FOG LIGHT PROBLEMS

[Glowin97x]

Hi people. Im new on here and very sorry if this topic is an old and hackneyed one. I ran a search and couldnt find much, but I might just be dumb. Anyway i just bought new bulbs for my fog lights on my 97 sport (cuz they wernt working) So i went to pepboys and took one of the burnt out bulbs and asked the guy if it was burnt out or it was the wiring itself that was the problem. So 20 bucks later ive got new bulbs and the lights STILL dont work. Any ideas what could be wrong, and what i can do to fix it? Sorry if this is a repost.

 

[Alec]

Welcome!

Have you checked the fuse?

 

[Glowin97x]

Man am I embarassed. No I havent checked the fuse. Which one is it? If it isnt the fuse, what else could it be?

 

[Alec]

For it to be both and the bulbs aren't burned out, then it has to be more of a systemic problem. So a problem in the wiring before it splits to each lamp. Could be a loose connector under the hood, fuse, switch, or other point in the wiring.

 

[Glowin97x]

well, its not the fuse because they are on the same fuse as the right headlight, and the right headlight works fine. So i dunno what is up. any suggestions?

 

[sonet123]

If its any thing like the 2000 fog lights the contcts ge coroded and the spring tention gets weak,, scrape and sreach springs .

 

[Sandy]

Grounds or corrosion in the sockets ?

Take a Multimeter set for 12 volts DC and starting at the lights check for voltage at the center pin of the socket.
If you get a reading it could be just the ground connection, if no voltage trace the wire backwards in the circuit and at the next junction check for voltage agin until you find a point where you have voltage.
Then determine what is in-between the voltage point and the lights; there has to be something wrong in-between those points.

There probably is a relay in there somewhere for the fog/off-road lights, check that out too.

luck,

 

[Buffalosports]

Grounds or corrosion in the sockets ?

Take a Multimeter set for 12 volts DC and starting at the lights check for voltage at the center pin of the socket.
If you get a reading it could be just the ground connection, if no voltage trace the wire backwards in the circuit and at the next junction check for voltage agin until you find a point where you have voltage.
Then determine what is in-between the voltage point and the lights; there has to be something wrong in-between those points.

There probably is a relay in there somewhere for the fog/off-road lights, check that out too.

luck,

It is a good chance it is that relay because if it that 97 showing on your screen, it DEFINITLY has one. It has one to turn them off when the Highs are on. Unforunitly it can be very difficult to get to that relay. You need to take the air intake box out and there is a little black box. It is in there.

 

[Bill Kemp]

Well its been about 5 Yrs. since he had the problem. (3-10-2003) Sure hope he got it fixed.

 

[NYMount21]

If its any thing like the 2000 fog lights the contcts ge coroded and the spring tention gets weak,, scrape and sreach springs .

agreed, mine melted and coroded away. The ends turn black. The one wire that goes directly into the foglight bulb is only about 12cm long, and then it plugs into another main wire.

The short wire i'm referring to can be replaced for like 13-14 bucks at a Ford Dealership. Probably the cheapest thing they have!!! It just unplugs w/ a little lift of a plastic hook. Just a thought, good luck thats all i got

 

[Sandy]

The $14 will almost buy you all of the material to make your own harness.