JackoliciousLegs

My fog lights quit working... Here's the deal tho. First thing I replaced was the fuse. No change. Next, the mirrors went out. The security light still blinks tho. I would check the bulbs to the fogs next but i can't get the darn things off... they're rusted on. I can pay to have a shop take them off or it could just be something electrical. What's wrong?

Hot_Dog

Did you check the relay for the fog lights? It's in front of the radiator near the hood latch. There's several relays there...I think the fog light relay is the rightmost relay.

Hot_Dog
90 RX7 GXL
02 Acura RSX-S

JackoliciousLegs

oooOOOooo... FSM check time

JackoliciousLegs

hmmm... can't find relay stuff in fsm... right most as in driver's side or passenger? how do I check a relay?

Jack <-- n00b

JackoliciousLegs

oh.. and if they both go out at once... does that mean that it's not the bulbs?

JackoliciousLegs

bump

where exactly are relays? can't find location in FSM.

if both go out at once, along with the mirrors, can something be wrong with my center console (i.e. not the bulbs because I can't get to them. they're rusted in)?

Thanks

JackoliciousLegs

checked the switch in the center console. Works fine. Which relay is it? How do i pull it out to test it? all the wires are taught

JackoliciousLegs

bumpity bump

casio

can you get to the wires right by the fog lights (never worked on mine so i dont know how accessible they are). volt test em to make sure they're getting power. i'm sure the answer is no, so you move closer down the wire. this stuff sounds easy, but i know its not. nothing you need to get to is easily accessible, but thats how you find where the problem is..

and one question, why did you replace the fuse? most all fuses (smaller ones) are clear and you can see if they're blown.

JackoliciousLegs

some fuses go out not so visibly. I just did it to be sure.
No i can't get to the wires by the lights because I can't get to the lights themselves. The screws are rusted in. That's my last resort is to take them to a shop to have them pulled off. If anyone has a way of doing that without paying someone with big tools to do it, lemme know please!!

DigitalSynthesis

You'll have to replace the nuts anyway, from what I've read. Consider them a loss and dremel them off or use a nut splitter. That's my advice. Take a wire brush to the posts if they are all rusted too.

JackoliciousLegs

ok, i found out that the switch is dodgy.. weird. Now the foglights only work when the headlights are on. How do I change that? Time to search?

Icemark

That is the way they come/work from the factory.

JackoliciousLegs

i know i know... i figured that out... it just sucks. Oh well! Time to rewire some stuff! Is it ok if I just check for the + wire on the fog switch and connect that straight to a - (like the cigarette lighter)? Is more complex wiring needed?

casio

you want to rewire it but you don't know how to volt test? i didn't mean volt test the light, i mean the wires. wires are run to accessories, so i was saying check all parts of the wire you can to see when it has and doesn't have voltage.
i'd like to think we're not on the same track or something.

as for wiring, i believe you'll need to find an "ignition wire" (wire thats on as soon as the ignition is turned on; i believe cigarette p+sitive should work) and connect it to your switch and leave the n-gative as is. i'd make sure their amp ratings are the same or you could blow a fuse which is one reason i'm unsure of the cig lighter's wire.
Icemark's the man and i let him chime in whenever possible.

Icemark

What most people do, is simply move the input wire from the headlights to the parking lights.

At the fog light switch, there is a Red/Black and a Red/white.

Cut the red/black and cap off the side going towards the car. The side going towards the switch hook up ("T" into) to the Red/Black parking light wire at the AAS switch plug (also under/in the center consol plate even if you don't have AAS). You can also use the Red/black at the glove box light.

This allows the fog lights to be turned on with the parking lights as well as with the headlights, but you can't accidentally leave the fog lights on.

JackoliciousLegs

what is aas and what am i looking for?

edit: thanks for all the help - Jack <- n00b

JackoliciousLegs

i looked around underneath the switch and only see stuff for my auto mirrors, security, and the fogs. Where is this aas wire and what does AAS do?