Rear fog light

One of the (many) jobs I need to do to make my car legal :oops: is to fit a rear fog light. Having taken the girder off the back I've nowhere to fix one, so am looking for alternatives.

Does anyone know (Tiff, maybe) whether I'd get through an MoT if I converted the RH reversing light into a fog light ? If I used a red bulb I could keep the clear lens (althought does it need a red lens for MoT test ?).

Any thoughts on this ? Anyone done it, or something similar ?

Hi Chris,
did this a couple of years ago and so far not had a comment at test time. Easy mod, take rear fog wire back into the boot after disconnecting from the connector under the bumper. Then cut the reversing light wires and connect to rear fog wires remember to tape up the reversing light wires that have been cut and not used. Fit a red bulb in place of the reversing light, I used a red LED.
Hope this makes sense :roll: :roll:

Or buy my 1300 Chris - rear fog lamps not a requirement on pre 1980-ish cars!

Thanks Rob - exactly what I plan to do (LED). Good to know it works !

Jim - if you'd send me the flamin' photo's like you said you were going to I might stand half a chance ...

I sent them already! - did you not get them? Will resend...

6. Rear fog lamps
The inspection of rear fog lamps is confined to the 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.
Note: On some vehicles the front fog lamps need to be switched on before the rear fog lamp(s) will work
.
Note: A rear fog lamp is permitted to operate independently of headlamp, position lamp or ignition systems.

6. With dipped headlamps and the ignition switched on, operate the rear fog lamp switch and check that a rear fog lamp
. is fitted to the centre or offside of the vehicle

. is working, and

. does not flicker when tapped lightly by hand.

Check also that the drivers tell-tale works properly.

7. Check the presence, condition, security and operation of the switch.

6. A mandatory rear fog lamp=Reasons for failure..
a. is missing, does not emit a steady red light or emits a light other than red
b. incomplete, not in good working order or not visible from a reasonable distance
c. is insecure, obscured or not facing to
the rear
d. flickers when tapped lightly by hand e. tell-tale does not work
f. adversely affected by the operation of
any other lamp.
7. A rear fog lamp switch
a. missing
b. faulty
c. insecure
d. not able to be operated from the normal driving position.

So yes,perfectly OK for the MOT.

Excellent - thanks Tiff. Now I just have to decide whether I can live with the lack of symmetry of having only 1 reverse light !! Better than being illegal I guess !

definatly ok m8

when i used to test cars we had a local "entrepreneur" (spelling) who brought loads of jap imports in through ireland whish apparently allowed him to bypass SVA etc and all he needed was an MOT.

the two biggest probs for mot were rear fog light and emmissions.

normally we'd fit an aftermarket light and switch but on cars like the mitsi 3000gt with twin brake light bulbs each side we would convert the inner set to work as fog lights and by chance i was able to get a local ministry official to check them over and it was fine.

p.s. dont ask how the emmisions were solved

Imports just get a non cat test regardless of age don't they? If they are not on the Vosa database,they get the earlier test by default. We hava a local garage which specialises in Subaru's,Bongo's etc,and never had any probs.

Yep my bumperless beastie has had the RHS reversing light converted to a fog for the last 5 years, never any comment from the MOT man. I don't know why Fiat didn't do this in the first place!

It does get pretty hot with a 21W bulb on constantly tho, but nothing's melted. I've got a spare casing just in case...

Hi Chris - Think you know my 'bad' X1/9. - It's an 86 so requires a foglight like yours. I simply put it behind the grill above the exhaust (with some reflective sheet around it). For the sake of drilling a hole its a pretty way around it. It's passed the MOT for years and works everytime.
I'll probably be moving it soon as my elise S2 exhaust will be taking it's place.