stupid foglights! Help!

[bimmer_E30]

Ok so First, I replaced both foglights a while ago and the right foglight just quit working on me about 3 weeks or so, before it happend i noticed that it was putting lower output than the left one, then i replaced it with a new bulb and now it's not working at all? i checked the fuse and it's good. what could that possibly be?

[wodcutr]

If you are talking the ellipsoid fogs then there could be some corrosion on the contacts of the bulb carrier and also the pins of the connector. The bulb needs good contact in the housing to conduct current. Scrape the parts clean where they make contact and see if that helps.

[bimmer_E30]

but the thing that i don't understand that they worked perfectly before that.

[bimmer_E30]

b-u-m-p

[Dolmangar]

Troubleshooting a similar problem.

The drivers side fog wasn't working when I got the car. Assumed bulb so I swapped it out. Didn't fix the problem. I checked the new bulb to verify that it lit.

Checked the fuse and noticed it was blown so I swaped the left/right fuse but it still doesn't work.

I appear to be getting 12v at the power plug but not in the housing so I pulled it off last night to clean it up and see if that fixes the issue. Plus I'll need to get a new set of fuses.

[Cyrano]

maybe relay?

[pawi30]

I appear to be getting 12v at the power plug but not in the housing so I pulled it off last night to clean it up and see if that fixes the issue. Plus I'll need to get a new set of fuses.

Verify

[pawi30]

I appear to be getting 12v at the power plug but not in the housing so I pulled it off last night to clean it up and see if that fixes the issue. Plus I'll need to get a new set of fuses.

Verify all this, and you should find the problem.

[Dolmangar]

I ended up getting this figured out. The harness was getting power, but the ground inside the housing was bad. Depending on where I tested it I got power, but the light still wouldn't work.

I ended up wiring in a new ground and everything worked just fine.

Verify all this, and you should find the problem.

[bimmer_E30]

I wanna get my foglights working again. Fuck

[Dolmangar]

I wanna get my foglights working again. Fuck

Check a few things and let us know, that way we can tell you what to check next.

1. Verify that the bulb works (put it in another housing or wire it to another 12 volt source and make sure that it lights).

2. Verify that you have about 12 volts IN SIDE the housing. Use a volt meter for this. Or use a test light, not as good but at least you know there is power.

3. If no power in the housing, pull the plug to the housing and see if you have power there. Test both sides of the plug, and test the positive side and ground it to metal on the car. This was the problem on my car, power at the harness, but bad ground in the housing.

4. If no power at the plug, test the fuse box. On my car, there are two fuses, one for left and one for right. Remember, just because the fuse looks good doesn't mean it is. You can use a volt meter to verify that you're getting power though the fuse box. Becareful not to short something.

5. I honestly don't know the best way to test the relay. I'm sure someone here and help out.

6. From there you'll probably have to check the switch.

There isn't anything complicated about the fog system, just have to get 12 volts to the housing.

[e30fish]

I had a similar problem, my switch lit up the fog indicator lite and heard the relay kick on. thought the bulbs were brand new, but turns out they only looked that way. also, had one housing with a super rusted ground.I ended up getting new bulbs from O'reily's($4.99) and some connector protectant. I pulled both bulbs to find that the bulbs were loose from the metal pedestals they mounted on. the previous owner must have pulled on the actual glass bulb thinking it was a separate piece.I then tested the bad ground with a multimeter and got no juice through the housing into the connector. I used some rust remover(PB blaster) on the ground and scrubbed it with a little steel brush and small piece of sandpaper. I put it all back together and caked on the connector protectant. I hit the switch and it all luckily worked. also, forgot to mention that I was getting juice to the actual connector into the fog housing.