Only one rear fog lamp on 98 Passat?

**stevem999** · 05-01-2007,10:49 AM

I see that many cars have two rear fog lamps and it only seems to be particularly old or low cost cars that have one but my Passat only has one, but I wonder if it is meant to have two?

I only think this as the plastic bulb locating sheet on passenger side in the rear cluster through which you poke all the bulbs has all the electrical connections (live) for another matching bulb (there is only a fog lamp on drivers side). There is a scored line on the plastic which looks like it should/could be popped out in some way and a bulb inserted. Did someone forget this at the factory?!

**Lex Luthor** · 05-01-2007,11:04 AM

The single rear fog light is a safety feature so that it is not confused with the brake lights.

Paul Hopkinson · 05-01-2007,11:18 AM

Hi, my understanding is that the legal requirement is for 1 lamp to be fitted. The car is prepared for either right hand drive or left hand drive depending upon the country that the car was first delivered to, so the manufacturers save pennies on every car by only fitting the bulb in the side that is required.
I had an A4 (great car by the way) that also only had one bulb fitted but had two fog lamps. This also confused me, as I thought that all lights that are fitted to a vehicle had to work, and to all intents and purposes then 2 lights would seem to be fitted.
I never really gave it any thought until the car was 3 years old and needed an MOT, at which point I checked all the lights and one of the fog lights did not work (Note, I do check the lights regularly, but had never used the rear fogs in 3 years of ownership). When I removed the cover to replace the faulty bulb, then I found out that no bulb was actually fitted, and that the housing wound not accept a bulb as "it was not punched out etc"
Bye.

**Sam** · 05-01-2007,11:34 AM

Originally Posted by Lex Luthor

The single rear fog light is a safety feature so that it is not confused with the brake lights.

This man is correct, two fog lights would appear as if you were riding the brake pedal and confuse a lot of other, less well informed, drivers

Paul Hopkinson · 05-01-2007,11:58 AM

Its penny pinching no matter how you dress it up. A car fitted with two light clusters andd only one actually working is more confusing to a following driver than if only one light cluster is fitted and working. It appears as if a lamp/bulb has failed.
My old BMW in the late 80's had two fog lamps.
Also, do not forget the reversing laights., some manufacturers scimp on fitting two of these.

audi_bob · 19-01-2007,02:01 PM

I just fell foul to this problem also at my 1st MOT today. the lad at the garage tried for ages to get in to even have a look but could even manage to open up the light cluster. if anyone knows how to get in there so i knwo how toreplace the fog lamp should it ever fail, please let me know.

i think the light cluster is set up for symmetry and i think when the lights are off it looks better that way, but i dont dig the one light on look.oh well?

**stevem999** · 19-01-2007,05:18 PM

Yeah, I'm not sure about the safety aspect either - there's a massive difference between brake lights and the eye-searing fog lights. I would venture that if you get them mixed up you should perhaps stay the hell off the road!

Likewise to others, my old 1994 Ford Escort had two fog lights and two reversing lights! I have to come down on the side of those who think it's penny pinching!

Paul Hopkinson · 19-01-2007,07:36 PM

[quote=audi_bob;15007] if anyone knows how to get in there so i knwo how toreplace the fog lamp should it ever fail, please let me know.
quote]

Hi, I seem to remember that there were "two clips" to sort of prise out, that then allowed the rear carpet trim to be "peeled" back.
This then revealed an hexagonal nut(s) that had to be removed to allow the outer plastic trim to be removed and so then revealing the bulbs etc..
(I think !!)

Paul..

**snapdragon** · 19-01-2007,09:14 PM

It's EU law that makes us have only one of the driver's side. Most manufacturers just leave the bulb out as some already said, others do it with software configuration, others with actual hardware (Japs usually only fit one lamp)

**MalcQV** · 21-01-2007,10:30 PM

I have added the nearside rear intensity lights on the last three cars I have owned. I have not yet looked at the rear light cluster on my Passat but will do soon.

I agree to me it seems like a penny pinching exercise by the manufacturer.

I have previously owned two mid 90's Honda Accords, on these I had to add the bulb and a connection from the offside.
I also had a Renault 19. All that I had to do was punch a piece of plastic out of the light cluster and add bulb.
My Mondial has two rear intensity lights. I reckon it really is a way to save a few pence per car these days.

I dis-agree with the rear intensity lights being mistaken for brake lights, as their purpose is for low visibility (below 100yds I think), so they should not be used for any other purpose.

I assume the EU law suggests we have at least one on the offside?