keuka1

I have a 98 CL 2.3L

I have had my factory fog lights in for about 2 weeks. Last night I noticed both were not on.

I have checked the two 15 amp fuses that came with the fogs and all the wiring is tight. The button inside the car lights up when pushed. As we all know the factory fogs only work on low beam.

Is there another fuse somewhere in the fusebox or dash that I don't know about?

I would like to know before I get a multimeter out and try to tace all the wires to find a break.

Thanks y'all!

SumkidwithaCL

I'd imagine those are the only fuses. Is there a relay?? Maybe that crapped out. Or its possible the bulbs blew... bad ground?? I dunno.

NOMAD

It may be your relay. My aftermarket Hella Relay just died and I bought a new one this morning to throw in there.Go get a relay for a few bucks and swap it out, probably is your problem.

keuka1

Nomad,

Thanks for the input. The rely is the black "box" that came with the fog lights close to the 2 fuse-fuse box, right?

niedejb

Dont know about the OEM fogs, but the CATZ I have have two different grounds. I've had one of the grounds work loose and had one light that woudlnt work. Fixed the ground and everything was fine.

Kinda happened all of a sudden with no reason.

NOMAD

Mine is in a different spot but I'm sure you are correct. There are all the wires going into it before they get to the fogs. It's basically a switch, mine is set up so that it turns on automatically with the parking lights but I may run a switch this weekend just to have one.

(If the fuse was blown i doubt that the fog switch would light up still as the signal for power would be disconnected.)

keuka1

Nomad,

Again thans for the info.

How did you wire the fogs to work with the parking lights?

NOMAD

Tapped the power wire to the corner light to supply power to the fogs and din't run a switch.

Without the switch, when the power to the corner bulb goes on it activates the relay to "relay" the power to the fogs as well.

One thing though. I think I fried the relay because our parking lights go on and off when we lock out doors, so the relay was working ALL the time... on, off, on, off MANY times a day.

New relays aren't too expensive though so hey, do what ya like.

keuka1

Damn.

Switchecd relay but it still dosen't work. Looks like I'll be testing the wires. Thanks for the help Nomad.

niedejb

I'm telling ya, check the grounds!

dustbuster4

I agree! I mentioned this in my PM!

NOMAD

How wonderful.

Looks like we're having the same issues. I replaced the relay and it works fine. I checked the grounds and they are 100% hooked up to the frame of the car. When I took the ground off the frame i could hear the relay switching off and on, so I know the relay is fine. The only other place for me to look is at the grounds inside the fog lights themselves.
I need to get a wire tester and see if th power wire is actually getting power to the lights as well.
Strange. It seems like everything is hooked up properly.

Do you know if a burned out bulb would keep both lights from turning on? Like on a string of X-mas lights? I didn't think this would be ther case.

I guess I'll have to disassemble the fog lights and look at the bulbs and their grounds.

keuka1

Thanks for your input. I started the check for the firewall, after checking the grounds and fuse # 19 & 32. I changed both to be sure.

Looking at the wiring diagram that came with the fogs it appears the system is a "christmas tree" type. I found 2 things that went bad.

1st: the ground was not so good. So you were right. But after wiring the ground to the negative terminal of the battery I still had no joy.

2nd: was the passenger side bulb was blown and that shorted out the driver side bulb. (I have a 2.3l so I had to run my wire down the passenger side of the car to get to the battery.) I "jumped" the circuit at the blown bulb and the driver side bulb came on.

I will replace both bulbs with PIAA H3s if there is not a Xenon replacement.

Again thanks for you input guys.

dustbuster4

This usually isn't the case with the OEM fog lights, but it may be what you're facing with those aftermarket lights. Otherwise, check those grounds. <hr>Originally posted by keuka1
Thanks for your input. I started the check for the firewall, after checking the grounds and fuse # 19 & 32. I changed both to be sure.

Looking at the wiring diagram that came with the fogs it appears the system is a "christmas tree" type. I found 2 things that went bad.

1st: the ground was not so good. So you were right. But after wiring the ground to the negative terminal of the battery I still had no joy.

2nd: was the passenger side bulb was blown and that shorted out the driver side bulb. (I have a 2.3l so I had to run my wire down the passenger side of the car to get to the battery.) I "jumped" the circuit at the blown bulb and the driver side bulb came on.

I will replace both bulbs with PIAA H3s if there is not a Xenon replacement.

Again thanks for you input guys.


I'm glad that you located the problem(s)!

keuka1

They are the factory fogs. I used the wiring loom that came with the set and everything plugged in no problem.

A I look at the wires on the plugs that connect to the back of the fog lights, the wires are not protected by a covering. I wonder if the wires have split from their covers and caused an arc/short to blow the bulb?

I am going to coat the wires in black silicone to be safe. So far this is the only prblem I have ever had with my CL, and I probably did it when I installed the fogs.

I put in the HID light and DAMN! I just have to get the corners and the Fogs and then the clear lens covers and springs and shocks and........

Oh well, whats money for anyway!

Again thanks for all the help! This board rules!

dustbuster4

Hey great new!

The first part of my comment (with the "") was directed to NOMAD. He has aftermarket lights.