Fog light problems

[nparente]

Hey Guys,

I've been having some trouble with my fog lights recently.

When I bought my car (91 iX) the fog light lenses were all broken up, and the lights didnt work. So I bought new lenses, installed new bulbs, tried them out and got nothing. The light in the dash would light up, and I had power going to the fog lights, but didnt get any light. So I ordered a new relay, installed it, tried it out, but now i dont get any power anywhere. Nothing at the lights, at the fuse, the light on the dash doesnt even light up.

Any ideas:?:

[Ceeker]

did you bother to change your fuse-it might be blown and doesn't look it. start with that. I believe you have two fuses, one for the each side. I would work your way back from the lights. check for power.

I believe your contacts going to the light bulb were probably corroded and you weren't getting proper ground.

[nparente]

Changed the fuse already.

The connections were a bit corroded, but i cleaned them and put a new connector on the drivers side before this happened.

I have already ordered a new fog light switch, but I just want to be sure that i dont blow another $50 switch.

[nparente]

I put the new switch in, but it still didnt work. Not even a light in the dash. So i'm presuming that there is no power getting to the switch. Any ideas?

[jP4]

Any chance the PO bypassed the fogs with a smiley headlight install? Just looking for possibilities...

[BMWerke]

same here, my fog lights worked perfectly until one day they just stopped, i get power to the drivers side light but the bulb doesnt light up, and the passengers side doest get any power. the relay is fine, the switch is fine and the light on the dash is illuminated. and I already checked the ground.

Sorry OP, I didnt mean to thread jack.

[nparente]

same here, my fog lights worked perfectly until one day they just stopped, i get power to the drivers side light but the bulb doesnt light up, and the passengers side doest get any power. the relay is fine, the switch is fine and the light on the dash is illuminated. and I already checked the ground.

Sorry OP, I didnt mean to thread jack.

No worries. Are you getting any power to the fuses? I'm not even getting anything there.

[jeffnhiscars]

I've spent some time trying to sort out my fogs (they still dont work). First thing I did was print a wiring diagram & check continuity everywhere to see if I could stumble on a broken wire or bad switch. Keep in mind that the fogs get power via the headlight circuit so they have to be on first and the headlights do not have juice without the engine running.

[M-technik-3]

I would be checking the relay you installed. You said you had illumination on the cluster with the old relay.

Did you check to see if you had power at the bulbs with the old relay? Or check them sometimes the filaments are cracked not often but happens x2 very rare.

check for continuity? ie a broken wire some one has mentioned it already but figured I would add it again.

[nparente]

I would be checking the relay you installed. You said you had illumination on the cluster with the old relay.

Did you check to see if you had power at the bulbs with the old relay? Or check them sometimes the filaments are cracked not often but happens x2 very rare.

check for continuity? ie a broken wire some one has mentioned it already but figured I would add it again.

I did have illumination, and power at the lights, but it didnt work. And i didn't get that 'click' that you normally get from relays. Bulbs are all brand new. Where do you think a broken wire would be? What is before the switch?

[M-technik-3]

my suggestion grab the ETM for your year. It's the Electrical Troubleshooting Manual. It can be found on line and helps out big time on situations like this.

[jP4]

Perhaps the relay receptacles are corroded under the fuse tray.

[nparente]

Perhaps the relay receptacles are corroded under the fuse tray.

I checked that, and the underside of my fusebox is completely clean.

[Ceeker]

Put the old relay back in; throw on the headlights and fogs. Tap the headlight relay with a screwdriver. the headlight relay maybe sticking causing the circuit to the foglight relay to stay closed. power may not be getting past the relay to the lights.

as mentioned before; start with the most simple and obvious..replace the fuses. then check relays, then check wiring and connections going back from the fogs for continuity. check your ground. simple light tester should do the trick.

[nparente]

Put the old relay back in; throw on the headlights and fogs. Tap the headlight relay with a screwdriver. the headlight relay maybe sticking causing the circuit to the foglight relay to stay closed. power may not be getting past the relay to the lights.

Yes! This did it! Somewhat.

My drivers side light works now, however is seems to be that there is a problem with the ground cable for the passenger light. (Could this be related to my passenger side horn not working)?

Anyways, Any common problem areas for grounds on those two things?