How to Turn on the Fog Lights on an Old Passat?
4 Answers
Here’s how to turn on the fog lights on an old Passat: 1. Location: The fog light switch on the older Passat models is located on the left side of the dashboard, and the fog lights can be turned on or off by pressing the button. 2. Usage: With the automatic headlights, low beams, or parking lights turned on, pressing the fog light switch button will toggle the fog lights. 3. Purpose: Fog lights are essential for illuminating the road ahead and ensuring driving safety under adverse weather conditions such as fog, snow, heavy rain, or in environments filled with smoke or dust. In recent years, fog lights have often been integrated into the front bumper for design purposes. The inner shield of the front fog light blocks the light emitted by the filament toward the upper part of the reflector, creating a clear cutoff line in the light distribution—darker above and brighter below. The upper edge of the light pattern should be as dark as possible within the visible area, while the bright lower area should have a horizontal diffusion angle of 50° to the sides, forming a wide lateral bright zone. This ensures both non-glaring illumination and optimal lighting conditions for safe driving.
I've been driving my old Passat for over a decade. The fog light switch is on the left stalk by the steering wheel. First, you need to turn on the headlights or parking lights. Then you'll see a rotating ring at the end of the stalk with fog light symbols - twist it forward one notch for front fog lights, and all the way for rear fog lights. They're super helpful in winter rain or fog, but don't use them unnecessarily - the rear fog lights are blindingly bright for cars behind. Last time I drove through heavy rain on the highway, the fog lights made a huge difference in visibility. The design in this older car is really practical - just a flick of the finger, much more convenient than modern cars where you have to dig through touchscreen menus.
When I first drove the Passat, it took me a while to find it too. Turns out there's a rotating ring at the end of the light control stalk with a fog light icon. The operation is quite simple: first turn on the low beams or parking lights, then rotate that ring. Turn it one click to activate the front fog lights, two clicks for both front and rear fog lights. Important reminder: don't drive with fog lights on all the time - just use them during rain or fog. Those rear fog lights emit an especially glaring red light. Once I saw a neighbor who kept his fog lights on while highway driving, and the driver behind nearly rear-ended him. I'd suggest practicing the switch in a safe place - these controls can get sticky with age in older cars.
The light control stalk on the left side of the steering wheel features a rotary ring at its end for operating the fog lights. It's a two-step process: first, activate the headlights or parking lights to provide basic illumination, then rotate the ring—the first position engages the front fog lights (indicated by a green icon on the dashboard), and the second position activates the rear fog lights (displaying an orange icon). Special note: the rear fog lights are more powerful than the brake lights, and using them on clear nights can severely distract following vehicles. In pre-2004 Passat models, this rotary knob is prone to poor contact; it's recommended to apply slight pressure while turning until you hear a click to ensure proper engagement. The owner's manual on page 87 actually includes an illustrated explanation.
