1996 850 Turbo Wagon - Front Passenger Fog Lamp

[ZionXIX]

1996 Volvo 850.pdf

Fog Lamp

(64.98 KiB) Downloaded 301 times

Hi all,

I was unable to find a thread pertaining to detailed fog lamp problems so I will try to explain as best I can with my limited terminology.

This started with a simple task of replacing a light bulb. Specifically the front passenger fog lamp bulb using the H3-55w from autozone. Ideally this light is disassembled by rotating the plastic housing about an 1/8 turn to reveal the backside of the bulb held in place by a metal clip. The bulb change out is fairly straight forward. This is the first time I have ever had to replace a fog lamp bulb. When I reached to grab the plastic housing, the metal casing that holds the bulb came with it. I have a attached a crude drawing depicting roughly what happened. From what I see underneath, it appears that there are three metal tabs that align to inserts on the metal casing but no matter how hard I push it wont connect. So I'm kind of stuck. Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated.

1996 Volvo 850.pdf

Fog Lamp

(64.98 KiB) Downloaded 301 times

[Volvofan94]

Hello and welcome,

From your description it sounds like the the plastic bulb housing base may have broken off and separated from the fog light's metal base exposing the three metal tabs. Was the plastic housing hard to turn?

[rspi]

Find an used replacement.

[ZionXIX]

It practically fell out on its own. I was hoping there was a way to reattach it to the back of the reflector.

[nferi93]

I just made that last week. I had two broken fog lamps ( one exactly like yours, on the other just the glass part was broken), so I decided to pull it apart and try to make one good.

First of all you should try this: place back the weather seal, then the metal casing for the bulb. Note that the metal tabs are not under the casing, and it is aligned that the tabs go to the right place. Now using a small screwdriver you should press on the tabs, so that they fold over the metal casing. I used some superglue there to make sure it holds strong. It should look something like this:

The three metal tabs that hold the casing

If its not strong enough or there is not enough space to do it, you can try to disassemble the whole assembly so there is more space, but first try to do it without pulling it apart. (I had to disassemble the whole thing, but that doesn't mean you can't do it without that )

First I used the adjuster screw to tilt down the inner part of the foglight, as far as it let me do it. Then very carefully pried up the black tabs on the side of the light assembly, so the inner part can pop out from the housing. Be very careful because the tabs can break easily.

The fog lamp with the adjuster down, and the black tab circled.

This is how the tab looks like.

Now using a screwdriver and pliers you can remove the white plastic part from the end of the adjuster screw. You should just hold it with the pliers while turning the adjuster with the screwdriver. As you are turning the adjuster the assembly comes out of the housing.

The assembly out of the housing (you may notice that the assembly is different, but the other one is just like yours)

When it is out pry up the three metal tabs holding the lens ( careful to not break the glass or the metal tabs).

Tabs holding the lens.

After the lens is out you can see the three metal tabs that hold the metal casing. Now you can try to fold them back from here. When it is done, you can put it back together, everything is the same as removal just in reverse Make sure that the lens is clean, there is no grease on it.

[rspi]

Has anyone found these fog lights to add any light to the road ahead?

[MrPc]

Has anyone found these fog lights to add any light to the road ahead?

I've found their effect to be subliminal at best. What little contribution they do make seems to be more to the sides of the road than ahead, and I find them a wee bit distracting because I'm always trying to assess whether they're actually helping or not. I thought all fog lights were this way until my wife started driving a Honda Odyssey--the fog lights on that thing are really quite bright.

Paul

[Ozark Lee]

Has anyone found these fog lights to add any light to the road ahead?

They are slightly less effective than TRACS which means that they do very little.

...Lee

[ZionXIX]

Thank you for such a detailed response. I will have to try your suggestions this weekend.

[ZionXIX]

Ok, I was able to repair the fog lamp by bending the pins and of it came apart again right away. I then used the super glue and that seems to be holding well. I have however run into a new problem. The electrical connector for the fog lamp is no longer working. I looked inside the plug and the copper terminal for the negative is pushed back and whatever rubber silicone stuff that was holding it in place had disintegrated. I tried pushing the terminal from the back with a screwdriver but it just refuses to stay put and make a connection. I guess i will have to splice a new connector in but I cant seem to find the right replacement. Any thoughts?

The closest i have been able to find is this duralast plug.
http://www.autozone.com/electrical-and-lighting/headlight-connector/duralast-headlight-connector/volvo/850r/1996/5-cylinders-5-2-3l-turbo-dohc/422968_461303_7217/

Thanks.