Fog light install

[SonicAdventure]

Hey everyone,

I was lucky enough to score a set of Volvo OEM fog lights yesterday at the junkyard. $8 a piece for the lights plus about $20 for the various relays and switches...not bad. Big thanks to RSPI for his video on fog lights!

I got them installed and working last night but I have some questions. First, when I bolted up the drivers side light one of the coarse threaded screws busted off right when I did my last rotation of the wrench. I took the assembly out and scuff sanded the face of the upper bracket as well as the bumper bracket in the car that it attaches to. I applied a layer of JB Weld to the scuff sanded surfaces and proceeded to put in the next bolt. I got it attached at the bottom in the plastic part of the bumper as well. I then zip tied the bracket arm to a hole in the radiator cross member.

The entire assembly seems tight and no wobble, but I am kinda worried about there only being one bolt holding the upper bracket in place. I don’t know how well the JB Weld will work in this application. I did this yesterday around 4pm and I haven’t driven the car since to allow the JB Weld time to fully set up. I was thinking I might buy a cheap right angle drill from Harbor Freight and try drilling the broken bolt out and installing another screw soon.

Has anyone else experienced broken bolts on these lights? Honestly, the screws they use are not great quality. Maybe the hole was corroded from years of exposure and / or the screw itself from the donor car and it just broke. I don’t know.

Another question: what is the brightest bulb I can put in these fog lights? The main reason they were so attractive to me is because the regular headlights are so dim. I may have to replace my headlights at some point or re-silver the interior of the housing because they are seriously the dimmest headlights I’ve ever had on a car. Hoping the fogs will increase visibility. I would like to get the brightest and strongest fog lamp bulbs I can get because it’s the area right in front of the car that the normal headlights don’t seem to illuminate.

[sleddriver]

I too added fogs after gathering all the parts from the junkyard. I found installation frustrating. Down here we have no rust though. Given the location, drilling out that stud will not be fun.

Using fogs to make up for poor headlights won't work as they're too low and mainly illuminate out to the sides and just in front. I was hoping for more of an effect myself. Wasn't sure what to expect either. So far, I have yet to encounter really serious fog....yet.

If you search my past posts, you'll see I had the same problem as you: worn-out headlight reflectors. Replacing them made a HUGE difference. All the difference in the world actually. It wasn't the bulb: It was the reflector. You'll be stunned.

[scot850]

I too broke one of the bolts and due to the location had the choice of removing the front bumper to get a drill access, but then a local tool seller was selling a cheap corded stubby drill which gave enough room to get in and drill out the broken stub. You can also get 90 degree attachments for regular drills that may also work. As to will the JB weld work. Based on the prep you did it is a good chance it will be fine. Due to the small case of the fog lights (they are fog lights not driving lights) putting a larger bulb will likely melt the plastic unless you can find a suitable modern LED bulb that may fit and give higher output with no more heat.

Neil.