Replace foglights or foglight bulbs?

[Tim]

I have a 97 Subaru legacy L wagon. I cant figure out how to replace the foglights or more appropriately the foglight bulbs and how to gain access to them.

[Wiscon_Mark]

get down on the ground and look directly up under your bumper. There are two screws/bolts there. Remove them, and remove the foglight units from the car (disconnect the wiring harness) and then on the back, there should be a nice little cap to remove, and I'd assume (I haven't had to change a light yet) that the bulb is easy to get out from there.

[Tim]

You wouldnt happen to have a pic of those screw bolts? Just a thought. I was under there this evening, before I wrote this, maybe I was looking in the wrong place.
Thanks

[Wiscon_Mark]

No, I don't have my fogs anymore :( But they're just 10 mm (??) bolts with optional philips head screw inserts. The foglights would be mounted overhead, the bracket is actually up above and forward of the lights themselves.

[Tim]

I am pretty confused. I will look tomorrow or later tonite. I am sure that from underneath, there is the bumper and then a piece that goes all the way around the wheel well, covering the light from below.

[shazapple]

directly above and in front of the foglight are where the screws are located. You can only see them while laying on the ground

[Tim]

I guess I am just stupid. Am I looking from underneath the car? in front of the car looking at the light or looking from above

[Wiscon_Mark]

get down on the ground, in the fetal position :lol:

Actually do that, but you don't have to go baby-style ;)

so you're looking up at the car, you'll see em.

[Tim]

Ok, I looked. Under my car you see the bumper cover. on top is a piece that is screwed down that hangs below the bumper. That piece holds in another piece that goes all the way back and around the wheel well. You cannot see the fog light from underneath. I am going to try to remove the piece on the bumper and see if you can pull back the larger piece without removing the whole thing. thanks

[Wiscon_Mark]

doh! You remove the foglight from the foglight hole, dude. You're looking way too far down.

[Tim]

doh! You said looking UP at the car. That would be from underneath to look up. Looking at the fog light would be in front of the car. My fog lights are inserted in the bumper with a black cover around them. There are no visible screws or nuts or bolts or anything.

[Tim]

OK, my most humble apologies. Like I said before, I am stupid. I see what you are talking about now. Sorry, and thanks very much.

[Plays_with_Toys]

haha, no worries. I'm sure you'll never have to think twice about it again. :lol: I was going to chime in, but I figgered you'd find it first. On the back of the fog light is a very hard to untwist plastic cap holding in the bulbs. Standard H3 bulbs.

[badbasser98]

I guess I shouldn't tell you how easy it is to replace the fog bulbs in my BE :razz:

[Plays_with_Toys]

I'm curious if the housings for the L foglights are sturdy enough for 85W bulbs. With the 55's after an hour of running, the lamps aren't even warm to the touch. The glass is uber thick. I'd really like to up the light output since yellowstars tend to get drowned out in most non-wet conditions.

[Wiscon_Mark]

yeah, the glass is thick, but I'd be worried about the wiring being able to handle it, more than the housing.

[Plays_with_Toys]

I'm running off of a relay currently with 14awg wire. I was just reading this, but I haven't done the math yet for 85 watt bulbs.

http://www.rallylights.com/useful_info/ ... wiring.htm (http://www.rallylights.com/useful_info/sensible_wiring.htm)

[Wiscon_Mark]

You'll be fine with 14awg.

[shazapple]

most definitly. I know my foglights arnt hooked up with that guage wire! Theyre probably close to 16.

[badbasser98]

I used 14awg on my BD, but I was only running the 55w H3's...

[96legwag]

Tim - hopefully you didnt remove the lights to change the bulbs - just move the plastic splash guard out of the way and twist off the cap on the back - use vaseline on the cap when you screw it back in, it will be easier to get back on and off later.

I had a set of 85W bulbs that melted the bulb socket, not the housing - be careful of this. I switched to a set of PIAB 55W bulbs that are nearly as bright anyhow (must be the bulb technology is better) and produce a more usable light.

[Tim]

I did end up removing the lights, but it worked. I also used the 55w. thanks