Fog Lights

[Stuartzickefoose]

4" as the 7 inch won't fit depth wise on the bumper the back of the light hits the nose of the bus. 4" does great that's what I have

_________________
Stuart Zickefoose

2011 Jetta Sportwagen TDi 6 speed manual

206-841-7324
[email protected]

[telford dorr]

In terms of effectiveness, all else being equal, bigger is better.
_________________
'71 panel, now with FI
'Experience' is the ability to recognize a mistake when you're making it again - Franklin P. Jones
In theory, theory works in practice; in practice, it doesn't - William T. Harbaugh
When you're dead, you don't know you're dead. The pain is only felt by others.
Same thing happens when you're stupid. - Philippe Geluck
More VW electrical at http://telforddorr.com/ (available 9am to 9pm PST)

[BellePlaine]

I've got a question about wiring fog lights because I'm blowing a fuse. I have a 1975 bus.

Yesterday I wired up two front and one rear fog light just like this diagram below using a three position original fog light switch.

Per the diagram the fog light switch (E23) is being powered by the white 8 amp fuse in the #2 spot on my fuse box. This fuse also services the right rear tail light, right rear side marker light, the front running lights, and the license plate light.

The front fog lights run through a #87 rely but the rear fog light doesn't, again per the diagram. The rear is powered directly off of the fog light switch from it's own position, #83b.

So pulling out the fog light switch to the first position turns on the front fog lights fine. Further pulling out the fog light switch to the second position, to turn on rear fog light, causes the 8 amp #2 fuse to blow. I've tried it twice.

Is this an indication of a short in the rear fog light system or does the circuit now require a 16 amp fuse?

Thanks.
_________________
'75 Riviera

Whether you are a novice or know your way around an ACVW, a day with Amskeptic is money well spent. My mechanical ability/knowledge/bus is always better after Colin visits.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/memberlist.php

[telford dorr]

How big (wattage) a bulb in the rear fog light? Usually, they're brake light sized bulbs, but sometime you get the real Euro versions with 100 watt H1 bulbs in them...

If you have a suitable ammeter (10 amp or better), you might measure the existing lamp load (without the rear fog light) and see how close to 8 amps you are. You could then measure what the rear fog light draws, and see how much it will add. I wouldn't up-size the fuse, as it is telling you that the load on the headlight switch has increased substantially (not good for it's lifespan). On the other hand, if the rear fog lamp power draw is low, you could wire to fuse #1 (the left tail lamp circuit) instead of fuse #2, and it could be OK.

As a test, cobb in a temporary circuit to power the rear fog light through an 8 amp fuse and see if it holds. If it does, it likely isn't shorted.
_________________
'71 panel, now with FI
'Experience' is the ability to recognize a mistake when you're making it again - Franklin P. Jones
In theory, theory works in practice; in practice, it doesn't - William T. Harbaugh
When you're dead, you don't know you're dead. The pain is only felt by others.
Same thing happens when you're stupid. - Philippe Geluck
More VW electrical at http://telforddorr.com/ (available 9am to 9pm PST)

[BellePlaine]

I was hoping to hear from you telford. Thanks again for your advice. This rear fog light didn't come with a bulb. I really didn't think about the bulb so I grabbed the first one that would fit from my bag of spares. Just went to check and I was using W 1141; looks like a single filament. Google says it's an 18.4 watt bulb. Too much?
_________________
'75 Riviera

Whether you are a novice or know your way around an ACVW, a day with Amskeptic is money well spent. My mechanical ability/knowledge/bus is always better after Colin visits.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/memberlist.php

[telford dorr]

No - that's only 1.5 amps. Should have no problem lighting that. Do the cobb wiring check and see if you have a short or something.

I use this in place of the fuse for testing purposes:

_________________
'71 panel, now with FI
'Experience' is the ability to recognize a mistake when you're making it again - Franklin P. Jones
In theory, theory works in practice; in practice, it doesn't - William T. Harbaugh
When you're dead, you don't know you're dead. The pain is only felt by others.
Same thing happens when you're stupid. - Philippe Geluck
More VW electrical at http://telforddorr.com/ (available 9am to 9pm PST)

[BellePlaine]

Fixed the problem, it was a short. While looking for a place to wire a "cobb check" I noted that the spade connector which plugs into the bulb assembly and provides the power was also touching the housing, and grounding out. Easy fix, thanks for helping me think it through.

I went out a bought a multimeter with a 10 Amp function. I tested the circuit without the rear light at just over 3 amps. However given the long draw from the fog light switch to the rear fog light, telford, would you recommend powering the rear fog light via another #87 relay? And if so, and if I put the relay in the engine compartment (my preference) would I still have to power the relay from the starter or could I use the coil or directly from the battery?
_________________
'75 Riviera

Whether you are a novice or know your way around an ACVW, a day with Amskeptic is money well spent. My mechanical ability/knowledge/bus is always better after Colin visits.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/memberlist.php

[BayCreamPuff]

[BellePlaine]

[telford dorr]

[jtauxe]

If you like, I can map out how the factory fog light wiring is in my pickup. The rear light wire is purple on black, FWIW.
_________________
John
"Travelling in a fried-out Kombi, on a hippie trail, head full of zombie..." - Colin Hay and Ron Strykert
http://vw.tauxe.net
1969 Transporter, 1971 Westfalia, 1976, 1977, 1976, 1977, 1971, 1973, 1977 Westfalias,
1979 Champagne Sunroof, 1974 Westfalia Automatic, 1979 Transporter, 1972 Sportsmobile, 1973 Transporter Wild Westerner, 1974 Westfalia parts bus, 1975 Mexican single cab *FOR SALE*, 1978 Irish 4-door double cab RHD

[sestino]

Bump.

I just installed these Bosch driving lights on my '77:

I pulled them from a 1993 Opel Frontera that I own in Italy. (A Frontera is an Isuzu Rodeo with an Opel 2 liter motor)

The driving lights are made in Sweden and take H3 bulbs:

I pulled the bumper to drill the 3/8" holes to mount the lights. The mounting bolts are not too long so I did not have to shorten the bolts before remounting the bumper.

I searched for the part number on the back of the lamp and found what look to be the same units for sale on Amazon in the US and at several vendors in the EU under Bosch part number and description: "Bosch 0306606001 Pilot 160 Clear Lens Driving Light"

I haven't wired them up yet but I will wire them to my new auxiliary fuse box that is fed by a 10 gauge wire and use a relay switched by the rear defroster switch.
_________________
1977 Fuel-Injected Sage Green Westy

[BUS74]

Nice ride Man !!!

[sdavidg]

Bosch Halogen from and older model Jeep I found at the local junk yard. PerLux 200T mounted to the top rack. Right now I only have the Bosch wired up, since I'm not completely convinced with the Perlux. Used a defrost switch since they are much easier to get a hold of.

The Bosch are mounted onto an aluminum plate that double as my license plate holder.

[gatorjos]

I wired up some Hella foglights ahead of a big road trip. I wired them trough the unused rear defroster switch -- no relay involved. Works great.

I like them for nighttime driving since I can leave them on for improved visibility, but I don't believe they blind oncoming cars. They are nice and bright for daytime running lights as well.

_________________
1977 Westfalia Weekender Berlin "The Kitebus" aka " Colonel Mustard"

Previous romances:
1972 Ghia cabriolet (full body-off restoration -- stolen after five years of ownership)
2004 Passat 1.8T (manual)

http://21stcenturyhobo.com

[otiswesty]

Looks awesome!
_________________
1978 Sage Green P22 Westfalia
1989 T3 Syncro Single cab

Just a regular guy

[jtauxe]

Where I live, in New Mexico, fog is a rare occurrence. I decided that rewiring my bumper-mounted lights to be driving lights would be much more useful. So, I did that. Now, when driving at night (nights happens every day, or something like that) I have a lot of light to throw at the deer hiding in the junipers. These driving lights come on with the second position of the fog light switch, irrespective of the state of the headlights. When wired as fog lights, they come on only when the headlights are on low beam.

Here's how I rewired it. If any future owner wants, they can wire it back to fog light wiring.

I was also interested in having the rear fog light come on whenever the rear lights are on, using position 1 of the switch.

I apologize in advance to Nigel Skeet, who will be horrified.
_________________
John
"Travelling in a fried-out Kombi, on a hippie trail, head full of zombie..." - Colin Hay and Ron Strykert
http://vw.tauxe.net
1969 Transporter, 1971 Westfalia, 1976, 1977, 1976, 1977, 1971, 1973, 1977 Westfalias,
1979 Champagne Sunroof, 1974 Westfalia Automatic, 1979 Transporter, 1972 Sportsmobile, 1973 Transporter Wild Westerner, 1974 Westfalia parts bus, 1975 Mexican single cab *FOR SALE*, 1978 Irish 4-door double cab RHD

[wagohn]

Picked these Daylighters up on a yard sale, 10 yrs ago, for a couple of dollars - then they sat on a shelf in the garage. Bought our bus in April this year and finally found a home for them.
Only issue was the mounting bolts were too long and ran up against the frame under the bumper. I hack-sawed them down and the fit was then good to go.
Not bad for $2.

_________________
1976 VW Transporter, 2.0 FI Engine

[alman72]

[wagohn]