Dim Fog Light

[ledzilla]

So, the other night I finally got the replacement fog lights and wiring installed. I must say, it's nice not having two big empty holes in the bumper once again.

However, upon testing the lights, the passenger lamp is quite dim. I can only guess that when creating the new harness and attaching the new Weather Pack connectors that I didn't get one of the wires crimped into the pin well.

So, would I be correct in thinking that the best way to test would be to use a multimeter to test voltages across the connector pins with the fog lamps turned on?

[cer0413]

So, the other night I finally got the replacement fog lights and wiring installed. I must say, it's nice not having two big empty holes in the bumper once again.

However, upon testing the lights, the passenger lamp is quite dim. I can only guess that when creating the new harness and attaching the new Weather Pack connectors that I didn't get one of the wires crimped into the pin well.

So, would I be correct in thinking that the best way to test would be to use a multimeter to test voltages across the connector pins with the fog lamps turned on?
I had the same issue but I have HIDs. Aligning the fogs to my preference was the culprit so yours could have the same issue. Try PM-ing FBM. He know these very well. Also post pics if you can.

[fastblackmerc]

Sounds like it might be a poor ground issue. I've seen bad ground wires up in the harness that the foglight harness plugs into. Try using a jumper wire right to the negative battery post.

I'd solder the wires to after I crimp them.

I'd also check the positive wire to the foglight harness.

Is the reflector inside the foglight OK?

[ledzilla]

Yeah, the reflector is fine. Both lamps are brand new and have no damage.

I guess to test the ground and power I ought to try using some wires with alligator clips to connect into the connectors, otherwise I may end up with doing some unnecessary disassembly. I have everything all packaged in plastic loom and electrical tape.

Also, did I mention I avoid soldering whenever possible because I suck at it? Because I suck at it. =P

[ledzilla]

And maybe this is unnecessary, but this has given me thought of maybe creating an additional external relay harness for the fog lights. They have some pretty dinky wiring hooking up to them.

[fastblackmerc]

And maybe this is unnecessary, but this has given me thought of maybe creating an additional external relay harness for the fog lights. They have some pretty dinky wiring hooking up to them.

I wouldn't do a relay, maybe just heavier gauge wire.

[fastblackmerc]

Yeah, the reflector is fine. Both lamps are brand new and have no damage.

I guess to test the ground and power I ought to try using some wires with alligator clips to connect into the connectors, otherwise I may end up with doing some unnecessary disassembly. I have everything all packaged in plastic loom and electrical tape.

Also, did I mention I avoid soldering whenever possible because I suck at it? Because I suck at it. =P

Soldering isn't that hard. Plenty of youtube videos on how to do it.

[ledzilla]

Soldering isn't that hard. Plenty of youtube videos on how to do it.
I know how to solder. My hands just aren't steady enough to do it well. I'm still surprised that I managed to successfully solder in new resistors on my Buick's instrument cluster without making a mess. I think I still need to repair the overhead console in the Marauder, too, which will need a similar repair.

But if it turns out that the problem is with one of the new connections, I guess I'll have to redo them and try for some soldering, too. If it's the connection on the lamp plug itself, though, I'll have to get a pin removal tool. There isn't enough wire available to cut and redo. Somehow I think the problem won't get solved without doing a little shopping, though.

[ledzilla]

I wouldn't do a relay, maybe just heavier gauge wire.
Well, the only problem I see going that route is that it's entirely 18g wire between the lamps and front harness. While the heavier gauge wire will reduce resistance near the lamps, there's still all that 18g wiring the power has to travel through, anyway. But all of this is making a possibly false assumption that the fog lights would benefit the same as the headlights do from such a project.

[ledzilla]

I had the same issue but I have HIDs. Aligning the fogs to my preference was the culprit so yours could have the same issue. Try PM-ing FBM. He know these very well. Also post pics if you can.
I thought maybe there was an alignment issue in them, but that can be checked by moving around to see which angle gets the full intensity. No matter how I moved, the illumination never came close to matching the output of the other lamp. I am thinking of eventually replacing the fogs and headlights with either HIDs or LEDs, depending on how much improvement I see from installing an external relay harness for the headlights. Right now it seems like the switchback parking lamp bulbs I purchased from FBM outshine the headlights, just not as good area coverage.

[ChiTownMaraud3r]

Definitely a voltage issue.

[ledzilla]

Maybe if the weather cooperates today and doesn't force me to close up the garage before I get anything done, I can actually test the wiring. I'm pretty sure it's either the harness or the new wiring. One of those is funky.

[ledzilla]

Well, I tested the wiring, and I was consistently getting 11.2 volts all the way from the harness to the socket. When I checked the other side, the side illuminated well, I was getting 11 volts the whole length. Then I noticed the bulb...

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160422/9a1ee173ae85e44cb5495cf7dc2bc2 cf.jpg

[Turbov6Bryan]

Bingo

Always the simple stuff first, wished I would have chimed in earlier


So, if it's new, why is it burned up so soon?

[ledzilla]

I have no idea why that bulb burned out so quickly. I can only guess that maybe something got on it I didn't notice when I put them onto the lamps. You can't see it in the photo, but there's a strange inperfection in that bulb's glass that won't come off.

[fastblackmerc]

I have no idea why that bulb burned out so quickly. I can only guess that maybe something got on it I didn't notice when I put them onto the lamps. You can't see it in the photo, but there's a strange inperfection in that bulb's glass that won't come off.

There was either an imperfection in the glass or more likely there was a fingerprint (oil) on the bulb. The regular halogen and HID bulbs burn so hot that the oil boils and blows out the bulb. When handling halogen or HID bulbs, never ever touch the bulb itself. After I do any installs, whether or not I touched the bulb(s), I always wipe down the bulb(s) with rubbing alcohol, making sure it's completely dry before reassembly.

Handling precautions

"Any surface contamination, notably the oil from human fingertips, can damage the quartz envelope when it is heated. Contaminants will create a hot spot on the bulb surface when the lamp is turned on. This extreme, localized heat causes the quartz to change from its vitreous form into a weaker, crystalline form that leaks gas. This weakening may also cause the bulb to form a bubble, weakening it and leading to its explosion.[20] Consequently, manufacturers recommend that quartz lamps should be handled without touching the clear quartz, either by using a clean paper towel or carefully holding the porcelain base. If the quartz is contaminated in any way, it must be thoroughly cleaned with denatured alcohol and dried before use."

[ledzilla]

I'm familiar with that issue, and I do my best to take precautionary measures when installing headlight and foglight bulbs. This is not something I had to put into practice often until I bought the Marauder and my previous car had no fogs and used sealed beam lamps. I had installed the bulbs very carefully before installing the lamps. I did find a spot on the bulb that looks like it had glue or something on it, and it's on a spot on the bulb that seems unlikely to be touched during installation.

So my guess is that either I did in fact touch the bulb with my hands at some point, there was a defect in the glass, or there was some unknown foreign material on the glass that went unnoticed prior to using the bulb, most likely from my terrible hands fumbling the bulb at some point. It seriously looks like super glue on it. At least, it does now. But typically in my experience when skin oils get on these bulbs, the bulbs completely fail, not merely lose performance. But who knows. Either way, the bulb is toast. Fortunately I still had the bulbs that came with the lamps, so I swapped them around, so they're usable for the time being.