Are Fog Lights Different From Your High and Low Beams?

December 16, 2022

You know your Nissan has low beams to help you see at night and make your vehicle more visible to other drivers. You also know you have high beams (or "brights") to give you extra light when needed, such as on dark back roads with no street lamps. But did you know your Nissan might be equipped with fog lights? Learn about fog lights, including whether they're different from your other headlights.

What Are Fog Lights?

As the name implies, your fog lights help you see the road in foggy and other low-visibility conditions. Generally, fog lights should be used when you can see less than 300 feet in front of you. Keep in mind that they are designed to help you see features of the road, such as lane lines. They are not made to help you see into the fog.

Fog Lights vs. Headlights

Fog lights can often be found on the front of a vehicle, which has many drivers thinking they are similar to headlights. However, fog lights are positioned underneath your headlights. Their positioning allows your fog lights to cast a wide beam low on the ground. Since fog sits a few inches above the ground, the beam helps to light up important road markings under the fog.

While fog lights are separate from headlights, that doesn't mean they should be used separately. You should only use your fog lights in extremely low-visibility conditions, but you still need to use your low beams with them. Fog lights help you see the physical road, but they can't help you see through the fog.

Fog Lights vs. High Beams

Now you know low beams and fog lights are different. But many drivers also ask, "Are fog lights high beams?" Fog lights are also different from your high beams. Your high beams are part of the headlight assembly, and fog lights are located below that.

In addition to location, high beams and fog lights differ in function and use. Your fog lights cast a beam down to the ground, but your high beams cast light directly in front of your vehicle. Because high beams are brighter, you might think they're a good choice for fog. However, their powerful light can reflect off the water molecules in fog and further obstruct your view. High beams should be used on extremely dark roads at night, not in foggy, rainy, or snowy conditions.

Troubleshooting Fog Light Issues

Knowing what fog lights are and when to use them doesn't help much if your fog lights aren't actually working. There could be a few different causes for failing fog lights. A burnt-out bulb is the simplest and easiest to fix. But if you replace your fog light bulb and it's still not working, there could be an electrical issue. You may have a blown fuse or a failing relay preventing your fog lights from turning on.

Fog lights not working how they should? Stop by your local Nissan service center for help diagnosing the problem. Then, shop for the replacement electrical system parts you need online at Nissan Parts & Accessories.