7 simple steps to replace your car's fog light bulb. How to easily replace a fog light bulb?

Which lamp is better to choose?

Before purchasing, you need to determine the characteristics of a standard headlight. To do this, you need to consult an electronic directory on the Internet or read the markings on the glass or fog lamp housing.

The code is most often applied to the back of the headlight or to the bottom of the glass. An important parameter is power and base. If the requirements are not met, the following problems arise:

cracking of the case or glass;
reflector melting;
strong illumination and blinding of drivers;
overheating and melting of the wiring.

When using powerful lamps, a thermal field is generated, which has a negative effect on fog lights, so you should not chase cheapness and improved performance when choosing a burnt-out element.

When purchasing, you should pay attention only to parts from well-known manufacturers and strictly adhere to the declared characteristics indicated on the parts.

Near module

The low beam mode should be used when driving constantly in the absence of built-in automatic lights. Therefore, when choosing a part, you should choose models with an extended service life:

Bosch Pure Light;
E-TremeVision Philips h7;
MTF Light Vanadium;
Osram Night Breaker Laser;
Koito WhiteBeam III.

Lamps for Skoda Octavia A5 and A7 can be purchased from an official dealer, an auto parts store or on online platforms with built-in electronic catalogs.

Far module

When traveling on a country road or in the absence of oncoming traffic in a populated area, high beam lamps are used. When purchasing, you should pay attention to models with increased brightness and an extended luminous flux band:

Narva Range Power;
Osram Night Breaker Unlimited;
Philips RacingVision.

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A halogen lamp with increased brightness lasts no more than 450–500 hours. This is enough for 2–4 years of periodic use when traveling on the highway in the dark. A universal series of high-quality parts will last up to 6 years, but will be inferior in brightness and lighting density.

Unexpected reasons for non-working PTFs on the VAZ-2110

The most common cause is a blown fuse.

But we will return to it later. There is still a lot that is still unknown in the design of foglights, relays, switches and lamps. For example, a possible reason for the failure of fog lights could be a completely unexpected breakdown.

First of all, we check the bulbs themselves; you can get to the left one through the hood.

On some versions of the VAZ-2110, a PTF from the Avtosvet plant (Kirzhach) was installed with a socket for the H1 lamp. Stock lamps are not the best quality and they do not like sudden changes in temperature.

It is quite difficult to get to the right fog lamp through the hood; it is easier to remove the headlight itself by unscrewing the screws.

During sudden cooling, when leaving the garage in winter, for example, or after turning off the headlights, the contact leg of the lamp bulb simply fell off the conductor . At the same time, visually the halogen lamp looked absolutely intact. It was enough to apply a plus directly to the leg itself, and the lamp would light up. The fault was due to poor-quality resistance welding, and it is almost impossible to detect the cause without a detailed examination of the lamp itself and its dismantling.

Of course, it is impossible to provide for all failure options, but we will consider the most common ones.

One fog light on VAZ-2110 does not light up

There may be plenty of options here. Apart from damage to the lamp itself or its filament, the picture is as follows:

Fuse . When correctly installing PTF on the ten, as a rule, they use the scheme presented above. F4 or F14, is responsible for the operation of each lamp . They are located in the mounting block, which is located in the niche of the front panel to the left of the driver. When replacing a fuse, we do not use bugs or jumpers, but only new fuses.

The front right fog light is fuse F4, the left one is F14, both are 10A.

We find the wires with blocks coming from the headlights and check their condition.

Two fog lights do not light up at once

If this happens, it is impossible to allow two lamps or two fuses to burn out at once. Most likely, the reason should be looked for elsewhere:

Oxidation of contacts on connector Ш1 in the mounting block

The connectors are located on the reverse side of the mounting block.

The PTF relay can simply hang on the wires.

Types of lamps for PTF

Fog lights not only perform their direct functions, but also help correct deficiencies in the headlights, and also illuminate the side of the road at night. Thanks to the low location of the PTFs, they illuminate the road efficiently without scattering the light.

Halogen lights are usually installed in standard optics. There are drivers who are not satisfied with them, in which case it is necessary to replace the fog lamp with an alternative option. It is important to know which light bulb is better.

There are three types of lamps:

halogen;
LED;
gas-discharge.

Before replacing PTFs, you should decide on their type. When choosing which lamps are best to install in fog lights, you need to find out the pros and cons of each type.

Halogen

Fog lights typically use halogen products. They are more affordable, shine quite effectively in foggy conditions, and do not blind oncoming drivers.

The disadvantages include:

short service life;
difficulty of replacement;
the headlight gets very hot.

When replacing standard light bulbs with more powerful ones, the power supply may burn out and the headlights will automatically turn off.

Philips halogen lamps

LED

The LED version is very popular for fog lights. In this case, it is possible to choose color and brightness. In addition, diodes consume significantly less energy.

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The disadvantage is the high cost. High-power LEDs require additional cooling.

LEDs for PTF

Gas discharge

Xenon used in PTFs makes them bright and efficient. Service life is three years. But the use of gas-discharge elements has limitations. Xenon can only be installed on optics marked with the letter “D”, and an automatic corrector must be installed. The disadvantage is the high cost and the need to replace both bulbs if only one burns out.

Fog lights with xenon for cars

Classic halogen

Fog lights use a regular halogen lamp. The type of base depends on the make of the car, most often it is H7 or H1.

When choosing a new part, preference should be given only to well-known companies that have proven themselves well in the market. These include:

Koito;
Philips;
Osram;
MTF;
Narva.

Products from dubious manufacturers can not only damage the glass of the headlight, but also melt the plastic housing. It is also necessary to observe the voltage and power of the part. The parameters are indicated on the flask or body of the original consumable.

Halogen-type lamps have a yellowish glow, consume from 35 to 75 watts and last about 2-4 years.

Xenon lamps

The main advantage of gas-discharge lamps is their high brightness, therefore PTFs with such lamps are considered the most efficient. But xenon also has many disadvantages: in addition to high cost, it also has a relatively low resource (three years), and restrictions on use (installation is allowed only on optics marked with the symbol D), and the need to replace both lamps if one fails.

If you want your fog lights to shine brighter, it makes no sense to install more powerful halogen lamps, and the best choice would be xenon. But with LED lamps you will not have problems with the traffic police - they can be installed on PTF without restrictions.

Don't like standard PTF? It's time to act!

Standard fog lights really often do not suit car owners. This question is relevant, first of all, for those who are forced to travel long distances at different times of the day and in any weather. As a rule, standard fog lights are equipped with halogen lamps. What should I do to solve the problem? Replacing them with the same ones, but a little more power, simply does not make sense. We recommend choosing xenon optics or LEDs.

As mentioned above, xenon has certain limitations that must be taken into account. But LED elements are more convenient in this regard. We recommend buying just such light bulbs, but not sparing money on products from trusted manufacturers. Installing cheap Chinese lamps will not lead to anything good; it is better to drive with standard halogen lamps. When purchasing LED lamps, consider what base the standard element has.

To consolidate the knowledge gained, we recommend watching a video about replacing a fog light bulb on a Kia Cee'd:

About the types of additional light lamps

In automobile lighting devices intended for foggy weather, rain or snow, 3 types of light bulbs are used:

halogen;
xenon (bi-xenon, gas discharge);
LED

Before replacing a faulty lamp, you should find out what type is on your car. This information is indicated in the operating instructions.

As a rule, manufacturers equip budget and middle-class cars with halogen bulbs, while business and premium cars use xenon bulbs.

Devices equipped with halogen elements emit a yellowish light that practically does not blind oncoming drivers. Therefore, there are no restrictions on the use of such light bulbs, and they are the most affordable. There is only one drawback - the strong heating of the headlight unit and glass, which can crack if water gets in.

LED elements are more expensive than halogen ones, but they do not heat up as much and consume much less current. This property is relevant for forgetful motorists who do not turn off their headlights when parked. Diode lamps emit white light, slightly inferior in brightness to halogen lamps. There are no restrictions on their installation by law.

You cannot replace a regular fog lamp bulb with an expensive xenon one. The exception is cars where such elements are installed by the manufacturer. According to the law, the optical unit with a xenon lamp must have an automatic luminous flux corrector. Its task is to maintain the beam of light at the same level at different vehicle loads, so as not to blind oncoming drivers with bright lighting. If you want to switch to xenon, you will have to install a new headlight equipped with such a corrector.

When buying new lamps for fog lights, choose them according to the power specified in the car’s owner’s manual. You should not install more powerful elements in pursuit of good lighting, as they will overheat the glass and quickly fail.

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How to adjust the fog lights

How to make angel eyes headlights with your own hands

To adjust the fog lights, you need to install the screen correctly. Procedure:

It will be necessary to mark marks on the test display so that a straight line of the centers of the headlights M is marked on the test screen at a distance h equal to the location of the centers of the fog lights above the floor level. To determine the distance h, you need to take a measurement on a loaded car with an additional weight, which should be equal to 70 kg, exactly in the middle of the rear seat. Be sure to fill the fuel tank.
X is the gap between the middle of the headlight and the car. Measurements take place on the car.
Check tire pressure and compare with standards. If it does not correspond, then be sure to bring it to the recommended state.
You need to park the car on a flat surface. Place the machine perpendicular to the screen. The gap between the screen and the machine should be 10 m. The longitudinal plane of symmetry will run exactly along the 0 line of the screen.
Now you can activate the fog lights.
The direction of the light beam must be checked separately for each fog lamp. Because of this, fog lights, which have not yet been tested, need to be covered with some kind of material that does not allow light to pass through, or a protective cap must be used.
It is necessary to install the headlights in a certain way: place the middle of the beam of emitted light at the point where the lines N, A (B) intersect. The fog lights should be adjusted exclusively in height.

Features of choosing lamps for fog optics

Standard practice is to ask the salesperson which bulbs fit your model. A professional consultant will always suggest a good manufacturer, as well as what power bulb will be optimal. The design of fog lamps plays an important role: it may well happen that some lamps simply will not fit in the headlight due to their length.

When choosing a lamp, consider the following factors:

if you have to replace only one lamp, pay attention to the brightness of the other, intact one;
the power of the light source should not exceed the limits specified by the manufacturer;
it is advisable to buy a lamp of a shape that matches the shape of the element being replaced;
you also need to make sure that the heat generated by the source will not destroy the headlight or its individual elements;
the best option is to purchase a lamp recommended by the manufacturer;
remember that the more expensive the product, the brighter it will shine and the longer it will last, so saving is inappropriate here.

As for switching from one type of lamp to another, here you need to show healthy pragmatism: replacing halogen lamps with more advanced LED or xenon lamps is not always possible, so it is better to consult with a specialist - he will evaluate the design of the headlight of your model and recommend the optimal solution.

PTF marking and application

All fog lights certified in the Russian Federation are marked with the index “E22” indicating the category (type) of the light source:

“B” — fog lights;
“C” - low beam headlights, if they are manufactured as a separate device;
“R” - high beam headlights, if this is a separate device;
“H” - headlights with halogen lamps;
“PL” - light bulbs with plastic lenses;
“S” - glass block headlights.

When operating a vehicle, it should be borne in mind that fog lights cannot replace the low beam mode of headlights since their illumination range is much shorter. At the same time, the combined use of PTFs with side lights significantly improves the visibility of the roadway at dusk and in poor visibility conditions.

In snowfall and heavy rain, the effectiveness of fog lights is very low due to the limited range. Therefore, you should not rely on their capabilities in such conditions.

Remember that the highly directional light of fog lights in fog does not improve visibility, but rather worsens the illumination of the road surface due to the high reflectivity of moisture droplets. The most effective are fog lights with a yellow tint, so when choosing fog lights you should give preference to these models.

Replacing the fog light bulb yourself

The number of designs of fog lights includes more than a dozen options, and accordingly, there are even more ways to get to it. Therefore, there is no universal algorithm for performing this procedure.

But in most cases, we can say with certainty that you will have to get to the lamp from the engine compartment.

In the simplest case, you just need to remove the headlight from its seat and gain access to the lamp, however, on most modern cars, the procedure for replacing the front fog lamps involves a large number of operations.

The most common algorithm:

We lift the car on a lift and turn the wheel to the maximum angle to gain convenient access to the headlight from the rear. If this is not possible, you can use a jack, but in this case the wheel will have to be unscrewed and completely removed;
remove the headlight protection - usually a protective cover made of plastic or metal is installed on it;
we dismantle the rubber seals and search for the fastening elements that hold the lamp in the housing (usually latches);
carefully and carefully unscrew everything, carefully remove the burnt out or unsatisfactory light bulb and study its characteristics;
if the purchased lamp matches the characteristics and dimensions of the old one, install it in its regular place;
put on the terminal, make sure that it is installed as tightly and securely as possible;
we check the results of our work;
if the lamp lights up, perform all operations in reverse order (install protection, wheel, lower the car).

Although the algorithm we have presented on how to change the front fog lamp bulb looks quite simple, in reality you may have to face local difficulties - difficult access to PTF elements, with shrunken fasteners, etc.

How to replace the rear fog light bulb:

open the door or trunk lid;
we find the fasteners holding the fog light, usually two bolts or a self-tapping screw;
dismantle the fastening strip;
Usually this is enough to pull the headlight cover towards you and remove it from its seat;
disconnect the lamp connector;
remove the lamp itself;
we change it to a new one;
We carry out the assembly operations in reverse order.

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We install the purchased lamp in the fog lamp

There are dozens of design options for a fog light, as well as ways to get to it. Different cars have different options, but in most cases you will have to approach the foglight from the rear. To replace a light bulb in some cars, it will be enough to remove the headlight from the slot and perform all the processes as simply and clearly as possible. But this is only an exception to the general rule. On most machines, everything is not so convenient. A popular method for replacing a fog light bulb looks like this:

we raise the car on a lift (this is best) or, if this is not possible, on a jack;
turn the wheel as much as possible so that it does not interfere with the work (on a jack the wheel can only be unscrewed);
remove the protection - often the fog lamp has a metal or plastic protection against dirt;
remove the sealing rubber bands, look for the latches that hold the light bulb in the fog lamp housing;
carefully and without sudden movements, we unclench and unscrew everything, take out the old light bulb and look at its characteristics;
if the purchased new lamp matches the old one, install it in the slot and press it with latches;
we put on the terminal, make the electrical connection as efficiently as possible, without a chance of falling off;
now an important step that many people forget about is to check the operation of the equipment by turning on the lighting;
If everything is fine, we put the protection back in place, put the wheel on, lower the car from the jack and rejoice at the update.

Remember that independently replacing a fog light or a light bulb in it during the warranty period is a reason to remove the car from warranty. Any processes during the warranty period must be performed at an authorized service station. If your car is already out of warranty, there is no point in paying several hundred rubles for a process that you can do yourself quite quickly. So save wisely, but only replace a lamp if you are confident in your skills.

Lamp replacement guide

It is more convenient to change light bulbs in PTF on a lift or inspection pit. To do this, you need to purchase either the same light bulb as the one you had, or one that matches the parameters. Changing a light bulb is easy.

To do this, follow the following sequence of actions:

To remove the optics, you need to unscrew the mounting bolts.
First you need to move the rubber protection to get to the PTF power supply block.
Then you should disconnect the block from the optics.
To remove the light bulb, you need to gently press one end of the latch and slide it down.
The light bulb is removed along with the base. The halogen lamp has several contacts that should be remembered in order to correctly install the new one.
Next, you need to install the new product so that all contacts match. If you make a mistake, the fog lamp will not light.
Assembly is carried out in reverse order.
After assembly, you need to check the operation of the optics.

Replacing fog lights on other car brands depends on their design features. There are cars on which the fog lights are located together with the head light, in which case a slight disassembly of the optics will be required. An example would be the Lada Kalina.

What bulbs are installed in your fog lights?

Replacing the rear fog light

What are side lights used for?
What are side lights, how to replace a light bulb and how to make turn signals larger. But this small condition does not in any way complicate an otherwise easy task. The headlight will also need to be removed if you decide to paint the car or replace the headlights themselves.

To change the headlight, you need to use the following tools:

spanner;
head with a size of 10 mm.

Work order:

First you need to stand at the back of the car and open the trunk door.
Find the two bolts that hold the lamp in place. They are located on the bar. They need to be unscrewed.
Remove the bar.
Do not sharply, but easily and calmly pull the flashlight in your direction, thereby it will be able to free itself from the plastic latches.
Find the electrical connector and disconnect it from the lamp.
Now you can remove the lamp itself.
Next you need to inspect your fog lamps. We change them if necessary.

Replacement instructions

Before you change the bad bulb in the fog light, you need to understand how to get to it. The design of light devices built into the bumper varies and depends on the make of the car. There are 2 ways to access lighting devices:

from the wheel arch side;
by removing the optical block.

The first method is used when disassembling headlights of VAZ cars and other foreign brands with a similar design. For ease of disassembly, it is worth placing the car on an inspection ditch, although you can do without it. The work algorithm is as follows:

Secure the car and remove the front wheel from the side of the faulty device.
Unscrew the screws holding the plastic fender liner and remove it from the car. In some car models, you do not need to remove the entire mudguard, just bend it to the side.
Remove the rubber boot protecting the connector.
By pressing the corresponding protrusion, disconnect the block with wires.
Turn the burnt out lamp counterclockwise and pull it out of the block.
Insert a new element, secure it and assemble.

During the replacement process, try not to touch the bulb bulb, as sweat marks will reduce the service life of the part . If this happens, wipe the glass flask with a dry, clean cloth. Before assembling the unit, check the functionality of the lighting by turning on the fog lights.

Not all foreign cars allow access to the fog lamps on the wheel side. The question of how to replace burnt out light bulbs in this situation can be solved by removing the entire fog lights. You will need an inspection hole from where it is more convenient to unscrew the optical unit. If necessary, you will have to remove interfering parts - the lower apron or front body kit.

Remove the unscrewed headlight from the outside of the bumper and disconnect the connector. By turning counterclockwise, pull out the block from the block (this is done on Nissan cars), there are spring clips under it. They should be unlocked and the lamp pulled out. Having installed the new element and checked its operation by turning on the headlights, put the block and other parts in their places.

Sources

https://InfoKuzov.ru/remont/zamena-lampy-v-protivotumannke
https://2775040.ru/kakie-lampochki-primenyayutsya-na-skoda-octavia-a5-i-kak-proizvesti-zamenu.html
https://avtozam.com/elektronika/svet/zamena-lampochki-v-protivotumannoj-fare/
https://DriverTip.ru/repair/kak-zamenit-lampu-v-protivotumannoj-fare.html
https://autochainik.ru/kak-pomenyat-lampu-v-ptf.html

why the fog lights don't work and how to remove the PTF according to the diagram

Traffic safety in poor visibility during rain or fog is ensured by fog lights

Therefore, it is important that they are in working order. The article discusses the PTF, features of operation, and provides instructions on how to replace a fog light.

Features of PTF operation

These lighting fixtures differ in the light they emit. They can glow with yellow or white light, their main feature is that they do not illuminate the fog ahead, resting the beam on it, but create a flat, wide beam that spreads along the road.

To ensure good visibility in bad weather conditions, the following two rules must be observed:

Adjust precisely the boundary of the light beam emitted by the optics. The beam should not shine above the specified horizontal plane.
The lamp must be at a minimum distance from the road surface. Under such conditions, it is easier to precisely adjust the boundary of the light beam.

It becomes clear that these lighting sources are necessary to ensure good visibility on the road under difficult weather conditions.

To ensure high-quality light from the beam, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the surface of the lampshade: polish, remove scratches that reduce the transmission capacity of the glass.

Common foglight malfunctions and how to fix them

The main cause of foglight malfunctions is oxidation and corrosion processes.

The reasons why the fog lights do not light up may be the following:

fuse is blown;
light bulbs burned out;
there is no contact in the relay;
the shutdown button is faulty;
poor contact to the ground of the body or the PTF itself;
incorrect connection;
oxidation of contacts.

To diagnose and troubleshoot problems, you will need a tester and a set of tools. The most common electrical fault is blown fuses. If they are burnt out, they need to be replaced.

If the fuses are OK, then you need to check the light bulbs in the headlights. They can burn out as a result of a short circuit, or due to natural wear and tear. You can check the serviceability of the lamp using a known working light source

It is important that the base of a working lamp is the same as the base of the non-working element. You can replace the light bulb without removing the PTF (video author – MegaMeyhem)

If, after eliminating the above reasons, the fog lights do not work, then the power button may be faulty, which can be easily replaced. The contacts may oxidize, then they should be cleaned. If the fog lights do not light up after connecting them yourself, the wires may be connected incorrectly.

If fog lamp repair is necessary, it may include replacing the fog lamp glass or its lamp. It is possible that the fog lamp lining is damaged, then it will be necessary to remove the fog lamp and replace the fog lamp frame, which is secured with a bracket. In any case, before disassembling the fog lamp to repair or replace the glass shade, it is necessary to dismantle the fog lamp by unscrewing the screws securing it to the bracket.

Instructions for dismantling and replacing the fog lamp

Replacing a fog light may be necessary if the entire unit does not work or the quality of the light beam has significantly deteriorated. When replacing, it is most often necessary to remove the bumper. It is on this that the fog lamp plug is located.

After the mounts of the optics to the bracket are opened, you need to unscrew the fasteners from the bracket with the appropriate tool. Next you need to disconnect the plug and you can remove the fog light. If the entire assembly needs to be replaced, a new part is installed.

Photo gallery “Replacing foglights”

If the fog lamp frame, reflector or glass is changed, then it is necessary to disassemble the fog lamp. To do this, you need to warm it up well, for example, with a hairdryer, so that the sealant melts, and then you can disassemble the PTF.

Installation of replaced or repaired optics is performed in the reverse order: attach the plug, install the fog light in its original place, tighten the bolts securing it to the bracket. At the last stage, either the fender liners or the bumper are returned to their place.

Comments and reviews

Ivan Ivanovich Baranov

Experience working at a service station:

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Avtozam.com - your assistant in car repair and maintenance

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Not all maintenance processes require contacting specialists. If you don't want to pay extra money for simple procedures, you should learn how to perform them yourself. But in the design of modern cars there are not many tasks that can be done with your own hands. Previously, with a little preparation and good instructions, it was possible to perform virtually any process of car repair and maintenance with your own hands. Today, manufacturers have done everything to protect drivers from performing their own repairs. Therefore, you have to turn to professionals and pay money even for trivial work.

However, there are a number of options for servicing the machine yourself. For example, everything related to replacing lighting elements can be done with your own hands without difficulty and without extra costs. To change the light bulb in the fog light, all you need to do is acquire a high-quality lighting element, look at the replacement instructions and follow this procedure. The main features of this simple procedure are the careful execution of all tasks. Let's look at several important aspects of doing this job.

Let's sum it up

High-quality lighting in a car is an important point for every vehicle owner. The optics must be in order, perform all its functions and provide a maximum useful field of view. Fog lights are designed to help the driver in difficult visibility conditions. They are quite powerful and produce a point light, which allows you to show oncoming drivers the presence of vehicles on the road. This makes the trip safer and involves the use of effective and high-quality lighting technology. Otherwise, fog lights turn out to be a useless addition.

Therefore, you always need to monitor the performance of these elements. It is quite important that all optics in the car work efficiently. If the fog light doesn't work, you have three options. You can completely replace the entire headlight and achieve high efficiency. There is also the option of replacing just one light bulb to save money on repairs and get the same performance characteristics. The third option is to go to a service center and have it professionally repaired. Which way would you choose to solve this problem?