Fog Lights on 2005 Viper - Help!

[viperfuntime]

New member here! Hello to all and its great to have a community like this to discuss our passion (at least mine) and that is to drive fast, live fast, and do it in style. The Viper is new to my stable. I bought the Viper with 1780 miles and it came equipped with the Paxton Supercharger set up done by DC Performance. I have not driven it very much yet but the installation appears solid and the car is like brand new.

Anyway, I cannot get my fog lights to work. I know that either the headliights or parking lights need to be on, but with my car that does not help or do the trick. I pulled out the end of the light stalk but nothing. All other lights seem to work. Car is like brand new and I can't believe it to be bad bulbs.

I checked the fuse box under the hood and I pulled every fuse I could find and nothing looked burnt out. I don't know how to check the relays but not sure if that would even be a possible problem.

Any thoughts on this? I am not sure which fuse on the fuse block actually controls the fog lights anyway. The cover on the box does not say. Is there another fuse box inside the car?

Anyway, I will learn more about this serpeant as time goes on but for now I am in love. Just want to resolve this minor inconvenience.

 

[85 of 200]

Make sure your brights are not on.

 

[viperfuntime]

Thanks...I did check that because that is what was stated in the manual but that has no effect on it. Still no effect.

 

[ulllose]

I was thinking the same,(about the brights) It will take you 2 seconds to pull the bulb and check it. There is a little panel in the front wheel well that will give you access to the back of the fog light.

 

[viperfuntime]

Tried that too. Seems like the bulbs are okay. Don't look burnt out. Any other suggestions. Car is outside of warranty period by about 3 months too. Hate to bring it into the dealer.

 

[85 of 200]

Try the fog light switch on, after pulling a fog light and use a volt meter to see if the plug is getting power.

 

[ulllose]

Tried that too. Seems like the bulbs are okay. Don't look burnt out. Any other suggestions. Car is outside of warranty period by about 3 months too. Hate to bring it into the dealer.

I would also use a volt meter to see if your getting juice........
if you don't have a volt meter just go buy a new fog light and try it. If it still does not work take the bulb back. If I remember correctly there should be a fog light relay, more than likely under the hood. (just a guess)
I would rule out bad bulbs after either----checkinbg votage at the plug or buyimng a new one. I would not go by the way the filament looks. Your more than likely correct about the bulbs being good but I would still want to rule this out right away.

sorry i'm no tech

 

[Sellshomesdrivesviper]

You need to PULL the end out.

 

[viperfuntime]

Bulbs are okay power is there. And as I stated in the first portion of my post I did pull the switch out to activate.

Does anybody know which one is the fog light fuse on the 2005?

How about the relay for the fog lights, which one is it?

Thanks,

Jeff

 

[85 of 200]

if the bulbs are ok and you have power, then they would be on. Power at the plug right

 

[Bandit3]

Check for proper/sufficient ground

 

[viperfuntime]

I just realized when I checked the wiring for power I was using my volt meter incorrectly. I just got one for this and don't know how to use it obviously. I re-read the directions and will try it again. I saw the needle move when I touched the positive but I had the meter on the wrong setting. I will re-report once I re do this. It seems like this may be the culprit because bulbs were okay.

If no power, then what? Any thoughts?

 

[Venomiss]

Start changing fuses and test after each one? Cavity 21

and cavity 45-49. Guessing test them one by one? Not a tech.

 

[viperfuntime]

Hallelujah! - They work. Not sure why either but they work.

I unplugged the driver side bulb from the wiring harness and the passenger side turned on. I then plugged it back in and they both worked.

Whattttttttttttttttt? Does not make sense to me. Anybody else have any thoughts of why this did this?

The connection was tight and the clasp locked so I don't think it was a loose connection.

 

[Venomiss]

Hallelujah! - They work. Not sure why either but they work.

I unplugged the driver side bulb from the wiring harness and the passenger side turned on. I then plugged it back in and they both worked.

Whattttttttttttttttt? Does not make sense to me. Anybody else have any thoughts of why this did this?

The connection was tight and the clasp locked so I don't think it was a loose connection.

Not a clue but maybe 85 0f 200 might have an idea. He has done a bunch with fog lights.
Give yourself a pat on the back for saving a trip to the dealer.
Welcome!

 

[viperfuntime]

Thank you. I am glad I didn't have to go to my dealer. Score!

I would still like to know why they started to work all the sudden when I disconnected it and reconnected it.

 

[85 of 200]

There was a short Im guessing, wonder why the fuse didnt blow? At least it works now.

 

[xjrguy]

Go back in there and put some "dielectric grease" on the connectors where they meet the bulbs.

That will prevent this problem from happening again if it was corrosion on the connectors.

Tim

 

[viperfuntime]

Well, what I thought was a resolved problem was actually unresolved. I finally bit the bullet and brought the car into my local Mobil tech who understands electrical very well and after diagnosing the issue of intermittent fog lights, it turns out the problem was in my dash below my steering column.

The wire that comes from the headlight switch had a crimp/tear in it and once he discovered the wire was not 100%, a portion of it was replaced and no further issues have come up.

That is probably why the fuse didn't blow. It was a tear in the wire and at times worked and at other times didn't.

Makes sense to me....now why didn't I think of that!