I still had the issue so I could tell you guys which one it is, but I think that puts this debate to rest. (unless there's somebody here that thinks they know more about the 996 lighting system than the guy who designs all Porsche lighting systems...
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