fog light not working?

[scolazz]

so I thought it was just a bulb, got under the car and swapped it out, still not working.

Any thought? From what I am reading, its possible the little 'holder' the fog light goes into is bad/corroded etc, correct? I'm assuming they don't sell this seperately, and I have to get a whole new fog lamp assembly to get this working?

I don't have the $ for an HID upgrade or anything, just need to get this working so I can pass my freaking inspection here this week... :(

[breeze]

When u pull the button out for the fogs is the line lit if nit check your fuse.

[stevengerard]

This just happened to me, I just cleaned everything up under there and the fog light worked, always seems to be the passenger side.

[scolazz]

The drivers side works, so I dont think its the fuse.

What did you clean? I cleaned the adapter tthat the bulb sits in, what else is there? Maybe I'll try to hit the wiring harness end with some contact cleaner...

I just dont want to have to buy a new lamp assembly if I don't have to, things are a bit tight right now.

[fastblackmerc]

The drivers side works, so I dont think its the fuse.

What did you clean? I cleaned the adapter tthat the bulb sits in, what else is there? Maybe I'll try to hit the wiring harness end with some contact cleaner...

I just dont want to have to buy a new lamp assembly if I don't have to, things are a bit tight right now.

If you need a socket PM me.

[scolazz]

Thanks fastblack! I'm going to try to get under there today and swap the drivers and passenger side bulb assemblies. This will tell me if the harness is bad on the passenger side, or if its the bulb assembly (the little L-shaped socket the bulb goes in). Wish I had a lift in the garage! :)

[fastblackmerc]

Thanks fastblack! I'm going to try to get under there today and swap the drivers and passenger side bulb assemblies. This will tell me if the harness is bad on the passenger side, or if its the bulb assembly (the little L-shaped socket the bulb goes in). Wish I had a lift in the garage! :)

Check all the connections.

[scolazz]

I just swapped them - the drivers side one works just fine on the passenger side, so its that little L shaped adapter that the bulbs sits in. The one that doesnt work, the bulb is real loose inside of it, the one that does work, it holds the bulb in real tight. I'm cleaning it as we speak and if I can find a pair of pliers small enough, Im going to try to tighten it up a bit too...

[RF Overlord]

just need to get this working so I can pass my freaking inspection here this week... :(MA doesn't require the fog lights to work for the state inspection.

[a_d_a_m]

The one that doesnt work, the bulb is real loose inside of it, the one that does work, it holds the bulb in real tight. I'm cleaning it as we speak and if I can find a pair of pliers small enough, Im going to try to tighten it up a bit too... Mine had the same problem and I was unable to fix it - swapped mine out (a member sent me a set on the cheap) and presto! fixed!

[scolazz]

MA doesn't require the fog lights to work for the state inspection.

Interesting. Two years ago, i have the same problem with my miata (which, incidentally uses an almost identical fog light). I was told they had to be working as they came OEM on the car.

Checking the MA website, it looks like they dont:


8. Lighting Devices
Head light aim
Hazard lights/directionals/stop/reverse lights/and license plate light(s)
Reflectors

Hmmm

[RF Overlord]

There are a LOT of inspectors who have a faulty understanding of what's "required". Sometimes this works in our favour, but sometimes you have to argue and bring in documentation.

...or find another station. :D

[GetMeMyStogie]

Fog lights aren't safety equipment, they're more for show than practical purposes. That's why some cars have them, but many/most don't.
Windshields, horns, headlights, brake lights, mirrors, wipers... these have all been found to improve safety. But foglights, not so much.

[Curless]

Neither of mine worked when I bought the car, checked them out, bought new housings, still no work, took the wire harness (6 - 10 inch piece) out and found bad corrosion in the connectors. Rebuild the connectors and BAM, lights!

[scolazz]

There are a LOT of inspectors who have a faulty understanding of what's "required".

I think you just nailed it there :) I'm going to take it in tomorrow, let them know about the foglight up front and see what they say. If they give me crap, I'll take it elsewhere.

Fastblackmerc is hooking me up with the part I need, but it wont get here until Friday or so. MUCH cheaper than a new assembly, thats for sure :) Thanks man!

[scolazz]

Just FYI, passed inspection fine this morning. Asked the guy beforehand if the foglight was a problem, and like you said, its a secondary light, so it isn't part of the inspection. Told him my story and we both agreed that the previous inspector that failed me for a fog was an idiot :)

[camelgrundle]

yea pretty much! wonder if he fails cars that dont come with fog lights haha. my passenger side fog light does not work and rock auto does not sell the l shaped piece the bulb sits in. anyone have one laying around?

[scolazz]

well, updating the thread. Im now REALLY F***ING CONFUSED. Fastblackmerc sent me a replacement (thanks!). So I got out there early today. Checked the lights - yup, drivers side fog light still not working, passenger works find. swapped out the drivers side bulb and adapter, and now NEITHER fog light is working? I don't get it?

It's too hot out there for me to troubleshoot this, and without a lift or jackstands, Im not crawling around under the car until it cools off.

Anyone have any idea what would have caused this? Im stumped.

[slickster]

well, updating the thread. Im now REALLY F***ING CONFUSED. Fastblackmerc sent me a replacement (thanks!). So I got out there early today. Checked the lights - yup, drivers side fog light still not working, passenger works find. swapped out the drivers side bulb and adapter, and now NEITHER fog light is working? I don't get it?

It's too hot out there for me to troubleshoot this, and without a lift or jackstands, Im not crawling around under the car until it cools off.

Anyone have any idea what would have caused this? Im stumped.

It's probably a wiring issue. Try a volt meter. Or I'm sure this would not be a big deal for the dealer to do. My spoiler light on my corolla had a wiring issue and they fixed it for $100

[ledzilla]

Both of my foglights stopped working because the harness plugs were all corroded. So I cut them out and spliced the wiring using heat shrink and electrical tape to seal it up. They are right in front of the wheels and all the road grime and salt and whathaveyou gets thrown on them. In my opinion, not the best place to locate an electrical connector.

[ledzilla]

If you need a socket PM me.
Arg! Where were you when I was looking for a new socket last fall? :P

[fastblackmerc]

well, updating the thread. Im now REALLY F***ING CONFUSED. Fastblackmerc sent me a replacement (thanks!). So I got out there early today. Checked the lights - yup, drivers side fog light still not working, passenger works find. swapped out the drivers side bulb and adapter, and now NEITHER fog light is working? I don't get it?

It's too hot out there for me to troubleshoot this, and without a lift or jackstands, Im not crawling around under the car until it cools off.

Anyone have any idea what would have caused this? Im stumped.

I have seen heavy corrosion inside the the wiring... not the connector.. the wiring.

[scolazz]

i have no clue what the heck is going on now :). Went out to take another look, now that its cooled off a bit - both foglights are working fine now...? Im wondering if I didnt have a good connection - or like fastblackmerc said, some corrosion on the plug side of things? I drove around for a bit today, and wonder if I somehow shook something into working? No clue...

[GetMeMyStogie]

Perhaps your high beams were switched on. Turning on the high beams shuts off the foglights.