Fog light bulb replacement procedure?

Pete_89T2 · 10-26-2013, 07:09 AM

My passenger side fog light burnt out last night and needs to be replaced. Other than having an exploded view diagram of the fog light assembly, the FSM doesn't bother to describe how one gets the bulb out for replacement.

Any tips here to save me some time? Also, the FSM only gives the specification of the fog light bulb as 55 Watts, it says nothing about what part number to use. From the Rock auto online catalog, it appears the US market S5T2 fog lights use standard H3 bulbs that can be found almost anywhere, can anyone confirm this?

JL1RX7 · 10-26-2013, 07:16 AM

You can use the H3. It requires some modifications to use. It takes a rare H3C bulb. I have gotten them off ebay for a few bucks apiece.

To remove them they have one Phillips head on one side and then a snap clip on the other if I recall correctly. Be a bit since I had to change one, but it is not hard.

Pete_89T2 · 10-26-2013, 07:27 AM

Thanks - on the procedure, that's what I sort of figured from the FSM diagram. Looks like the Phillips head screw is along the top edge of the lens assembly, and the clip is on the outside edge (side facing fender) of the fog light. Appears that you yank out the whole lens assembly to remove the bulb from the backside of it. Hopefully there's enough wiring slack to do that without needing little monkey fingers.

Some of the Rock Auto bulb photos show bulbs with a pigtail wire attached, others show no such pigtails, but they are all supposedly H3's. Should I go for the one that shows the pigtail? Guess I'll find out when I get in there later today.

don3vor · 10-26-2013, 07:29 AM

let me see if i remember .... i put a set on my car over the summer, unplug the wire from the housing, were that unplugs from gets twisted off its a cap of sorts ,if that makes sense. behind this cap is were the bulb lies, it is held by clips the kind you push down and to the side, but just one side gets pushed down and out the other just holds the bulb down. hope this helps LMK .

btw i saw out with the fam yesterday and we saw you by the milbourne orchard you were at the stop sign heading towards my house.

JL1RX7 · 10-26-2013, 07:34 AM

No pigtail. The H3C just fits in the fitting. Have to snap it in. I used a long skinny flat head to get the clip. Passenger side is the tricky of the two. Likes to hide behind the front nose clip. But still isn't hard. Like 15 minutes a side type thing.

Pete_89T2 · 10-26-2013, 07:49 AM

Thanks guys, will pick up an H3C without the pigtails then.

Juan - yup, that was me & the FC. Headed to my GF's place in PA last night. BTW, I found a local shop in Wilmington DE that rebuilds turbos in-house. Can't vouch for their competence yet, but in talking to them on the phone, I asked if they will do the balancing step if I were to do the rest of the rebuild job myself, and they said can do it for $100.

don3vor · 10-26-2013, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete_89T2

Thanks guys, will pick up an H3C without the pigtails then.

no problem let me know if you need a hand.

BTW, I found a local shop in Wilmington DE that rebuilds turbos in-house. Can't vouch for their competence yet, but in talking to them on the phone, I asked if they will do the balancing step if I were to do the rest of the rebuild job myself, and they said can do it for $100.

Nice!! let me know how that goes.

don3vor · 10-26-2013, 08:02 AM

Let me know if you need a hand with anything

Pete_89T2 · 10-26-2013, 08:20 AM

Haven't decided if I'm going to just send the turbo back to BNR for a 2nd rebuild job or DIY it. The DIY rebuild doesn't look that hard, and all the rebuild parts are readily available, and now that I can get it balanced locally the DIY approach is looking much better. BUT if I find that my turbine wheel & shaft is out of tolerance when I take it apart, sourcing a new one will be difficult. Still waiting for a price quote from BNR. BNR says he's decided to do "full" rebuilds from here on out, with all new rotating parts (turbine wheel/shafts etc.). Supposedly he's waiting for a supply of new turbine wheels/shafts to arrive before he can price this out for me.

Pete_89T2 · 10-27-2013, 12:40 PM

Ok guys, I must be missing something here... Spent the last half hour trying to free the fog light lens from the bumper to get to the bulb on the passenger side. Took all of about 5 minutes to back out the screw and get that clip on the other side unfastened, which allows me to pull the lens back about 1/2~3/4 of an inch but it won't come out any further so I can access the bulb from the back as the diagram below attached. There's plenty of slack on the cable, but it seems to be hanging up on something on the screw side.

JL1RX7 · 10-27-2013, 04:35 PM

Should be pretty straight forward. Is it hanging up on the front clip itself? If I remember one of the many times the passenger side likes to hang up on the cut out for the brake duct. Took the long screw driver and gently moved things around to get it out. Otherwise check to see if that clip is catching on something when your trying to back it out.

If it wasn't getting dark I would go pull mine to make sure I am not missing something.

Pete_89T2 · 10-27-2013, 05:43 PM

It may well be hanging up on the front clip or brake duct somewhere. Put it back the way it was and called it quits this afternoon to go watch football, will tackle it tomorrow after work.

10-26-2013, 07:09 AM	#1
Pete_89T2 Lifetime Rotorhead Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Elkton, MD iTrader: (1) Posts: 874 Rep Power: 15	Fog light bulb replacement procedure? My passenger side fog light burnt out last night and needs to be replaced. Other than having an exploded view diagram of the fog light assembly, the FSM doesn't bother to describe how one gets the bulb out for replacement. Any tips here to save me some time? Also, the FSM only gives the specification of the fog light bulb as 55 Watts, it says nothing about what part number to use. From the Rock auto online catalog, it appears the US market S5T2 fog lights use standard H3 bulbs that can be found almost anywhere, can anyone confirm this?

10-26-2013, 07:34 AM	#5
JL1RX7 Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Front Royal, VA iTrader: (1) Posts: 487 Rep Power: 17	No pigtail. The H3C just fits in the fitting. Have to snap it in. I used a long skinny flat head to get the clip. Passenger side is the tricky of the two. Likes to hide behind the front nose clip. But still isn't hard. Like 15 minutes a side type thing. Last edited by JL1RX7; 10-26-2013 at 07:36 AM..

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10-26-2013, 07:16 AM	#2
JL1RX7 Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Front Royal, VA iTrader: (1) Posts: 487 Rep Power: 17	You can use the H3. It requires some modifications to use. It takes a rare H3C bulb. I have gotten them off ebay for a few bucks apiece. To remove them they have one Phillips head on one side and then a snap clip on the other if I recall correctly. Be a bit since I had to change one, but it is not hard.

10-26-2013, 07:27 AM	#3
Pete_89T2 Lifetime Rotorhead Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Elkton, MD iTrader: (1) Posts: 874 Rep Power: 15	Thanks - on the procedure, that's what I sort of figured from the FSM diagram. Looks like the Phillips head screw is along the top edge of the lens assembly, and the clip is on the outside edge (side facing fender) of the fog light. Appears that you yank out the whole lens assembly to remove the bulb from the backside of it. Hopefully there's enough wiring slack to do that without needing little monkey fingers. Some of the Rock Auto bulb photos show bulbs with a pigtail wire attached, others show no such pigtails, but they are all supposedly H3's. Should I go for the one that shows the pigtail? Guess I'll find out when I get in there later today.

10-26-2013, 07:29 AM	#4
don3vor The Newbie Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: elkton,md iTrader: (0) Posts: 18 Rep Power: 0	let me see if i remember .... i put a set on my car over the summer, unplug the wire from the housing, were that unplugs from gets twisted off its a cap of sorts ,if that makes sense. behind this cap is were the bulb lies, it is held by clips the kind you push down and to the side, but just one side gets pushed down and out the other just holds the bulb down. hope this helps LMK . btw i saw out with the fam yesterday and we saw you by the milbourne orchard you were at the stop sign heading towards my house.

10-26-2013, 07:49 AM	#6
Pete_89T2 Lifetime Rotorhead Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Elkton, MD iTrader: (1) Posts: 874 Rep Power: 15	Thanks guys, will pick up an H3C without the pigtails then. Juan - yup, that was me & the FC. Headed to my GF's place in PA last night. BTW, I found a local shop in Wilmington DE that rebuilds turbos in-house. Can't vouch for their competence yet, but in talking to them on the phone, I asked if they will do the balancing step if I were to do the rest of the rebuild job myself, and they said can do it for $100.

10-26-2013, 08:02 AM	#8
don3vor The Newbie Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: elkton,md iTrader: (0) Posts: 18 Rep Power: 0	Let me know if you need a hand with anything

10-26-2013, 08:20 AM	#9
Pete_89T2 Lifetime Rotorhead Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Elkton, MD iTrader: (1) Posts: 874 Rep Power: 15	Haven't decided if I'm going to just send the turbo back to BNR for a 2nd rebuild job or DIY it. The DIY rebuild doesn't look that hard, and all the rebuild parts are readily available, and now that I can get it balanced locally the DIY approach is looking much better. BUT if I find that my turbine wheel & shaft is out of tolerance when I take it apart, sourcing a new one will be difficult. Still waiting for a price quote from BNR. BNR says he's decided to do "full" rebuilds from here on out, with all new rotating parts (turbine wheel/shafts etc.). Supposedly he's waiting for a supply of new turbine wheels/shafts to arrive before he can price this out for me.

10-27-2013, 04:35 PM	#11
JL1RX7 Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Front Royal, VA iTrader: (1) Posts: 487 Rep Power: 17	Should be pretty straight forward. Is it hanging up on the front clip itself? If I remember one of the many times the passenger side likes to hang up on the cut out for the brake duct. Took the long screw driver and gently moved things around to get it out. Otherwise check to see if that clip is catching on something when your trying to back it out. If it wasn't getting dark I would go pull mine to make sure I am not missing something.

10-27-2013, 05:43 PM	#12
Pete_89T2 Lifetime Rotorhead Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Elkton, MD iTrader: (1) Posts: 874 Rep Power: 15	It may well be hanging up on the front clip or brake duct somewhere. Put it back the way it was and called it quits this afternoon to go watch football, will tackle it tomorrow after work.