fog light bulb replacement
Your looks do not deceive you in that, yes, it is a pain in the ***. 
Some have actually removed the fasteners which hold the wheel well lining in placing. I never figured it out. If you can do that, then you have immediate access to the fog lights from beneath. Otherwise, read on.
I did the following:
- Start on the driver's side (since the passenger's side is more difficult).
- Removed the screws securing the wheel well lining to the fender along the front (closest to the fog lights). You do not have to remove all of the screws along the top of the fender..just enough to get an opening.
- Look in there between the wheel well liner and the fender to get a visual on the fog light assembly. Note: You will be looking at the rear of the fog light assembly.
- Slid my hand between the wheel well liner and the fender to reach the fog lights.
- Unscrew the bolt holding the fog light in place from below. There is a nut down there below the foglight going from South to North, or straight up. It is either a 12mm or or 14mm. You'll have to use a wrench. If I remember, the socket would not fit.
- Push the fog light out. I had to use a screw driver to get the fog light to "pop out". You'll see how the fog light assembly is "wedged" into the body, as to secure it more.
- Be prepared to catch the fog light if it pops out the front of the car so that it does not land on the ground.
- Replace fog light lamp itself.
- Push the fog light back into it's position.
- Re-tighten securing bolt.
- Secure fender well liner.
- Go to the passenger side of the car.
- Remove wheel well liner securing attachments, the same as you did on the driver's side.
- At this point, if you look in there towards the rear of the fog light assembly you will see a reservoir. This is why I stated to perform the work on the driver's side first. You will need to do this side by "feel" alone.
- Perform same unbolt, install procedure, re-assembly procedure as on the driver's side.
Overall, the process IS a pain in the ***, unless you can figure out how to un-do the plastic fasteners. If you can do that, it is easy in that you have direct access to the bolt securing the fog light assembly to the body of the car.
Good luck, and don't forget the big hammer if frustration sets in.
Some have actually removed the fasteners which hold the wheel well lining in placing. I never figured it out. If you can do that, then you have immediate access to the fog lights from beneath. Otherwise, read on.
I did the following:
- Start on the driver's side (since the passenger's side is more difficult).
- Removed the screws securing the wheel well lining to the fender along the front (closest to the fog lights). You do not have to remove all of the screws along the top of the fender..just enough to get an opening.
- Look in there between the wheel well liner and the fender to get a visual on the fog light assembly. Note: You will be looking at the rear of the fog light assembly.
- Slid my hand between the wheel well liner and the fender to reach the fog lights.
- Unscrew the bolt holding the fog light in place from below. There is a nut down there below the foglight going from South to North, or straight up. It is either a 12mm or or 14mm. You'll have to use a wrench. If I remember, the socket would not fit.
- Push the fog light out. I had to use a screw driver to get the fog light to "pop out". You'll see how the fog light assembly is "wedged" into the body, as to secure it more.
- Be prepared to catch the fog light if it pops out the front of the car so that it does not land on the ground.
- Replace fog light lamp itself.
- Push the fog light back into it's position.
- Re-tighten securing bolt.
- Secure fender well liner.
- Go to the passenger side of the car.
- Remove wheel well liner securing attachments, the same as you did on the driver's side.
- At this point, if you look in there towards the rear of the fog light assembly you will see a reservoir. This is why I stated to perform the work on the driver's side first. You will need to do this side by "feel" alone.
- Perform same unbolt, install procedure, re-assembly procedure as on the driver's side.
Overall, the process IS a pain in the ***, unless you can figure out how to un-do the plastic fasteners. If you can do that, it is easy in that you have direct access to the bolt securing the fog light assembly to the body of the car.
Good luck, and don't forget the big hammer if frustration sets in.
YUP...
Originally posted by mdeal
Your looks do not deceive you in that, yes, it is a pain in the ***.
Some have actually removed the fasteners which hold the wheel well lining in placing. I never figured it out. If you can do that, then you have immediate access to the fog lights from beneath. Otherwise, read on.
I did the following:
- Start on the driver's side (since the passenger's side is more difficult).
- Removed the screws securing the wheel well lining to the fender along the front (closest to the fog lights). You do not have to remove all of the screws along the top of the fender..just enough to get an opening.
- Look in there between the wheel well liner and the fender to get a visual on the fog light assembly. Note: You will be looking at the rear of the fog light assembly.
- Slid my hand between the wheel well liner and the fender to reach the fog lights.
- Unscrew the bolt holding the fog light in place from below. There is a nut down there below the foglight going from South to North, or straight up. It is either a 12mm or or 14mm. You'll have to use a wrench. If I remember, the socket would not fit.
- Push the fog light out. I had to use a screw driver to get the fog light to "pop out". You'll see how the fog light assembly is "wedged" into the body, as to secure it more.
- Be prepared to catch the fog light if it pops out the front of the car so that it does not land on the ground.
- Replace fog light lamp itself.
- Push the fog light back into it's position.
- Re-tighten securing bolt.
- Secure fender well liner.
- Go to the passenger side of the car.
- Remove wheel well liner securing attachments, the same as you did on the driver's side.
- At this point, if you look in there towards the rear of the fog light assembly you will see a reservoir. This is why I stated to perform the work on the driver's side first. You will need to do this side by "feel" alone.
- Perform same unbolt, install procedure, re-assembly procedure as on the driver's side.
Overall, the process IS a pain in the ***, unless you can figure out how to un-do the plastic fasteners. If you can do that, it is easy in that you have direct access to the bolt securing the fog light assembly to the body of the car.
Good luck, and don't forget the big hammer if frustration sets in.
Your looks do not deceive you in that, yes, it is a pain in the ***.
Some have actually removed the fasteners which hold the wheel well lining in placing. I never figured it out. If you can do that, then you have immediate access to the fog lights from beneath. Otherwise, read on.
I did the following:
- Start on the driver's side (since the passenger's side is more difficult).
- Removed the screws securing the wheel well lining to the fender along the front (closest to the fog lights). You do not have to remove all of the screws along the top of the fender..just enough to get an opening.
- Look in there between the wheel well liner and the fender to get a visual on the fog light assembly. Note: You will be looking at the rear of the fog light assembly.
- Slid my hand between the wheel well liner and the fender to reach the fog lights.
- Unscrew the bolt holding the fog light in place from below. There is a nut down there below the foglight going from South to North, or straight up. It is either a 12mm or or 14mm. You'll have to use a wrench. If I remember, the socket would not fit.
- Push the fog light out. I had to use a screw driver to get the fog light to "pop out". You'll see how the fog light assembly is "wedged" into the body, as to secure it more.
- Be prepared to catch the fog light if it pops out the front of the car so that it does not land on the ground.
- Replace fog light lamp itself.
- Push the fog light back into it's position.
- Re-tighten securing bolt.
- Secure fender well liner.
- Go to the passenger side of the car.
- Remove wheel well liner securing attachments, the same as you did on the driver's side.
- At this point, if you look in there towards the rear of the fog light assembly you will see a reservoir. This is why I stated to perform the work on the driver's side first. You will need to do this side by "feel" alone.
- Perform same unbolt, install procedure, re-assembly procedure as on the driver's side.
Overall, the process IS a pain in the ***, unless you can figure out how to un-do the plastic fasteners. If you can do that, it is easy in that you have direct access to the bolt securing the fog light assembly to the body of the car.
Good luck, and don't forget the big hammer if frustration sets in.
it's pain...but the results is well-worth it.
make sure you aim it right tho...otherwise you will have to wrestle with your plastics again and again and again...
-peace
Oh, when you look in there to the rear of the fog light assembly, you will see a long, white screw. Do not mess with this. That is the fog light aiming screw. If you asjust that, your fog lights will be aiming someplace else.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 132
if you guys are having trouble getting those stupid plastic fasteners out its really not that hard. Its pretty much a tab system. Take a flat head screwdriver and slip it under the middle circle and twist it so it pops out a little. Now u can pull the whole fastener out.
Jonathan Marsh
Jonathan Marsh
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,728
From: City of the Fallen Angel, CA
And a certified dealer will rob you blind . . .
I took mine to my local mechanic. He threw my car up on a lift. Took him exactly 10 minutes a side to change out the fogs. Cost me $10.00.
That's what I call doing it the easy way.
That's what I call doing it the easy way.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,335
yeah, i took mine to a nissan dealership and they said it took them over an hour and ended up costing me $55...thats what i call robbing me blind...the guy didn't mention anything about cost because i had the car in there for a bunch of other stuff, but then when you have to sign to pickup your car, there was that charge...i tried arguing w/ the guy to no avail...o well, i've learned my lesson for next time (which is soon because one of my fog bulbs just burned out)...maybe i'll do it myself this time
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