hwmonkey

My HHR took a piece of shrapnel on the interstate (hunk of a tire). It was a hard hit to the driver side fog light. The light appeared missing. It was actually knocked into the body, including the outer black ring that holds it to the bumper. I disconnected the wire and pulled the bulb until I had time to look at it (today). Between time of impact and today, my left rear turn indicator light died. A few times, the electrical freaked out (gauges went momentarily whacky).

Today, I was able to get the fog light to lock back into position. Lights (BOTH) did not come on. I checked the fuse, and swapped the relay with the horn and tested. Still nothing. Swapped the relay back. Pulled out a meter and checked the driver side foglight wire for volts and had voltage. Replaced the rear turn indicator bulb and it is now working.

Before I buy replacement foglights, is there anything else to check? Isn't it odd that the passenger foglight no longer works, simply because the driver side failed? But, if the rear turn indicator failed because of the impact (electrical spike?) maybe this is reasonable. Wiring does not appear that it is in series...

Thanks for your thoughts

donbrew

Any thought given to fuses? I imagine scenarios in which short circuits could have resulted.

RJ_RS_SS_350

He said he checked the fuse and swapped the relay.

I would be looking at ground next.

donbrew

If they are factory installed fogs they have separate grounds. the only common wire is the positive from the relay.

RJ_RS_SS_350

High beam headlights on will turn off the fog lamps, maybe the stalk is in the high beam position, or something is wrong with that circuit.

You haven't said that you tried replacing the bulbs. Are you 100% certain that both worked prior to the impact?

hwmonkey

I have not yet replaced the bulbs for I didn’t want to throw money at it right away. I am certain both were working at the time of impact. I have not tried anything with the high beam circuit. I will look at that today.

hwmonkey

very helpful to know. That makes me think I should buy a pair of bulbs

donbrew

I have learned that a sudden vibration will cause a hot bulb filament to break. Like drop a regular incandescent shop light, unless you got heavy duty. Or, this happened to me, Sitting at a stop light, the fool behind me tapped my bumper; the only damage was both brake light bulbs blew out.

mrmarkuSS

Make sure the bulb connector on the one that went MIA is intact with no broken wires.

I had my right front tire go flat and I had to nurse it off the interstate,and I lost the whole light capsule,along with the bulb connector.Just 2 broken wires left. I ordered a new capsule,and got the connector from Advance Auto Parts. The parts guy at the counter was trying to tell me the connector I wanted wasn't for my car...You know what I said?