Non working front fog lights

[CpnSpankyPantz]

Hi,

Since I bought my car my front fog lights haven't worked. I figured it wsa due to them being disconnected as one was cracked, but upon replacing the cracked one and the connector to the back of the light still nothing, the front fog light image doesn't illuminate on the dash board either.

Any suggestions as to waht to check?

Thanks

[gooner1]

Relay . i recently bought a touring, which had the fogs fitted but were,nt working.
P/O thought they had,nt been wired up, one visit to Spadge and a free relay later,
viola, working fogs.

[Brianmoooore]

Pull out relay K8 and use a piece of wire to link together pins 30 and 87 (not 87b) of its base.
What does this do?

[CpnSpankyPantz]

Thanks, I'll try this when I get home from work!

[asmith88]

try cleaning the contacts? neither of mine worked and i got a piece of wire wool to them and they worked a treat..

[Ollie_bwoii]

When I retro fitted my fog lights I had a whole host of problems to get them working,

2 new bulbs, cleaned contacts, new fuses, new dash switch but my relay was all good, but your could still be at fault.

[CpnSpankyPantz]

I didn't get a chance to check them as it was dark when I got home...

Which relay is k8, and how do you know the fuse numbers? Is it in the handbook?

[E30gore]

Under the relay cover in the engine bay it tell you what relay is what and under neith the relay it self it will tell you the number of each pin

[bmw9818]

try replacing the fog light switch mine wernt working either got a £2 replacement off ebay working fine now

[Brianmoooore]

try replacing the fog light switch mine wernt working either got a £2 replacement off ebay working fine now

And if the switch is not the problem, but your replacement switch is faulty, then you then have two faults!
Approach the problem logically, and prove what the problem is, before replacing anything.
Follow what E30gore has written above, and link out the relay.

[Dazdabomb]

check for voltage

[BadDave]

I didn't get a chance to check them as it was dark when I got home...

Which relay is k8, and how do you know the fuse numbers? Is it in the handbook?

The fuse box lid is marked with the K numbers of the relays, also with the relevant numbers for the fuses

Foglight fuses(7.5Amp) are in slots 29 and 30

Follow Brian's methodical approach 1st tho

[CpnSpankyPantz]

I'm being incredibly dense here, should I put the lights and fog lights on when bridging pins 30 and 87? Can try it at lunchtime, weather permitting!

[Brianmoooore]

No lights or anything else on. Just bridge the relay socket, and say whether the tell tale in the cluster and either or both of the foglights lights up.
This "bridging 30 and 87" thing on various relays is used for all sorts of diagnostics on E30s and other cars.

[CpnSpankyPantz]

That's fantastic, thank you Brian.

The newly replaced passenger light came on, as did the light on the dashboard, so I'm guessing at a new relay needed and a buld for the drivers side foglight!

[CpnSpankyPantz]

Oh, and another thing - are the relays standard on the e30, or do I have to get one for the specific role? If so where could I get one from?

Thanks

[Brianmoooore]

I'm guessing at a new relay needed and a buld for the drivers side foglight!

Oh that life were that simple!
The relay could be at fault, but it's way down the list of suspects!
There are several versions of E30 foglight wiring, depending on the regulations in the country the car was intended for, but for the UK market, the relay is a standard five pin double pole one
The two front foglights split at the inner side of fuses 29 and 30. Fuse 29 is for the LH foglamp and tell tale, and 30 is for the RH foglamp, so the problem with this light could be fuse 30, or the bulb.
Next test is to replace the relay, and pull out the foglight switch, preferably by removing the under dash panel, and pushing it out from behind.
Pull off the plug and use a piece of wire to link together the grey wire (7) and the grey/blue wire (5). Now turn the ignition on and switch on the main lighting switch.
Does this make the foglight(s) work?

[CpnSpankyPantz]

D'oh! I will (hopefully) have a look at lunchtime after getting a new relay!

Thanks for your help so far though!

[Brianmoooore]

after getting a new relay!

Almost certainly nothing wrong with the one you have!

[CpnSpankyPantz]

Next test is to replace the relay

I thought this meant get a new relay? Should I try what you suggested with the switch etc before ploughing in and buying a relay?

Also by RH do you mean drivers side?

Thanks!

[CpnSpankyPantz]

Update:

I tried what you wrote and bridged the two wires with the switch out and the Passenger side fog light worked, but still not the drivers side...

eta: that was with the same relay in! The fuses were fine also.

What next?

Thanks!

[Brianmoooore]

Next is to strip down the fog light switch, as that is the main problem. Clean up the bits, and reassemble, preferably with a bit of silicon grease as a lubricant.
Take it apart slowly, with the buttons facing upwards, and you won't have too many bits all over the floor.
By RH side, I mean the right hand side. If your car is a RH drive model, then that's the steering wheel side. If the car is LH drive, then it's not!
Driver's side foglamp is probably the bulb. That's the first and easiest thing to check, anyway.

[CpnSpankyPantz]

Excellent, thank you very much for your help Brian!

[CpnSpankyPantz]

Just a quickie to say thanks again Brian, I cleaned these up today and silicon greased them - worked a treat!