2000 XC fog lamp malfunction

DrJammer · Post by **DrJammer** » 06 Jul 2015, 06:51

Gooood morning all, I am looking for troubleshooting help.

Had a fog lamp burn out a month or so back. Got a new one from FCP, installed it, and I was back in business.

Just got my car inspected, and for some reason my fog lamps do not work. The dash switch lights up, but nothing from the lamps. Is there a relay I can jiggle around? Fuse 17 in the engine bay is fine and I even replaced with a new one.

The only other symptom I had was somehow my day running headlight position was turned off (but not all the way) and I have NEVER turned that off in the years I have owned the wagon.

How can I get these back online? I love fog lamps to the point of avoiding purchasing cars without them.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 06 Jul 2015, 10:14

There is a relay but are you sure that your high beams aren't on? The fogs get turned off when the high beams are engaged.

...Lee

DrJammer · Post by **DrJammer** » 06 Jul 2015, 10:31

Thanks Lee, I was hoping for the easy and embarassing answer. Just checked with high beams on and off. No dice.

I have been looking at the volvo wiring diagrams and found some items, I guess relay 201? or pin 14 of the 16 pin B connector in the combined instrument panel. Do I get to it and spray with elec. cleaner? That stuff is a bit greek to me, but if I can find something with some direction, I already have the panel off under the steering wheel and ready to pick through things. although I am definitely electrically challenged.

Thank you

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 06 Jul 2015, 13:17

The relay is in the lower central electrical center, just below the main fuse box, mounted high on the firewall. You are close but it is tucked away behind a bunch of wiring harnesses.

With lighting relays contact cleaner won't usually do anything for you though. You can measure resistance on the coil but sometimes it is easier to just put you finger on the relay and have someone turn the dash switch on and off to see if you can feel the relay actuate.

If the relay actuates, the fuse is good, and the lamps are good then I would suspect that the relay contacts are burned up internally. At the end of the day you might need to go after it with a DVM and measure voltage at the lamps and work your way back.

...Lee

DrJammer · Post by **DrJammer** » 07 Jul 2015, 06:08

Do I just undo the main fuse box? Is this something that should be done with the battery disconnected?

I am curious to try this, but really do not feel like causing more electrical issues. Is this a finesse job, or can I unscrew the main fuse box and just move stuff around to get to relay 201 and fiddle with it?

Finally, if I do not feel any activity in the relay, is it feasible to just grab a relay from a used junker and replace?

Thanks in advance

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 07 Jul 2015, 07:58

You don't need to take anything apart other than the lower dash panel on the driver's side of the car. At that point you test your contortionist skills and lay down on the floorboard and look up behind the dash from the inside of the car. The dashboard harness connectors are in the way but you will be able to see and get to the lower electrical panel from there - the inside of the car.

As far as replacing the relay goes you can swap one in from a junk yard car with ease if that is the problem.

...Lee