Well after a week and a half of toying with the Disco I've got all of the little quirks fixed except one. My factory fogs are being stubborn and I'm not sure where to start. When I got it they had two blown blubs and the housings were all crusty and banged up. Fixed all that but now the second I hit the switch the "sidelights" fuse under the hood pops. No problems with bulbs out or with bad bulbs (other than no light of course) but with new bulbs the fuse just keeps on blowing. Could it be a simple relay or switch or do I have a bigger problem? I grabbed a switch from the junkyard but haven't installed it yet, wanted to ask to see if this was typical and if so where the problem may be. Thanks everyone, I'm learning to love this thing despite it flaws.

 

1. Is the fuse that blows the correct amps for that spot? You'll have to check the RAVE. Someone could have put in a 10 amp fuse, when it calls for a 20 amp, etc.

2. If bulbs are disconnected, does fuse blow? There could still be a ground or short (skinned wire, etc.) .

3. If fuse does not blow with no bulbs, try just one bulb. If does not blow with 1 bulb, problem can be ground (not enough to blow fuse, but ground amps + bulb amps are greater than fuse rating). Can be the corroded or crusty connector, bad splice, connector full of water and corrosion, bad relay, etc.).

4. If you have a volt/ohm digital meter (or analog, if old skool), with bulbs unplugged, and switch for them in off position, read for ohms between hot side of socket or wire and chassis. Should read open.

5. Do you have a bigger problem? Yes. As soon as this is fixed something else more expensive will break. And whenever the truck gets within WIFI range of the dealer, new codes will be downloaded and the CEL instructed to turn on. Google "Murphy's Law"

6. Don't run with fuse bypassed or a rediculously large fuse installed, have seen too many trucks, cars, ATVs, and boats burned up because junk was attached to wiring without a fuse.

 

Wire your Fogs independent of the stock harness. By the time you chase down your bad ground or fault you could have new wire pulled and the lights hooked up. Wiring your Fogs independently will also allow you to use them regardless of what your headlights are doing. You will be able to use your Fogs with your brights on or with the truck off, if wired independently. Just my $.02.

 

Sounds like a plan, I hate electrical gremlins. Is there a way to do it and still utilize the stock switch? Also what amp and how many relays would it require?