Why red and white reflectors on tail lamps?

penpavan · 8th June 2009, 09:24

I have observed that cars for example Logan/City have two colored reflectors on each side of the tail lamp. The right side tail lamp with Red reflector and the left one with White.

Why is that? Anybody?

amohit · 8th June 2009, 10:00

I think the white reflectors are the rear fog lamp(s). Since govt of india mandates atleast 1 rear fog lamps some manufacturers do just that.

The other side (red reflector) is just a dummy.

Regards,

penpavan · 8th June 2009, 10:36

No. There is not bulb there inside in the white one.

tanwaramit · 8th June 2009, 12:13

isnt it the reverse lamps ? I guess they need to be white so that you can see something behind when reversing in the dark. It helps.

Can you please show with a pic highlighted so that we can understand your query better ?

planet_rocker · 8th June 2009, 12:17

LHS - reverse lamp
RHS - rear fog lamp

Cars - NHC vtec / SX4 / Logan / earlier Ikons...

muralisk · 8th June 2009, 12:20

The whites are typically the reverse lamp that are linked to the reverse gear. The moment you engage the reverse gear, these lamps glow.

penpavan · 8th June 2009, 13:22

Ok, here it is.

Please see the yellow circles...

bottle · 8th June 2009, 13:36

i guess the left one is the reverse light and the right one is the fog light. but since we dont have fog in most places here they leave the fog light empty

obed5579 · 8th June 2009, 14:52

cost saving. Its to cut costs, you will have only 1 reverse lamp. Even when Ford introduced the IKON, it used the same tactic, only after a lot of custmers complained, Ford changed the lamp design on the Nxt models (i think).

dushmish · 8th June 2009, 15:21

No bulb inside is a scary thing! I always believed one is a fog lamp and the other is a reversing lamp. You sure no bulb inside the fog lamp?

penpavan · 8th June 2009, 15:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by dushmish

No bulb inside is a scary thing! I always believed one is a fog lamp and the other is a reversing lamp. You sure no bulb inside the fog lamp?

Hey, my mistake just checked with the City standing in the parking and there is a bulb inside. It is very difficult to spot it but it was there.

greenhorn · 9th June 2009, 14:46

i believe this is due to some euro spec regulation.
the 2004~06 export spec indicas too had similar lamps - the desi variety had both white

deep_bang · 9th June 2009, 15:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenhorn

i believe this is due to some euro spec regulation.
the 2004~06 export spec indicas too had similar lamps - the desi variety had both white

The desi variety had both clear lamps, but had the bulb in only one of them. I have seen numerous Indicas (including mine) that light up only one lamp on reverse.

null · 9th June 2009, 15:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by bottle

i guess the left one is the reverse light and the right one is the fog light. but since we dont have fog in most places here they leave the fog light empty

I always thought that they probably broke the right-tailight & to save money have bought a version whch doesnt have that white part in it :P

asethi · 1st July 2009, 00:52

Left one is reverse lamp, and right one is rear fog lamp. Just a way of cost saving. Even NHC had done the same while launching some years back, but changed them a month later!

8th June 2009, 09:24	#1
penpavan BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Blore Posts: 452 Thanked: 234 Times	Why red and white reflectors on tail lamps? I have observed that cars for example Logan/City have two colored reflectors on each side of the tail lamp. The right side tail lamp with Red reflector and the left one with White. Why is that? Anybody?
	() Thanks

8th June 2009, 10:00	#2
amohit BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 456 Thanked: 56 Times	I think the white reflectors are the rear fog lamp(s). Since govt of india mandates atleast 1 rear fog lamps some manufacturers do just that. The other side (red reflector) is just a dummy. Regards,
	() Thanks

8th June 2009, 10:36	#3
penpavan BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Blore Posts: 452 Thanked: 234 Times	No. There is not bulb there inside in the white one.
	() Thanks

8th June 2009, 12:13	#4
tanwaramit Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Dilwalon ki Dilli Posts: 1,943 Thanked: 514 Times	isnt it the reverse lamps ? I guess they need to be white so that you can see something behind when reversing in the dark. It helps. Can you please show with a pic highlighted so that we can understand your query better ?
	() Thanks

8th June 2009, 12:17	#5
planet_rocker Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bong-land Posts: 2,323 Thanked: 426 Times	LHS - reverse lamp RHS - rear fog lamp Cars - NHC vtec / SX4 / Logan / earlier Ikons...
	() Thanks

8th June 2009, 12:20	#6
muralisk BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Hyderabad, Bangalore Posts: 711 Thanked: 13 Times View My Garage	The whites are typically the reverse lamp that are linked to the reverse gear. The moment you engage the reverse gear, these lamps glow.
	() Thanks

8th June 2009, 13:22	#7
penpavan BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Blore Posts: 452 Thanked: 234 Times	Ok, here it is. Please see the yellow circles... Attached Thumbnails
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8th June 2009, 13:36	#8
bottle Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Chennai Posts: 1,641 Thanked: 294 Times View My Garage	i guess the left one is the reverse light and the right one is the fog light. but since we dont have fog in most places here they leave the fog light empty
	() Thanks

8th June 2009, 14:52	#9
obed5579 BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 49 Thanked: 7 Times	cost saving. Its to cut costs, you will have only 1 reverse lamp. Even when Ford introduced the IKON, it used the same tactic, only after a lot of custmers complained, Ford changed the lamp design on the Nxt models (i think).
	() Thanks

8th June 2009, 15:21	#10
dushmish BHPian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 418 Thanked: 83 Times View My Garage	No bulb inside is a scary thing! I always believed one is a fog lamp and the other is a reversing lamp. You sure no bulb inside the fog lamp?
	() Thanks

9th June 2009, 14:46	#12
greenhorn BANNED Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: KL-01 Posts: 7,878 Thanked: 4,910 Times View My Garage	i believe this is due to some euro spec regulation. the 2004~06 export spec indicas too had similar lamps - the desi variety had both white
	() Thanks

1st July 2009, 00:52	#15
asethi BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 464 Thanked: 353 Times View My Garage	Left one is reverse lamp, and right one is rear fog lamp. Just a way of cost saving. Even NHC had done the same while launching some years back, but changed them a month later!
	() Thanks