Rear left fog light doesn't seem to be on - is that normal?

[michaelC]

Hello everyone, should be a quick question:
When I twist the left stalk so the rear fog light indicator comes on, I notice that only the rear DRIVER side fog light seems to come on.  Nothing on the left passenger side (both sides have the brake lights on ok)

Am I right then in thinking that I need to get that fixed, before going in for an MOT test due 29 Oct 2022?

Or is there some weird logic to have only the rear driver side lighting up the fog light??

Cheers!

[ianhj]

Unfortunately it's penny pinching by nearly every manufacturer Honda included.

Legally and for type approval they only need to fit the one and that depends on whether it is for right or left hand drive markets. So we only get one on the RHS.

There's nothing wrong with your car and it won't fail its MOT for only having one fog light.

 

[Jocko]

I had the same on my Volvo S40 but I discovered that the holder and wiring were there. All I had to do was knock out the plastic cover over the holder and fit a bulb. I wonder if the Jazz is similar.

[embee]

Quite often cars will have a fog light one side and a reversing light the other side using the same section of the tail light assembly.
As said by ianhj the regs don't require a fog light both sides, and when you think about it then it's really not any advantage. The one is bright enough to warn drivers aproaching from the rear in fog that there is something up ahead, and by the time they get a bit closer the two tail lights will be visible unless the fog is so thick you could knit it.
Penny pinching or cost effectiveness? You decide. If they fitted more lights we'd only end up paying for them.

[michaelC]

Thank you all for your sage advice and experiences! That’s really helped assure me a lot!!! 

[TnTkr]

In some countries it has been prohibited to have rear fog light on both sides. Reasoning was that it can be mixed with or reduce the visibility of the break lights.

[guest9236]

In some countries it has been prohibited to have rear fog light on both sides. Reasoning was that it can be mixed with or reduce the visibility of the break lights.

That is an interesting point  it also makes good sense.



 



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[Jocko]

The fog lights have to be a certain distance from the brake lights to prevent confusion. I remember having to check the regs when I fitted auxiliary rear fog lights to a car that didn't have them as standard (too old).

[TnTkr]

Yes, according to UNECE Regulation No 48 6.11.9 the distance between the rear fog-lamp and each stop-lamp shall be greater than 100 mm. And if there is just one rear fog light, it has to be either on driver's side or on centreline.

[Kremmen]

2 rear fog lights were a useful tailgater deterrent 

[TnTkr]

One rear fog light does the job as well.

I get really annoyed to drivers keeping the rear fog light on when there is a line of cars or even jam on road. In such situations I'd wish I had an aircraft landing light mounted on top of the dashboard.

[Jocko]

I only ever put on my rear fog light when I am alone or the last car in a line. As soon as someone comes up behind me I switch it off. However, if the guy behind me has his front fog lights on then it must be really foggy so I leave it on or even switch it on!

[ColinS]

I only ever put on my rear fog light when I am alone or the last car in a line. As soon as someone comes up behind me I switch it off. However, if the guy behind me has his front fog lights on then it must be really foggy so I leave it on or even switch it on!

We obviously have the same mentality as that is exactly what I do. And with the guy behind having his front fog lights on, I switch my rear fog light on even if there is absolutely no fog about, just to remind him that he has forgotten to switch them off .

[TnTkr]

Unfortunately front fog lights are pretty unannoying if there is a traffic jam and you cannot see the fog lights from mirrors. 

[aphybrid]

If the wiring is there then just put in bulb if you want a visually well balanced set of lights at rear