Fog light solution

[shoto]

I read with interest and amazement the huge thread concerning all the problems people have with their fog light bulbs burning out. For those of you with all the problems you may find this interesting.

My 04 GXP has never had a fog light bulb go out. They both are still working just fine even though, as I found out today, the driver's side unit is severely damaged - beyond repair.

After reading the fog light thread, and since I had the splash shield off taking care of some other issues, I thought I would take a closer look at the left fog light that I knew had been tweaked about two years ago. It wasn't sitting quite right in its hole so I thought I would finally straighten it out today. I totally removed the entire light unit to inspect it and it has a huge hole in the light housing and the inner glass reflector around the bulb was broken into pieces just laying in there - and the bulb still works!! It's been like that for two years! There is just enough of the reflector glass around the bulb to hold it in place. All this time I thought it was undamaged and just tilted out of place a bit.

I pulled out all the glass pieces, put everything back together and mounted the unit back where it is suppose to be. Works fine and can't really tell any difference from the right side. I know I need a new one but it will work until I find one - I read they were expensive. From my experience all I can say is that those fog lights are tough SOBs.

Now here's an idea. From what I have seen with my car, it doesn't matter if there is a hole in the light housing to let it vent heat and operate cooler and possibly prolong the bulb life. Mine has definitely had water in it with no adverse effects. You probably don't want a jagged 3 inch by 1 inch hole in yours like mine has but a few strategically drilled holes may do more good than harm.

I wouldn't hesitate to try it if I was replacing bulbs every two months.

Sure, now that I've said all this, both of my fog lights will go out this week.

[Bvill_GXP]

lol.. Yea you have my kind of luck i think!! They are expensive!! I finished breaking mine this past sunday when i was trying to install a set of HID H3 bulbs in it.... So a member from the other site found some for me on ebay for $99.00 each... I had to have it so i got 1! So with the HID kit running 35Watts it will be cooler anyway.

[Bvill_GXP]

NM.... Got the fog assembly in today and got the answer to my question...
Got the new fog assembly installed with no problems at all.. To be honest it was pretty easy getting it out and popping the new on in.. I guess the hardest part was getting my hand inside and twisted just right to get to the screw thats closer to the bumper..

[CMNTMXR57]

Dude, that's the whole concept of leaving the moisture covers off that I spoke of in that thread! Let the heat out!

Additionally, even with my new light housings, I re-ran the ground wires, out of the light housing by drilling another hole. This too helps dissipate heat.

As I mentioned in that thread, I went from replacing them (the bulbs) once a month, to 3, 4+ months.

[00Beast]

Bulbs in our GXP have been fine for 6+ months, FWIW. Standard 55W Sylvania H3's.

[CMNTMXR57]

You're probably getting a little extra life simply from running a cooler bulb. More wattage = more heat.

[00Beast]

That post cursed me. I just replaced the DS bulb thursday, lol. Same 55W Sylvania.

[CMNTMXR57]

LOL! Did it happen in a downpour too! That's when mine always seem to go out...

[00Beast]

Nah, I noticed it in the back of a truck in traffic, then replaced it when changing the oil. I did it from the top this time, much easier, but harder to see, and remember how it all went together, lol.

[robo63]

well i am one of the unlucky ones, i have had my 04 gxp for almost 3 years and have replaced bulbs on each side probably four or five times, lost count. ended up replacing harness thinking that might help ($300), not took it to another shop last week to have bulb replaced and they said the housing was so rusted and corroded they could not replace the burnt bulb. anyone know where i can find complete assembly for better price than dealer, nothing found on ebay? thanks, robb in virginia

[CMNTMXR57]

I ended up making my own harness with bigger gauge wire. I ended up also replacing both lights as like yours, it was rusted, corroded, and the ceramic housing on one, actually shattered. I ended up finding a set at a salvage yard in Michigan.

Look on http://www.car-part.com/

This place claimed they were used. When I got them, they were brand spanking new, never used!