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You don't want that... Posted by Larry West [Email]  (#1140)  [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Larry West) on Fri, 6 Sep 2013 10:42:20
In Reply to: Fog Lights and High Beams, Jimmy Rosa, Thu, 5 Sep 2013 08:34:35 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
Fog lights with high beams is almost pointless. The low, close beam of the fogs doesn't do anything for you while the high beams are on.
What you need is a good set of driving lights (Cibie, Hella) to switch on only when you have the high beams on. Much, much better than asking the fogs to do something they were not designed for.
I've gone a few routes in the past. On my 99s, I had Cibie replacement headlamps. These were the best halogen headlights I've ever used. The H4 hi/lo was perfect around town, and I never felt the need for fogs, and the H1 highs were pencil beam driving lights with a reflective range of more than a mile. Astounding, worked perfectly on all 55 watt bulbs, and no extra lights to attach.
The next best setup I had was on my 1984 900. I used the Cibie rectangular replacement lamps (H4), Hella 550FF fogs below the bumper, and Cibie Oscar+ driving lights (7" diameter, H2 bulb) above. The driving lights had a pattern that went both long and wide, so not only could I see the deer at the end of the road (again, more than a mile away), I could see the ones 100 yards off to either side of me.
For my 1986, I used the Saab E-code lights instead of the Cibie replacement headlamps. Still awesome light output.
If you don't have them, try to locate either a set of original E-code lights for your 900, or - if you have a 1986 or earlier with sealed beams - you could also look for Cibie or Hella replacement rectangular headlamps. These will vastly improve your night time vision.
Then add driving lights, or "Moose lights" as the Swedes call them. Believe me, if you live almost anyplace outside a city in Sweden, your car has two things: a trailer hitch, and a set of real driving lights mounted to the top of the bumper. Elk (älg in Swedish) or Moose are very common, and can ruin your whole day if you run into one.
Lastly, if your 900 still has the fairly pathetic Bosch Pilot fog lights, get a decent set of fogs, like the Hella 550FFs (if they still make them...).
When installing, make sure that:
o All lights still have their own switching
o Fogs only operate in the "parking lights" position or with low beams on
o Driving lights only operate with high beams on
o run power for driving lamps directly from the alternator stud, via a relay, and fuse for each bulb
DON'T overload the wiring! The built-in wiring really isn't ready to handle 100 watt bulbs. And if you're in Alaska, you really don't need more than what the original wiring can handle, since it actually gets DARK there. It's only in urban areas where adding more wattage helps any. When wiring for your own driving lights, you can wire for any wattage you like, so long as the lamp can handle the heat of the higher wattage bulb.
Adding driving lights to put light where you want it is a LOT more helpful than adding wattage to lamps that put light where you don't need it!
BTW - unless regulations require it, don't use "yellow" lights at all. Clear lights all around.
_______________________________________ Current: 2002 9-5 Aero Kombi Cosmic Blue 2000 9-5 SE sedan, Imola Red 1990 900S Rose Quartz, Auto Past: 1999 9-5 LPT Combi 1999 9-5 LPT sedan 2002 9-5 Arc 1990 900 5-speed 1986 900 turbo Convertible 1991 9000 turbo 1980 99 GLi 1986 900 turbo 1986 900 S 1991 900 turbo 1984 900 turbo 1976 99 GL
, Fri, 6 Sep 2013 10:42:20 <-- Viewing This Message
, Mon, 9 Sep 2013 10:32:53
, Thu, 5 Sep 2013 17:29:17
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