Fog light issues on a Carrera

[Cevan]

My new to me '86 Carrera has the stock fog lights. First time I turned them on, neither light illuminated. I went through the usual steps and have discovered two issues.

The fuse, relay and switch are good. I tapped on either light and the drivers side illuminated, but not the passenger side. However, the driver's side light didn't illuminate again when I tried it a couple of days later.

I removed both lights and pulled the bulbs and tested them with a 12v source. Both work, but only after tapping on them, as if something is corroded or the + conncection is compromised. I am going to buy new ones as they are about $10 for a pair from our host.

The other issue is the wiring on the passenger side. There is no continuity between the ground wire on the pass side and ground on the car, which would explain why that light doesn't work. I can't see any obvious signs of abrasion but access is minimal. An easy fix would be to just run a new ground wire to the light.

Any thoughts?

[86 911 Targa]

Originally Posted by Cevan

My new to me '86 Carrera has the stock fog lights. First time I turned them on, neither light illuminated. I went through the usual steps and have discovered two issues.

The fuse, relay and switch are good. I tapped on either light and the drivers side illuminated, but not the passenger side. However, the driver's side light didn't illuminate again when I tried it a couple of days later.

I removed both lights and pulled the bulbs and tested them with a 12v source. Both work, but only after tapping on them, as if something is corroded or the + conncection is compromised. I am going to buy new ones as they are about $10 for a pair from our host.

The other issue is the wiring on the passenger side. There is no continuity between the ground wire on the pass side and ground on the car, which would explain why that light doesn't work. I can't see any obvious signs of abrasion but access is minimal. An easy fix would be to just run a new ground wire to the light.

Any thoughts?

Before you open up your check book,

Try cleaning the connectors with a Q-Tip & some alcohol.

[wwest]

Or remove the power and use a crochet hook to pull, "spring" the contact farther forward.

[darrin]

also keep in mind that, once you get them working, you'll likely almost never find yourself using them . . .

If your '86 still has stock sealed beam headlights, you'd get a HUGE lighting improvement by installing H4 bulbs and relays

[SpyderMike]

Check the connections inside the trunk too...they may be covered in a black plastic sheath. My pictures show them as the white sheathed pair of wires.

Left side of car:


Right side of car:

[wrxnofx]

Originally Posted by SpyderMike

Check the connections inside the trunk too...they may be covered in a black plastic sheath. My pictures show them as the white sheathed pair of wires.

Left side of car:


Right side of car:

^^This. See if you have wire continuity between the light itself and this connection. Perhaps this connection is the one that is causing the lack of connection.

[gwinnch]

Ok, trying this again, hopefully the image posts.
One of my fog light wires was pinched by the metal bulb holder inside the housing-it was hard to find-had to use my cheaters. In the pic I'm flexing the wire so the crack spreads out. A little liquid electrical tape fixed it along with carefully rearranging the wires inside the housing.