SLE Fog Light Issue

[Benvw99]

I am well aware that 05 SLE's and GXP's have tons of trouble with their fog lights. After I bought my car, both fogs were out so I went ahead and replaced them just to see how long they would go. I replaced them in mid Feb, and the passenger side went out in early April. I haven't gotten around to replace them, and after seeing all the trouble it was just to change and how constant changing is required, I started to wonder about something.

Is there some type of kit or mod, aftermarket, anything that can replace the fog light setup in my SLE? I usually don't like to go the aftermarket route for things like this, but I love using the fogs and don't like replacing them so often. I am not sure what the "kits" are actually called, so bear with me. Thanks for the help!

[nos4blood70]

You can install an HID kit and not worry about it anymore.

[Benvw99]

Sounds interesting. Do you know where i can buy one and how much it costs?

[nos4blood70]

I think the 05 SLE/GXPs take H11 bulbs? Any H11 HID kit should work in theory, but I advise against using the cheapest of the cheap.

[Benvw99]

I just did a little research. Do any of these look ok? I am deciding between either pure white or the light blue color. Most likely going to go with the white.

http://www.blindinghid.com/b.php?bulb=H11

[Benvw99]

Wait, are my fog lights going bad so quickly because I put the wrong bulb in? I used an H3 when i replaced them, not an H11. Is that a problem?

[nos4blood70]

My bad, I just looked it up! It is an H3 bulb, I was simply mistaken.

As to those kits you linked, they look alright, a little pricy. For that amount you might as well go for the best of the best from TRS.
https://www.theretrofitsource.com/hid-s ... x9rSiMrIy4

Although one thing I am unsure of is why they are called H3C and not just H3. Maybe someone else can chime in.

To be honest though, just about any kit will work. But cheap kits bring issues such as flickering or being hard to light in cold weather. Just make sure that no matter what you are using, it has a relay harness.

[Benvw99]

Awesome! thanks for the help.


also what does the relay harness do? ive seen it around but never heard what it does.

[nos4blood70]

Because of the alternating current in the factory bulb wiring, just a ballast will likely cause flickering and won't even achieve full brightness. The relay harness provides a steady flow of juice to the ballast.

[CMNTMXR57]

It was an H3. Nothing special.

[Benvw99]

Are these fairly easy to install or do they need an amount of wiring work?

[CMNTMXR57]

The HID kits? They're just plug and play.

[Benvw99]

OK I ordered the H3 Hid kit from the link above from TRS. I got it today and lets just say I'm pretty confused on how to install it haha. Can anyone help me with that?

[SLE_CHAMP]

Its best to disassemble both fog lamps before doing anything. I actually duct taped the ballasts to the inside of the bumpers. Like Carl has stated, make sure you get the relay harness because mine do flicker without them. I however am satisfied because 1 I have H.I.D's as headlamps and 2 I hardly ever use the foglamps anymore. All in all, it didn't take me more than an half hour and I had no freaking clue on what to do. Youtube should have some good visual cues that you can use. It doesn't need to be for your specific car though, just the process.

[CMNTMXR57]

1) On these fog lights, I would actually recommend NOT taking them apart. They (the ceramic light housing themselves) are very fragile and the heat from the bulbs makes them very brittle over time. Additionally, that metal bracket that mounts to the light housing that holds the H3 bulb into the projector becomes loose over time.

This is what happens when you take the housing apart;


That's what left of the projector housing and the metal bracket that the H3 bulb mounts.

2) If you purchased a 35w kit you should not need the additional relay/harness. Usually that relay/harness is for higher wattage kits like 55w kits, to help give the ballasts enough energy to fire and to maintain a constant flow at that level.

Otherwise, it's just a matter of PnP. All connectors are made to fit one another.