'78 928 Euro Fog & Driving Lights
05-15-2003, 12:29 AM
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'78 928 Euro Fog & Driving Lights
Hey guys, I'm new to the forums and I had a quick question (as well as many more Q's to come 
I have a '78 Euro and was wondering what the bottom left POD switch (just below the fog light switch) is supposed to be for. I've seen many photos of 928's (mostly US spec) that show this as the tripodometer-reset switch, I think. Anyone know what the switch is for on the Euro spec? It looks like it's for the pair of driving lights, yet it would only turn on the rear red Euro fog light. I wired the rear fog light to the driving lights (at fuse panel) in order to get them to work with the switch (because there's no other way to get those driving lights to come on).
Which leads me to another question, how are the driving lights turned on on the US spec cars?
I have a '78 Euro and was wondering what the bottom left POD switch (just below the fog light switch) is supposed to be for. I've seen many photos of 928's (mostly US spec) that show this as the tripodometer-reset switch, I think. Anyone know what the switch is for on the Euro spec? It looks like it's for the pair of driving lights, yet it would only turn on the rear red Euro fog light. I wired the rear fog light to the driving lights (at fuse panel) in order to get them to work with the switch (because there's no other way to get those driving lights to come on).
Which leads me to another question, how are the driving lights turned on on the US spec cars?
05-15-2003, 12:45 AM
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On the Euro, the bottom left pod switch is for the rear "FOG" lamp. It should NOT be wired in with the regular running lamps unless a much lower watt bulb is used.
The purpose of the rear fog lamp is to keep someone from rear-ending you in foggy weather. It is much brighter than even the brake lights. Therefore, you do not want it on during normal driving. It will very much confuse other drivers.
That probably is why US cars don't have them, in the US we must cater to the lowest common denominator ... and that is what we have on our roads. I very much enjoy driving in Germany and most other countries, their drivers are much better trained. Italy can be exciting, but in their own way they are probably better drivers too! You really must pay attention to make use of every bit of the road and drive through red lights and SURVIVE.
The purpose of the rear fog lamp is to keep someone from rear-ending you in foggy weather. It is much brighter than even the brake lights. Therefore, you do not want it on during normal driving. It will very much confuse other drivers.
That probably is why US cars don't have them, in the US we must cater to the lowest common denominator ... and that is what we have on our roads. I very much enjoy driving in Germany and most other countries, their drivers are much better trained. Italy can be exciting, but in their own way they are probably better drivers too! You really must pay attention to make use of every bit of the road and drive through red lights and SURVIVE.
05-15-2003, 01:13 AM
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The middle push button on the left under the headlamp ****. If you engage the running lights,(one click to the right) and push the middle button, the driving lights should come on.
05-15-2003, 01:26 AM
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First I wanted to say thanks for the quick and helpfull replies, Rich and Drewster.
Drewster, the middle button only seems to turn on the fog lights in my car whatever position the headlight switch is in (besides off). I was just wondering how the center pair (driving lights i'm calling them) are turned on. I noticed that the Euro spec 928's have a fuse specifically for the "Driving Lights" in slot #2 on the fuse panel that the US cars do not have( <a href="http://www.928gt.com/928specs/78-79relay.htm" target="_blank">http://www.928gt.com/928specs/78-79relay.htm</a> ), yet the US cars still have the driving lights up front.. so I wonder how they differ.
Drewster, the middle button only seems to turn on the fog lights in my car whatever position the headlight switch is in (besides off). I was just wondering how the center pair (driving lights i'm calling them) are turned on. I noticed that the Euro spec 928's have a fuse specifically for the "Driving Lights" in slot #2 on the fuse panel that the US cars do not have( <a href="http://www.928gt.com/928specs/78-79relay.htm" target="_blank">http://www.928gt.com/928specs/78-79relay.htm</a> ), yet the US cars still have the driving lights up front.. so I wonder how they differ.
05-15-2003, 03:42 AM
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OK, driving lights, Why is it that all of the yokels feel that every lamp must be illuminated when they drive, regardless of the intended function. Probably 99% of those cars with the “extra” lamps turned on are fog lamps, whose purpose is NOT to provide a bright and focused beam. They do the opposite, aim low and wide, so you see through the fog rather than only illuminate the fog. I go nuts when people request that the fog lamps to turn ON with the brights ... it just doesn’t compute. Done with that bitch and on to the answer ...
The Euro (and ROW for that mater) models were shipped with 8 inch FAR SUPEIOR H4 headlamps and the US folks were cheated. IMHO, the low H4 beam is better than the high-DOT beam. The H4 beam provides a bright and knife sharp beam with a cut-off and triangular uptick to the right for greater distance illumination (or left for those who drive on the other side of the road). Why doesn’t DOT do this, back to the lowest common denominator issue. You see we yanks are too stupid to dim lamps and thus blind on-coming drivers, so our headlamps produce a blob beam that is so dispersed that even looking into it isn’t that bad. To overcome the blinding issue elsewhere, if the car is loaded in the rear so the lights are aimed too high, a **** (under "intelligent" driver control), is provided to a device that lowers the headlamp aim. This **** was probably disconnected in your Euro as part of the import butchery to lower it to our low standards.
The Euro 928s (and S4s and beyond) have “aux” beams in the center that illuminate with the bright lights for even better long distance illumination and provide a much more visible “flash to pass” that is a life saving cue on the Autobahn!
So, you don’t want the rear fog lamp illuminated with the running lights and you don’t want those center front lamps to be on with your normal headlamps. You would blind those who are coming your way and risk them coming into you, and make those following you wonder if a flair is stuck up your @ss..
What do the running lamps do in pre-s4 US spec 928s .... not a damn thing. Just silly hole plugs with a white filler and low intensity bulbs. I guess the Germans couldn't think of anything better, at least we counldn't hurt anyone with that dim of a bub!
The Euro (and ROW for that mater) models were shipped with 8 inch FAR SUPEIOR H4 headlamps and the US folks were cheated. IMHO, the low H4 beam is better than the high-DOT beam. The H4 beam provides a bright and knife sharp beam with a cut-off and triangular uptick to the right for greater distance illumination (or left for those who drive on the other side of the road). Why doesn’t DOT do this, back to the lowest common denominator issue. You see we yanks are too stupid to dim lamps and thus blind on-coming drivers, so our headlamps produce a blob beam that is so dispersed that even looking into it isn’t that bad. To overcome the blinding issue elsewhere, if the car is loaded in the rear so the lights are aimed too high, a **** (under "intelligent" driver control), is provided to a device that lowers the headlamp aim. This **** was probably disconnected in your Euro as part of the import butchery to lower it to our low standards.
The Euro 928s (and S4s and beyond) have “aux” beams in the center that illuminate with the bright lights for even better long distance illumination and provide a much more visible “flash to pass” that is a life saving cue on the Autobahn!
So, you don’t want the rear fog lamp illuminated with the running lights and you don’t want those center front lamps to be on with your normal headlamps. You would blind those who are coming your way and risk them coming into you, and make those following you wonder if a flair is stuck up your @ss..
What do the running lamps do in pre-s4 US spec 928s .... not a damn thing. Just silly hole plugs with a white filler and low intensity bulbs. I guess the Germans couldn't think of anything better, at least we counldn't hurt anyone with that dim of a bub!
05-15-2003, 03:12 PM
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ToeJam, the way my 79 Euro works. Top left turn ****: One click turns on running lights. While in this position you can push the second **** in and you will get front fog lamps. I believe those are the lower outside lamps, you can also depress the third **** down to turn on your rear red fog lamp. turn the top left **** one more click and the headlamps pop up and are on low beam, pull the stalk back (I believe) and you get high beams in the pop up lights and also high beams come on in the lower bumber along side your fog lights. Your odometer reset is the button under the dash on the LEFT hand side. Small little push button.
Also, with car sitting and everything off and key out you can push the turn signal stalk down to turn on the left side lights on the car. This is for parking in very tight alley ways so people can see that side of the car, same goes with the right side, just pull up on the stalk and right side lights come on and stay on.
If you are lucky you only have side lights located just behind your front wheels on both sides. These lights only come on when using your turn signals and I believe they also come on in the about scenario while parking in alley ways.
If your car is like mine they added side lights in front of the front tires and behind the rear tires. I have removed those Ford pieces of crap and covered the holes with red vinyle that match my car color perfect. Sounds hoky but looks good. Most people dont even notice the vinyle and with those lights removed the car looks much cleaner. I will eventually get the holes filled and the car repainted.
Also, have you found the first aid kit located in the passenger front side of the car just under the glove box. Mine was in German and unopened. Also, all my guages are in German.
Also, with car sitting and everything off and key out you can push the turn signal stalk down to turn on the left side lights on the car. This is for parking in very tight alley ways so people can see that side of the car, same goes with the right side, just pull up on the stalk and right side lights come on and stay on.
If you are lucky you only have side lights located just behind your front wheels on both sides. These lights only come on when using your turn signals and I believe they also come on in the about scenario while parking in alley ways.
If your car is like mine they added side lights in front of the front tires and behind the rear tires. I have removed those Ford pieces of crap and covered the holes with red vinyle that match my car color perfect. Sounds hoky but looks good. Most people dont even notice the vinyle and with those lights removed the car looks much cleaner. I will eventually get the holes filled and the car repainted.
Also, have you found the first aid kit located in the passenger front side of the car just under the glove box. Mine was in German and unopened. Also, all my guages are in German.
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05-15-2003, 07:57 PM
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Thanks for all the info, Curt! That's exactly what I needed. I haven't had this car too long and I'm still figuring some of this stuff out. Those lights I was messing with didn't seem to come on with ANYTHING so I found a way to wire them in with the 3rd switch (I may disconnect rear fog light since I dont need it?).
Yes I have noticed the turn signal trick when the car is off, thanks for the explanation about it's purpose. And I only have the 1 pair of side marker lights behind the front wheels.
I dont think my car has a first aid kit (It doesn't even have a tool kit in the back
) but yes, my speedo is metric and A/C is in German hehe. It seems like an unopened original '79 Euro first aid kit would be extremely valuable.
Do you have pics of your car online? Here's a pic of mine (taken by PO): <a href="http://www.toejamsplace.com/uploads/928-mine.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.toejamsplace.com/uploads/928-mine.jpg</a>
Yes I have noticed the turn signal trick when the car is off, thanks for the explanation about it's purpose. And I only have the 1 pair of side marker lights behind the front wheels.
I dont think my car has a first aid kit (It doesn't even have a tool kit in the back
) but yes, my speedo is metric and A/C is in German hehe. It seems like an unopened original '79 Euro first aid kit would be extremely valuable.Do you have pics of your car online? Here's a pic of mine (taken by PO): <a href="http://www.toejamsplace.com/uploads/928-mine.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.toejamsplace.com/uploads/928-mine.jpg</a>
05-16-2003, 06:43 PM
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Nice looking car, mine looks exactly like that with the exception of mine having the polished aluminam 16" flat wheels and an added S4 rear wing. The wing makes it look pretty cool. Came with it so I left it alone.
