what did I do???? (re. fog lamps)

[DavidT]

one of my foglights seemed to have a loose connection (it would cut on and off by tapping on the lens)
So I took the bulb out to inspect everything. It seemed the ground wasn't making a good connection. So I reassembled it with a GOOD connection at the ground wire. Now neither of my fog lamps work
What did I do, and more importantly, how do I fix it? Did I blow a fuse? Which one is it?

 

[cRaZySHO.]

Check your owners manual in the index for what fuse it is. And if the fuse blew, that means you have a exposed wire somewhere that is probably touching the frame or other metal somewhere. Check the wiring harness for any cracks, and inspect those wires. Replacing the fuse may fix it for now, but if there is an exposed wire, chances are you will blow this fuse out again.

 

[DavidT]

well, I don't have an owners manual. And the previous owner wired it to where the fog lamps automatically come on whenever the headlights are on (the fog lamp button no longer works). So I would say you are correct about an exposed wire. Does anyone know which fuse I need to look at?

 

[cRaZySHO.]

How about this, if someone will tell me if your gen1 has the same fuse panel as my 95, I will go look at mine for you. I still have my owners manual.

 

[DavidT]

well, I checked all the fuses and they look fine.
What about the "relays"(?) (the metal things in the fuse panel)
What did I do??????
(I always get these type of reminders as to why I don't need to work on cars... or even "try", for that matter shrug
*edit*
let me elaborate on what I did.
You know the little metal pin that runs along the bottom of the bulbs "housing"... and acts as the "ground" for the bulb...
well I ran that little pin/wire through the hole in the bottom of the "housing" to ensure a perfect connection.
I take it I shouldn't have done that?
Of course you guys may think I'm crazy in what I described... I don't know if the stock setup is the same way as mine...

<small>[ January 27, 2003, 05:22 PM: Message edited by: dkautumna ]</small>

 

[RStalveyARFF]

the fog light fuse is not in the panel, it's in its separate holder behind the dash, above the pedals.

 

[91 Plus]

Yea look up under the pedals it is just one fuse hanging in a holder..i had the problem on my 94 and the fuse was NOT in the fuse box!

 

[DavidT]

I'll take a look... thanks guys! thumbs_u

 

[DavidT]

well, I took a look and nothing really looked like what I think I'm looking for. What exactly does it look like(color, # of wires, etc...)? Sorry for being a dunce

Under the hood, It looks like some wires from the bulbs run into a little black box on the left side of the battery tray. It says 12v 30Amp. Is this something I need to check?

 

[jdh00]

I had the same problem, come to find out my dimmer switch was turned down just a tad. I put it to max and the fog lights kicked on. Bizarre, but I wasn't complaining when they turned back on.

 

[DavidT]

Hallelujah!
I found it! The search function is good!
BUT, I keep blowing fuses shrug AS soon as I turn the lights on... BAM. It blows.
I even used and blew a 30 amp fuse!
What could be going on????????

<small>[ January 29, 2003, 06:26 PM: Message edited by: dkautumna ]</small>

 

[Ishodu]

You got a Short somewhere and you should find it before you put anymore fuses in. Just how did the guy hook up the fogs. Just bypass the switch?
Or are they on there own relays? Start looking at the wires that you checked. I got a wire dig for a 95 not too sure if its what you need but email me if you want it.

<small>[ January 29, 2003, 07:22 PM: Message edited by: ishodu ]</small>

 

[DavidT]

ishodu,
thanks.
Weird thing is... I chnged the bulbs out a few months ago and they have worked good. Except I noticed lately that one lamp was out... so I pecked on the lens and it would light up, and go off... as much as I tapped on it(I assumed there was a loose connection) So
I pulled the bulb out. To check it, I laid the ground wire on the metal base of the bulb (WHILE THE POSITIVE CONNECTION WAS ATTACHED.) it kind of sizzled at first,of course. It lit up and stayed lit... so that let me narrow it down to the ground wire not making a solid connection while the bulb is in the lens. So I assembled it back with, what I thought, a great ground connection. (see earlier post)
Turn my lights on and NOTHING shrug
Hope this makes sense

 

[DavidT]

*update*
well, there is another fuse in a fusible link that runs from a relay? (mounted just left of the battery) to the neg. battery terminal... and this relay? runs to the foglights. It is a 30amp fuse. It was blown. Replaced it and the one under the dash and I got my foglights back thumbs_u
BTW... the fuse under the dash is right above and very close to the fuse panel... upon removing the big metal cover below the steering wheel... you can't miss it.

<small>[ January 30, 2003, 09:06 PM: Message edited by: dkautumna ]</small>