Anyone install aftermarket fog lights by themselves?

psteng19 · Feb 25th, 2003, 07:55 PM

Just wondering if anyone did their own fog install?

My '95 Sentra that I bought used, came with aftermarkets installed. They were working for awhile, but they stopped.

The fogs don't light up anymore, but the switch mounted under the dash still glows when switched on (it's one of those switches that have a bulb that glows amber when turned on).

Anyway, with this info, is anyone able to diagnose the problem?
Is it the bulbs in the fog themselves? - very odd that they would both burn out at the same time.

Is it wiring? relay? other part(s)?

Thanks in advance.

Nostrodomas · Feb 25th, 2003, 08:31 PM

Try searching for a fuse. It will problly be under your hood somewhere. If you cant find one there, look under the dash. If the fuse is fine, then it might be a bad relay.

Mar 6th, 2003, 03:56 AM

I do believe there is a relay in the passenger side box with a spot for the foggies. Check that relay, it could be the guilty party.

sethwas · Mar 6th, 2003, 07:28 AM

Right,
The relay is what is powering your switch. It is probably conected to a low beam feed. The switch probably does not light when your lows are off or your highs are on. When your lows are on the switch lights up and you have the option of turning your fogs on or not. THe relay obviously isn't providing the power, it is just relocating if from whatever power source the fogsare using and testing to see when your lows are on so you can use fogs as well.
Chek bulbs, and follow the wiring, there may be a short or an open part of the harness. A fuse doesn't suond likely since you get power to the lamp in the switch. The relay could be shot, but again the switch gets its power ffrom there so it sounds like its working. Does the relay click when the switch is turned on and off. If not, then it is dead.

Seth

azkicker0027 · Mar 6th, 2003, 08:47 PM

but wait, didn't he say that it was an aftermarket foglamp assembly, and if so, check the bulbs, power to the lamps, then ground.......

Ajaxn26 · Mar 6th, 2003, 09:05 PM

i did my own on my 99 gxe
took a few to do it !

Dynamitega · Mar 7th, 2003, 01:49 AM

What aftermarket fog lights did you use? I'm looking for some, but can't find any that fit right. Thanks.

sethwas · Mar 7th, 2003, 08:43 AM

Hella Micro DE.
Best. (Use the projector similar to the ones you see in OEM HID units so the light is great, in fact they ocme HID too)

Seth

Dynamitega · Mar 7th, 2003, 09:54 AM

Thanks for the reply seth. Do you know of anything that looks like the 200sx factory ones that would fit in our front bumper covers? If I got those Hella ones, they'd be brighter than my headlights

Edit: When I say "our front bumper covers", I mean the 1998-99 Sentras and the earlier 200sx's that had the spots for some on the sides. Thanks.

himilefrontier · Mar 7th, 2003, 02:00 PM

remember that the 98 sentra uses a 95-97 200 front cover and the 99 sentra uses the same cover as a 98-99 200.

Dynamitega · Mar 7th, 2003, 04:26 PM

Ok Seth,

I saw another thread where you said the lights in the bumper of the 200sx's are actually accessory lights, not fog lights. Do you know where I could get those accessory lights? I really like the clean look of them. What I'd probably do is hook them up to my side parking lights to just turn on when they're on.

Thanks,
Jason

sethwas · Mar 7th, 2003, 04:32 PM

Well,
Dealer or junkyard. Either way, you're gonna have to custom wire it. If you want, talk to scorchin200sx who is making a C/F cover that fits in the factory hole for those lights which whill fill up the rest of the hole that is not occupied by the light itself.

Seth

Dynamitega · Mar 7th, 2003, 06:23 PM

Just got back from the dealership... it took a while to find them, but they came out to be about 160 a piece. (123 for the light, 23 for the mounting bracket, and like 10 dollars for the wiring)

Are they worth that look? Hrm....

Felonious Cat Stalker · Mar 7th, 2003, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by psteng19
The fogs don't light up anymore, but the switch mounted under the dash still glows when switched on (it's one of those switches that have a bulb that glows amber when turned on).

Anyway, with this info, is anyone able to diagnose the problem?
Is it the bulbs in the fog themselves? - very odd that they would both burn out at the same time.

Is it wiring? relay? other part(s)?

I had the same problem with my aftermarket Hellas. In my case it was the ground, I recommend you check that.

Ninety-Nine SE-L · Mar 8th, 2003, 11:32 AM

if the switch works and the lights don't, that means hat it lies either in the relay, the inline fuse, faulty wiring, or bad bulbs. I suggest you trace the 2 wires going into the lamps. trace those wires from the lamps to the source and see if:

the negaive wire from the lamps is properly grounded to the car's body.
the positive wire should be going into the relay, then out of the relay to the battery. make sure the wire is in tact and connected directly to the possitive side of the battery.
beween the battery and the relay (sometimes between the relay and the lamps) there should be an in-line fuse box on the positive wire. open the box and see i the fuse is still good.
lastly, when you flick the switch on inside of the car, you should be able to hear the relay click from under the hood. Have a friend tun the switch on (so it glows) while you listen to the relay for a click. If it doesn't click, you can get a replacement relay @ Discount auto for <$4