UK Galant Estate rear lights vs Legnum

[bernmc]

Plodding home on the M6 carpark tonight, and noticed a rare Galant Estate (GLS). Couldn't help noticing that only the edge rear lights were lit - the centre two weren't. Pic of my car below, and you can see that all four of my leggie's rear lights are lit (not braking).

Is this the same for all UK vs Jap estates?

If so, when do the centre lights on the uk cars come on?

[Paul Beazer]

I think im right in saying the two in the middle are the fog lights on uk cars. Bern, you havent left yours on by mistake??

[I-S]

The centre lights are foglights only on uk cars. The outer lights are dual-filament stop/tail.

I believe on JDM cars that both inner and outer were dual-filament stop/tail? The better SVA conversions use the inner ones as the UK foglights (like UK cars) to save on hacking up bumpers or one of those annoying dangly foglights.

[bernmc]

No, my foglights aren't on - when they are, the offside rear inner light is much brighter. AFIK, all four function as stop/tail as Isaac says.

Incidently, using the inners as fogs won't pass the SVA - the test is very specific about the specs of foglights. However the MOT is a lot less strict, so after the SVA, the bumber fog can be removed and fog changed to one of the inner rears - like mine has.

[I-S]

Yes it will pass SVA with the inners as fogs because the lenses carry the required marking (which is the same as the uk car lens, which passed type approval, let alone SVA).

[Paul Beazer]

Its crazy, a car wil pass an MOT, but not an SVA because of the foglights?! WHY?

[bernmc]

Yes it will pass SVA with the inners as fogs because the lenses carry the required marking (which is the same as the uk car lens, which passed type approval, let alone SVA).

No it won't - I asked about this when my car was being prepped because I didn't want the dangly bit on the bumper. May not be the lenses - may be something like the wiring loom or similar, or simply that the rule book says 'must have a fog added', but the car had to have the bumber fog to pass the SVA. Once that was done, they took the thing off, and wired the fog into the door lense.

MOT rules are much less stringent than the SVA rules.

[Kieran]

Its crazy, a car wil pass an MOT, but not an SVA because of the foglights?! WHY?

Quite simple Paul.

The MOT was written by a group of mechanics.

The SVA was drafted by a government comittie of pinko, lefty, tree hugging, minority, bunny cuddling, carrot chomping, muslei purveying, hippy, commie, greenpeace supporters. Or something.

[Paul Beazer]

Kieran,

CHILL MAN!

[Kieran]

Kieran,

CHILL MAN!

[zedy1]

the fog has a diffrent refelecter/angle behind the lense

[Josh2xsv]

In case ya cared... Im in NZ and my VR4 has the double filament bulbs in far outside lights and only brake bulbs on inside (door panel) lights.
Is quite nice - fairly low profile with just the outties lit usually...
Also worked a treat for the inside (brake only) when I thought I'd do this:

[Gly]

how did you do that..
doz the center lkight glow red or clear??? (being the reverse light and all)

[Josh2xsv]

Umm... Reverse lights still white - just covered the lights with a good paint matchin vinyl...

[ANTHONY]

pinko, lefty, tree hugging, minority, bunny cuddling, carrot chomping, muslei purveying, hippy, commie, greenpeace supporters.

i think there must be somebody u missed

[jaimz]

I've done some friggin' with my rear bulbs too, but only out of necessity.

The tail light filiaments (i.e. not braking) blew on my outer right and inner left lights, so I just swapped the bulbs around so now both outer tail lights show, and all four come on when braking. At least it's symmetrical now!

I guess the Legnums are more susceptible to blown bulbs because of the jarring they get when you close the tailgate..?

Not sure if it'll be cool for a warrant, but I guess the mechanic would have to already know the rear light configuration to suspect something's up...

[Nick Mann]

No, my foglights aren't on - when they are, the offside rear inner light is much brighter.

So one of your tail lights also does brake and foglight functions? How did you do that? I thought it was a good idea, but surely adding a supply to one brake light will add a supply to all, so turning a foglight on will effectively operate all the brake lights too? I think that leaving one or two of the five brakelights on as fogs in the fog, but being able to use them as brakelights too would be cock on!

I guess you could do it with a 3 pole switch. Wire the brakelight feed to one side and the foglight feed feed to the other. That way you are switching between them. Or use a relay to do the same thing.

Excuse me whilst I talk out loud and answer my own quetions!!