riddle me this

This is provincially regulated, not Federally regulated. Some provinces (like some US states) allow fog lamps *in lieu of* low beams when weather conditions call for it. Some allow fog lamps only *with* low beams when weather conditions call for it.

DS

Well, yeah, the headlamps on a '97 Ranger are very poor. So is the headlamp wiring (Ford has been installing marginally inadequate headlamp wiring for decades). The headlamp units themselves have bad optics that yield poorly-focused beams with too much upward stray light (=backdazzle in bad weather) and not enough road-surface light (="Help, I can't see" in the rain). And the too-thin wiring starves the bulbs.

Your first investment of time and money should go to installing the

2001-up headlamp assemblies and matching front corner sidemarker lamps. They are MUCH better than the earlier lamps and, if you install them with relays and large-gauge wiring (see ), your overallseeing will get vastly better. This is especially so if you pick yourbulbs thoughtfully (GE Night Hawk, Sylvania Xtravision, Philips VisionPlus, Narva Rangepower, Wagner BriteLite: YES. Sylvania Silverstar,Philips Bluevision, PIAA, anything else blue, white or silver: NO). As far as aux low beams: There have been a few over the years. The best one in recent memory was the Hella XL, which is now discontinued but shows up on Ebay from time to time. But from your description ("especially in rain") it sounds like you're primarily after more foreground light, not necessarily more distance reach, in which case a thoughtfully selected, properly mounted and properly aimed set of fog lamps would help counteract the tendency of wet roads to "soak up" the light.

But really, put in the better headlamps, first. That's far and away your best bang for the buck.

Find good used ones via

searchable used auto parts nationwide.

DS

thanks, DS, for the good info. To the rest of you, who couldn't be bothered to make a positive contribution - STOP THAT! STOP THAT SILLINESS RIGHT NOW! Thank you.

Tom Seattle

Thanks. Are there any problems fitting 2001-and-up headlights in a 97? Or do they just fit right in?

thanks Tom Seattle