lighting problem...

[XJeffro]

i just installed a pair of 6" lights on my front bumper. i wired them into the wiring harnesses that were on there from the stock fog lights. i just spliced in the new wire. the only problem is that they dont work now. the lights were not working with the stock lights, and i figured they just burned out. well, the new ones dont work either. i checked the fuses, and everything looks good. if anyone has some insight, that would be great...thanks

 

[HossHoffer]

relay

There is a relay on the fenderwall near the battery (at least in the early models). It's not a very good relay and I swapped mine for a higher amp to match my lights. If the relay doesn't take care of it check to make sure the relay is getting power from the switch. There is an override that shuts off the fogs when the high beams are on. Also it is a good idea to run a larger gauge wire from the relay to the lights. Mine fried clear through on a trip once. I also ran a new wire from the battery to the relay and added a in-line fuse instead of the fusable wire.

 

[HossHoffer]

Re: relay

There is a relay on the fenderwall near the battery (at least in the early models). It's not a very good relay and I swapped mine for a higher amp to match my lights. If the relay doesn't take care of it check to make sure the relay is getting power from the switch. There is an override that shuts off the fogs when the high beams are on. Also it is a good idea to run a larger gauge wire from the relay to the lights. Mine fried clear through on a trip once. I also ran a new wire from the battery to the relay and added a in-line fuse instead of the fusable wire.

 

[XJeffro]

thanks for the info. it gives me a place to start. my other question is, what am i looking for in the relay? will there be a visible problem, or what? the switch on the dash has a small light on it and it lights up when i turn it on, so there is a connection there... i guess i'll see what i can find.

 

[HossHoffer]

Relay

Undo the power lead from the battery to the relay. Turn the light switch on and probe the connector to see if there is resistance across the relay (from the power lead to the output to the lights). If there is full resistance then either the relay is bad or the fuse to the switch is blown.

 

[XJeffro]

i think i fugured it out. the relay had some nasty battery acid on it. it ate away at the metal and the whole thing is shot. i'll just get a new one, and see what happens...the whole thing was green and corroded. i'm pretty sure there was minimal connection there...will update on the changes. thanks!!!

 

[XJeffro]

I GOT THEM LIT...

ok. i got a new relay, and the lights light up. i know my wiring is ok... the only problem now is that the right light is on when the key isnt even in the ignition and the lights arent even on.

when i do turn the lights on, the left light turns on (like it is supposed to), and the right one then turns off. it is opposite what it is supossed to do. i cant figure it out. anybody know whats going on???

 

[HossHoffer]

Bad connection

You've got me stumped now. I thought those light are run in parallel so they should get their power from the same source. Ring out the wires to the lights checking for resistance and shorts to ground. As I suggested before think about running new wires to the lights. Good luck

 

[XJeffro]

i appreciate the help, hosshoffer. it is great having all this knowledge available to me...

if i run new wires, should i get rid of the old harnesses and such? this will be my first rewiring project. what is the best guage wire to get? you also said to get a higher amp relay to match the lights. are there any other mods to accomodate the higher amps?
Jeffro

 

[HossHoffer]

New wires

I would yank out the old wires from the relay to the lights. I used 12 guage wire to replace it with but I also put in some bigger and brighter lights that pulled more current. I bought a relay that carried the capacity of my lights (plus some fudge factor). Just check Radio Shack or eq.