[golf strom]

Was just flipping through the US version of the Fiesta owner's manual and realized that there is NO bulb housing assembly for the rear red reflector located in the bumper cover. I know some here were curious about this...

Also noted that, as expected,there is no indication of how to replace a standlicht lamp in the front headlamp assy which means it is not there however the mounting blank IS there so possibly you could simply drill one but the functionality of the single (left/right) lamp would not be possible ....due to the fact that the US HL switch does NOT have positions for them.

 

[mrbirdman330]

Probably one of the first things I would do is take off the cover, see how its set up, cut out a small section on the left side and mount a rear lamp that way with the reflector still covering.

 

[golf strom]

mrbird...if you take the plunge with the Fiesta I can't wait to get all the interesting nitty gritty details from your observations ...it's great to have folks like you with an eagle eye and a keen sense for detail to boot!

My guess about the rear bumper reflector dummy is that it will simply be a red reflector with a simple rear backing plate with a dull silver paint inside it....It is possible that the guts of a bulb housing are there but doubtful...I'll be very interested to know...Same goes for the standlicht lamp inside the headlamp housing...from the crude drawing in the manual I can see the moulded mounting point for it (near the main headlamp beam) but I think that it is a blank that has not been cut out for the bulb holder....My guess on that is that you would have to drill into the unopened mounting point to have it work with your own supplied OEM holder....Of course you'd have to get the EU HL switch and enable the function using the Ford scan tool....

I'm also interested to see if the indicator warning light for the rear fog and standlich functions are actually in the gauge cluster you have to look for the internations symbols of =) for the rear fog and =)(= for the standlicht lamp function....My guess is that they WILL be there in the US guage cluster.

 

[BRGT350]

I have been saying for the past year that there is no light housing in the reflector and the US cars dont have rear fog lamps. The shape of the reflector is different than the EU version, so you can't just swap in the EU housing.

 

[Marc]

And since the rear bumper has been redesigned because of the 5MPH crash test (making it slightly bulkier than the EU version), there is no reason why the designers would leave a hole behind the reflector to house a non existant lamp.

 

[BRGT350]

yep, and the reflector is not a lense so no lights passes thru it. Putting a light behind the reflector will do nothing. It would be like trying to put a light behind the reflector on your bicycle.

 

[mrbirdman330]

Actually such things are done with other cars, usually like in most cases like Mercedes, BMW, Subaru, and VW to name a few the rear fogs are wired in as brake lamps. Usually a jumper wire and Euro switch can re-activate the rear foglamp feature. My goal is to just use a small square aftermarket red foglamp and put in behind the reflector. Problem solved of having a rear foglamp. Though I will most likely dissasemble the rear bumper and examine it learning all the nitty gritty features.

 

[golf strom]

Actually such things are done with other cars, usually like in most cases like Mercedes, BMW, Subaru, and VW to name a few the rear fogs are wired in as brake lamps. Usually a jumper wire and Euro switch can re-activate the rear foglamp feature. My goal is to just use a small square aftermarket red foglamp and put in behind the reflector. Problem solved of having a rear foglamp.


Though I will most likely dissasemble the rear bumper and examine it learning all the nitty gritty features.

When you get to see the Fiesta in person to check for the evidence of the indicator lamps for rear fog and the standlichts just simply shine a bright flashlight into the area of the instrument cluster where the warning lamps are located...no doubt you will be able to see the graphics of those items we're interested in if they are in the cluster, even if they are not enabled...

 

[Marc]

Like the rear bumper, the instrument cluster has been redesigned (60% original parts, remember?). Although the shape is the same, the font is a little different, the fuel gauge reads E-F instead of 0-1, etc. So it's not from the European parts bin. Therefore it's not guaranteed that it will have all the European indicator lamps.

re foglamp: most asian cars don't cater for a foglamp. But since these are mandatory on all European cars, a hack'n'slash job usually will do the trick. Just look at the difference between a JDM and Euro Celica:

or American cars:

That's why the Transit Connect has rear foglights. Front fogs are optional though.

 

[BRGT350]

When you get to see the Fiesta in person to check for the evidence of the indicator lamps for rear fog and the standlichts just simply shine a bright flashlight into the area of the instrument cluster where the warning lamps are located...no doubt you will be able to see the graphics of those items we're interested in if they are in the cluster, even if they are not enabled...

The cluster is unique to the US version, none of the warning lamps are in the same spot. There will not be a location for where the rear, or front, fog lamps to show up in the cluster on the US car. Comparing the US owners manual to the EU car shows that the layout of the warning/status lights are totally different.

 

[mrbirdman330]

But heres the thing when it gets down to it 60% same means that using both wiring diagrams and manuals can help one achieve some said goals especially in the fact of making front and rear fog lamps. Since people are stupid enough to think that LED driving lights are safe and effective as a Fog Lamp in bad weather conditions. Al though the loom for the front would expensive but well worth the trade off to get Fog lights without having to fuddle with extra wiring and switches.

 

[golf strom]

Amazing, they even WASTED time, money, and effort to relocate the warning lamps in the cluster!!?!?!?!? Astounding.... what a unfortunate waste of funds...this kind of reminds me of that mess that is the current MKI US only Focus that was heavily facelifted and blunted for 07-current when the ROW got the excellent MKII Focus. And it cost Ford as much to redux the MKI for the US as it would have to simply DOT/EPA the MKII for the USA....

If the MKIII Focus is blunted like this Fiesta has been for the USA Mulally needs to do some serious house cleaning if his vision of a one Ford is to be kept in tact.

 

[BRGT350]

Why would the cluster be the same? We don't have fog lamps, rear fog lamps, auto headlights, warning system for outside temps, but gain things like hill assist, mandated TPMS, and a few other items. The cluster needed to be redesigned. You clearly don't have a fricken clue WTH you are talking about when it comes to the Fiesta. Did you even order one? Do you even want one? Frankly, you spend your entire time bitching about a car you are not interested in. I am getting sick of your mindless comments. Go back to VW land.

 

[golf strom]

Why would the cluster be the same? We don't have fog lamps, rear fog lamps, auto headlights, warning system for outside temps, but gain things like hill assist, mandated TPMS, and a few other items. The cluster needed to be redesigned.

The thing is that I'm certain that there were enough positions in that warning lamp array that even the additional US items could have fit without completely manufacturing another gel icon set or such . All Ford need do was add the US icons to the existing array and configure the lamps with suitable programming.

You clearly don't have a fricken clue WTH you are talking about when it comes to the Fiesta.

translation: He has TOO much of a clue about the technical details of the Fiesta!

Did you even order one? Do you even want one? Frankly, you spend your entire time bitching about a car you are not interested in. I am getting sick of your mindless comments. Go back to VW land.

When I get to see AND drive the FINAL US version I will decide whether or not I actually want to invest my hard earned money in the car, and NOT until that time.

I still can't believe this car was not designed with the ability to fit factory or dealer installed front fog lamps. Simply outrageous. This is one of the little details that makes me concerned about the final product we in the USA will get. This is clearly a case of dumbing down the car ...for what reasons I can't fathom..

I put the same disregard into my opinion of what VWoA, the US distributor of VW products does to perfectly excellent VAG products in the USA..they too create dumbed down version of most VW products .

BRGT350 you are WAAAAAAY too defensive in your replies. I wonder why?

 

[Griff2002]

Why are fog lights so important?

 

[golf strom]

Why are fog lights so important?

If you've ever driven in heavy thick fog you'll instantly understand why they are important...the dedicated front fog lamps use optics that allow maximum lighting without having the dazzling effects that are common with ordinary headlamps....such a safety feature could be the difference between life and death.

 

[mrbirdman330]

^ Bingo, one thing I enjoy about my Focus is the use of fog lamps in heavy fog and rain especially in the city. Why because the orange lamps of the city make it damn near impossible to see the road when its soaking wet. Fog lamps are able to help me see the road infront of me on the city streets. Making it easier to avoid pot holes and other dangerous items. A good set of fog lamps work miracles when combined with head lamps. Also the fact that US Spec head lamps differ greatly from Euro spec head lamps. US spec cars have a considerable gap in light coverage from the bumper to the light beam itself. Fog lamps actually help fill in that void immensely. Euro cars do not have this problem at all there is no gap between the bumper and the light beam. one of the reasons I have been trying for the past three years to get Euro head lamps on my Focus. Fog lamps are a very important safety feature, both front and rear. Also known fact LED lights do not produce enough Candella (I believe that the term) to be used for fogs and or headlights. Its merely show and style like on Audi's cars. They simply double as a DRL, its bright enough to see during the day but serves no purpose what so ever at night.

 

[Chan]

^ Bingo, one thing I enjoy about my Focus is the use of fog lamps in heavy fog and rain especially in the city. Why because the orange lamps of the city make it damn near impossible to see the road when its soaking wet. Fog lamps are able to help me see the road infront of me on the city streets. Making it easier to avoid pot holes and other dangerous items. A good set of fog lamps work miracles when combined with head lamps. Also the fact that US Spec head lamps differ greatly from Euro spec head lamps. US spec cars have a considerable gap in light coverage from the bumper to the light beam itself. Fog lamps actually help fill in that void immensely. Euro cars do not have this problem at all there is no gap between the bumper and the light beam. one of the reasons I have been trying for the past three years to get Euro head lamps on my Focus. Fog lamps are a very important safety feature, both front and rear. Also known fact LED lights do not produce enough Candella (I believe that the term) to be used for fogs and or headlights. Its merely show and style like on Audi's cars. They simply double as a DRL, its bright enough to see during the day but serves no purpose what so ever at night.

LED is more for styling but if used correctly it can just be as bright as HIDs. The R8 is an all LED design for the headlights and you don't see their owners crashing them at night...well maybe because not many can afford a $120,000 car. LED is what will replace current lighting technology.

 

[golf strom]

But Chan I can assure you that the LEDs that Ford is using in the US Fiesta are nothing more than cheap baubles, that serve nothing more than styling elements.

 

[Chan]

But Chan I can assure you that the LEDs that Ford is using in the US Fiesta are nothing more than cheap baubles, that serve nothing more than styling elements.

Which is why it is a $5000 option on the Audi R8.