Fogs won't turn on. Options

[RickJamesBish]

This happened in the morning as I turned on the accessories. Put down the windows and turned on the music without starting the car as usual, but as soon as I did that the power died. Tried to start the car, nothing. Went to pop the hood to check the battery, and tried it again and it started. Haven't had a problem with that since, but I've noticed that my fogs (non-factory) won't turn on at all anymore.

Short in a fuse somewhere? I always have them on, and the HU is constantly on as well, so as soon as the accessories are on they are also on along with everything else.

[RickJamesBish]

Anyone please?

[RickJamesBish]

Anyone?

[RickJamesBish]

Anyone?

[WWSideWinder]

Hi RickJamesBish

Don't know if I can Help but lets try.

1) Is you battery ok now?
2) Is there any think else that is not working?
3) Have you checked your fuses Both Fuse Boxes? (In the Car and near to the Battery)
4) Have you checked the wiring at the fog lamps?

Answer these and then we may be able to fix this.
Search this sight for wiring diagrams.

"http://www.celicatech.com/imagearchive/bgbonline/95ewd/circuit.htm"

[RickJamesBish]

Thanks man for helping, I'll look at it later on this afternoon. It died again this morning...turned the ignition off, left it like that for a minute or two, and it jumped on again. I checked the fuse box and nothing seemed to be blown there, as far as I can tell with my inexperience. I'll check the one close to the battery and the wiring too.

[geetje]

Try to start the car before turning on the lights, perhaps your radio or something else is draining to much power from the battery.

[GriffGirl]

Does the battery have one of those tags on it that's punched with the install month and year? It could just be that your battery is nearing its end of life. You could also get it checked at an Autozone or NAPA or a place like that that tests batteries - they'll be able to test for the cold cranking amps your battery holds, which will determine if your battery is dying or if you should start checking some wiring. Also - are your terminals clean? Sometimes weird grease-like gunk can build up on the terminals, and it actually acts as a conductor and could potentially drain the battery just enough that it won't start.

Get that battery checked soon though so you don't put unnecessary load on your alternator. You don't wanna wind up replacing the battery AND alternator if you can avoid it!

[RickJamesBish]

Okay, I'll get it checked out...I checked both fuse boxes and the terminals, everything checked out fine...it must be an electrical issue, assuming they're still connected fine.

[D-Man]

1) check & reinforce ground connections
2) check & tighten alternator belt
3) start car before running system, especially if you've got amps n' stuff
4) check the wiring to your fog lights directly, usualy there is a direct inline fuse there, or otherwise you may have blown your bulbs with your kooky power fluctuations.

Question marks and profit with everything working properly.

[RickJamesBish]

HMM, since you love to teach so much...alternator belt is which one exactly? I'll look and see which ones I can find in a sec. I'll check the chit running to the fogs...although the bulbs themselves AFAIK are fine. Don't see how I could've screwed something up like that.

[D-Man]

HMM, since you love to teach so much...alternator belt is which one exactly? I'll look and see which ones I can find in a sec. I'll check the chit running to the fogs...although the bulbs themselves AFAIK are fine. Don't see how I could've screwed something up like that.

AFAIK?

The screwing up would have been on behalf of the power flux when it didn't start/ power distributed unevenly. It's rare, but happens. The alternator belt is on your alternator Just playin The alternator is the roundish machine on the top front most left side (when facing engine bay) of your engine bay with a belt on it. There is a tensinor on it that you can adjust to make sure it's tight. Ensure that the ground comming off your altinator is good.

I cannot find a good engine bay pic right now, otherwise i'd just circle it for you

[RickJamesBish]

I'll check...it's so facking weird. A dying battery does sound right, since I've always started all the accessories and never had one problem. If the connections to the fogs check out fine, could it be that the battery is too weak to supply power to the fogs additional to the interior lights and the speakers/head unit? I can still turn on regular lights just fine.

Also, I've noticed that my lights actually flicker a bit with the rhythm of the bass...weird. Sucks since this battery was new when I bought the car, I think.

This post has been edited by RickJamesBish: Nov 12, 2008 - 4:38 PM

[D-Man]

That's why i say to check the alternator. It is what recharges your battery, and powers your car when it is running, if it's loose, it could only be running enough power to run the car and not enough to restore decent charge to your battary, or the batt could be going bad. If your lights are flickering then look into a capacitor.

[RickJamesBish]

Checked the belt, it was tight enough to me. The fuses are all intact. I couldn't really distinguish a wire connection by the fogs, but I'm guessing they're fine...I'll get the battery checked this weekend.

That's why i say to check the alternator. It is what recharges your battery, and powers your car when it is running, if it's loose, it could only be running enough power to run the car and not enough to restore decent charge to your battary, or the batt could be going bad. If your lights are flickering then look into a capacitor.

So what could be tell-tale physical signs of failure? I didn't see any loose connections, and like I said the belt seemed fine.

[D-Man]

sorry for the wait, apparently they want me to work here at work WTF is up with that

(now this is old-school, and i'm sure playr will be here to rag on me soon enough) The best (easiest and cheapest) way is to start your car, unplug your battery, crank you system and let the engine rip (but in neutral, dont actualy go burning down the freeway like that) If your altinator isn't working properly, then the car will die/spudder depending on how much charge it's actualy getting. Now if you have a friend, then you can allow one person to sit in the car, and the other to use a multi-meter and then calculate what the numbers would be IF you were revving the engine. I like option one best. but i also like making noise

[DEATH]

The way lights work tho if it was getting even some power than the bulbs themselves would at least glow a little - maybe not enough to light up the lamp or to cast light out like it's supposed to but you would see at least the bulbs glowing. I'm betting it's in the wiring, switch relays etc.

[RickJamesBish]

(now this is old-school, and i'm sure playr will be here to rag on me soon enough) The best (easiest and cheapest) way is to start your car, unplug your battery, crank you system and let the engine rip (but in neutral, dont actualy go burning down the freeway like that) If your altinator isn't working properly, then the car will die/spudder depending on how much charge it's actualy getting. Now if you have a friend, then you can allow one person to sit in the car, and the other to use a multi-meter and then calculate what the numbers would be IF you were revving the engine. I like option one best. but i also like making noise

How is the car supposed to run with an unplugged battery, if I may ask?

The way lights work tho if it was getting even some power than the bulbs themselves would at least glow a little - maybe not enough to light up the lamp or to cast light out like it's supposed to but you would see at least the bulbs glowing. I'm betting it's in the wiring, switch relays etc.

Okay.

[GriffGirl]

Dude. Seriously. Get it started and go to Autozone or whatever to get the cold cranking amps checked. They do it for free and it's a quick and easy way to eliminate the battery.

I'm guessing it's a wire, too. I bet it's something to the fogs themselves, maybe a ground came loose or something. But get that battery checked. Just cause the dealer said it was new doesn't mean it was.

[DEATH]

(now this is old-school, and i'm sure playr will be here to rag on me soon enough) The best (easiest and cheapest) way is to start your car, unplug your battery, crank you system and let the engine rip (but in neutral, dont actualy go burning down the freeway like that) If your altinator isn't working properly, then the car will die/spudder depending on how much charge it's actualy getting. Now if you have a friend, then you can allow one person to sit in the car, and the other to use a multi-meter and then calculate what the numbers would be IF you were revving the engine. I like option one best. but i also like making noise

How is the car supposed to run with an unplugged battery, if I may ask?

The car doesn't actually run off the battery - the battery is just a battery. In other words it's used to start the car and store a charge for the next start. The alternator supplies the power the car runs on and the power to recharge the battery. Go to howstuffworks.com and read the section on car charging systems so that we can help you diagnose this problem easier.