When diagnosing a typical fog lamp failure, the first chore is to remove the bad fog lamp bulb from behind the front bumper cover. Once removed, the fog lamp bulb will be removed and inspected to identify if the filament wire is intact or broken. For a severed filament wire, the bulb will likely be replaced right away, tested, and reinstalled. If the filament does not appear to be broken, the socket will be tested for proper voltage and amperage, and the results of this test will either call for inspection of the rest of the circuit or replacement of the bulb. If the bulb is getting no electrical power from the socket, the circuit will be tested back to the last point with known power, and the fault will be repaired. Note, if both bulbs suffer from loss of power, the switch and relay will be tested first.
How are Fog Lamp Bulbs replaced?
Removing and installing a fog lamp bulb can range in difficulty from simple to tedious. HID fog lamps will be the tedious range, while traditional fog lamp bulbs are simple. Removal in both cases will call for access to the rear of the fog lamp, and this may be accomplished from the front of the bumper on many traditional bulbs, but HID bulbs will likely require the removal of plastic undercarriage guards and the removal of the ballast, socket, and bulb from underneath the vehicle. Once accessed, changing the bulb in either case requires twisting the bulb from the socket, and replacing the socket or ballast.
RepairPal Recommendations for Fog Lamp Bulb issues
Due to applicable local laws in many locations, we recommend replacing the fog light bulbs with the same color of bulbs that the vehicle was originally manufactured with. This can prevent costly or inconvenient tickets, and repeating the repair. Also, we recommend avoiding the use of power tools when working with trim panels such as those surrounding and securing the fog lights. These are typically plastic, and the screws are small, so using power tools will likely result in stripped screw holes or cracked plastic.
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What to look out for when dealing with Fog Lamp Bulb issues
In the case of HID lights, it is imperative to take the time necessary to avoid touching the bulb. These bulbs are costly, and the oil from fingers can cause the bulb to overheat and fail quickly.
Can I replace the Fog Lamp Bulb myself?
This is a fairly easy repair, and the tools required are few, if any. As long as the fog lights are a typical light bulb, and can be removed without the removal of additional components, fog lamp replacement is simple. However, as noted, HID fog lamps can be a little more tedious and generally not user friendly. For the novice DIYer, this task can still be completed in less than an hour.