Fog lamps not working even after bulb replacement
The fog lamps in my SUV are having a problem. The fuse isn't blown, so I went ahead and replaced the bulbs. When I start my vehicle and pull the fog-lamps knob, the light on the knob glows. I've tried numerous fixes, but none of them worked. What do you suggest that I do?
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
It sounds like it is very possible that the fog light relay located in the central junction box is faulty. As long as the foglight switch is trying to activate the relay, then replacing the relay should restore light operation assuming there is no issue with the fuse. You may want to enlist the help of a mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will have the equipment and expertise to troubleshoot the fog lamp circuit.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
Blown Fuse: As a first resort, many mechanics will inspect your fuses in the event an electrical component, like the fog lights, fails. When a fuse blows, it prevents the circuit from completing and will not allow the lights to turn on. Burned-out Bulbs: Over time, bulbs will wear out and will stop working.
One of the first symptoms of a problem with the fog light relay is an audible clicking noise from the relay. Many relays will produce a quiet audible click when they are switched on, however, an excessively loud click may be an indicator that the relay may be having internal issues.
The most common location of the fog light relay is in the underhood fuse and relay box. The underhood fuse/relay box can be mounted in any of several different locations under the hood. It can be mounted on either the driver or passenger side, and either the front or rear, of the engine compartment.
Yes you do. The relay is there to turn the fog lights off when you switch on your high beams. In most states it is illegal to have your fog lights on while using your high beams.
Used in “flip-up” lights, which fold out of the body of the vehicle, headlight closure relays are essential for headlight operation. This relay is located in your main fuse box or panel.
It is fuse# 43 and it`s a 15A. The direction says to replace the one provided, which has the # 15 on it.
The fog light relay is used as the switch to turn them on. As soon as you flip this switch on, the power is sent to the lights. Thanks to this relay a low voltage fog light switch is possible. This relay should last the entire lifespan of your car, but sometimes things can happen and it will need replacing.
The difference is that fog lights must only be used during bad weather conditions where visibility is poor and daytime running lights allow the vehicles visibility for others during daylight.
Relays are switches that open and close a circuit when actuated with an electrial signal. An example of this is your driving lights turning on with your highbeams (assuming you have your separate driving light switch enabled).
Don`t forget: Fog lights will only work when your dipped beam headlights are turned on, so make sure you do that first before driving in fog. It`s important that you don`t turn your rear fog lights on any earlier than you need to, because you could end up dazzling any drivers behind you.
LED lights do not need relays to operate. Yet, doing so is not recommended. It is best to use a relay when you are unsure about switches, fuses, and wiring is of the proper size for the amperage.
Yellow lights are the best among fog light colors because they hit your retina in a way that enables you to focus on the road. Staring constantly at white light can frustrate the eye, and darker colors like blue and green have limited wavelength.
One of the most common situations that require the use of a relay occurs when an application needs to switch from high to low current (or vice versa) within the same circuit. For example, the temperature sensors that power HVAC units require levels of amperage that vastly exceed the capacity of their wiring.
The two most common failure mechanisms of relays are contamination and mechanical wear of the internal switching elements discussed as follows: a. Contamination is a major cause of early life failures.
The likely cause is a fuse, headlight relay, headlight switch, dimmer switch or a wiring fault. About the only cause that is an easy fix is a blown fuse. Consult your owner`s manual to locate the main fuse for the headlight circuit and replace that fuse with one having the same amp rating.
All the electrical systems in your car, including the headlights, are protected with fuses. These are designed to `blow` and break the circuit if too much power comes through them. This protects all the components on the circuit.
A lighting circuit is protected by a 5- or 6-amp fuse or circuit breaker. This fuse size allows bulbs with a maximum combined wattage of 1150 watts (5 amps x 230 volts) or 1380 watts (6 amps x 230 volts) to be run off the circuit.
The lighting circuit uses a fuse of capacity 5A. Fuses are deliberately the weak link in a circuit and will `blow` if an appliance or cable draws too much power, to prevent a fire occurring.
In the world of DC electronics, the accepted wiring convention is that the red wire carries the positive voltage, and the black is circuit ground. Usually the red is marked as + (plus) and the black is marked as – (minus).
The red wire is positive. The black wire is negative. The white wire (if present) is ground (sometimes called neutral in DC). If both wires are black but one has a white stripe, the striped wire is negative, while the plain black wire is positive.
The only tool required to check a relay is a multimeter. With the relay removed from the fuse box, the multimeter set to measure DC voltage and the switch in the cab activated, first check to see if there are 12 volts at the 85 position in the fuse box where the relay plugs in (or wherever the relay is located).
If your car`s fog lamp indicator light has appeared on your dashboard, that means your fog lights have been turned on and are ready to help you handle low-visibility driving conditions.
The symbol for the front fog lights, as stated above, is an oval-shaped lamp with three diagonal lines intersected with a wavy vertical line to the left of it. The symbol for the rear fog lights is an oval-shaped lamp with three horizontal lines bisected by a wavy vertical line on its right.
So while some fog lights do produce selective yellow light, many produce white light. It`s actually the bar-shaped beam of light, and the way that the beam is aimed, that makes a fog lamp a fog lamp, rather than the color.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Fog lamps not working even after bulb replacement
ANSWER : It sounds like it is very possible that the fog light relay located in the central junction box is faulty. As long as the foglight switch is trying to activate the relay, then replacing the relay should restore light operation assuming there is no issue with the fuse. You may want to enlist the help of a mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will have the equipment and expertise to troubleshoot the fog lamp circuit.
Read Full Q/A … : Fog lamps not working even after bulb replacement
Passenger-side brake light won’t work even after replacing bulb
ANSWER : Since the problem is only on one side, you can rule out the fuse and other parts of the circuit that are shared by both bulbs. I would look closely at the connector for the nonfunctional bulb, as it may be damaged or corroded. If the bulb looks OK, you’ll want to test for power and ground at the bulb. Since the bulbs share more of the same circuit components, lack of power indicates a problem in the power side wiring. No ground would indicate a bad ground connection or a problem with the wiring on the ground side of the circuit. Electrical diagnosis can be difficult, which is why I suggest having a trained professional diagnose your brake light problem for you. The team at YourMechanic is an excellent option since we make house calls.
Read Full Q/A … : Fog lamps not working even after bulb replacement
Just replaced head gasket, changed crack sensor new plugs. The check engine light is on, but dim, the only other light that the dash is a normal battery indicator. The fuel pump is not running when switch is turned on, the power windows don’t work, it turns over but not firing. It’s like only one part of the system is working. Also the heater fans work even if the switch is off.
ANSWER : I would first look at the diagnostic trouble codes. Those codes are available because the check engine light is on. If the fuel pump is not running (momentarily) at key on, that fault alone will prevent the car from starting as there will be no fuel pressure. Pump output and pressure can be directly tested and you can also check for electrical power to the pump. To find out why the engine will not run, the recommended diagnostic is a no start diagnostic. If you request that service, the responding certified mechanic will get this taken care of for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
Read Full Q/A … : Fog lamps not working even after bulb replacement
Right, Rear Turn Signal Not Working but its a New Bulb
ANSWER : It only takes a small amount of corrosion to interrupt the flow of current. You probably just have a dirty light socket. If you get a small strip of 400 grit sandpaper and rub it on the contact surfaces in the bulb socket, that will probably get you working. If that doesn’t do the trick, you have to get a test light or a meter and go hunting for the interruption. If you would like to have a technician do this for you, you can contact Your Mechanic and have one come to your home or office and check out your turn signals for you.
Read Full Q/A … : Fog lamps not working even after bulb replacement
interior reading lamp out
ANSWER : Hello. There is a fuse for all of the interior lights, not one for each individual light. It sounds like the bulb may have blown out and needs to be replaced. The way to replace the bulb is to pop off the plastic cover of the light with a small screwdriver and then replace the bulb. If you are worried that you might break it, I would suggest having a certified technician, like one from YourMechanic, assist you with this.
Read Full Q/A … : Fog lamps not working even after bulb replacement
My front flashers turn signals and brake lights dont work. I have replaced the bulbs and checked the fuses. What could cause these
ANSWER : The different lights all go through the turn signal light turn switch. If the brake light switch is not working at all then the third brake light would not work. You will need to replace turn signal switch and check brake light switch also and replace it if no third brake light is working.
Read Full Q/A … : Fog lamps not working even after bulb replacement
The fog light passenger side has a cracked glass but works perfectly. Can glass be replaced or do I have to replace the whole fog
ANSWER : The entire fog light needs to be replaced. It only comes as an assembly.
Read Full Q/A … : Fog lamps not working even after bulb replacement
Interior dim lights out and won’t come back on
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. The fuses that you need to check are located inside the cabin near the dashboard. These are the fuses pertaining to lights you are concerned with. Keep in mind the vehicle should always be off when working on electrical components, and it is typically safer if you disconnect the battery as well. With the short that was created, and where it was created, there is very likely a fuse protecting the circuit, which is why all of these components went dark as a result. Considering the circumstances, all of the fuses should be checked. For more help resolving the issue, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.
Read Full Q/A … : Fog lamps not working even after bulb replacement
