How to: Easy fog light bulb change/fog light assembly removal

[MichelleRoze]

Here is an easy way I found to change out a fog light bulb. No jacking up of the car required and no tight spaces to deal with. Very simple and very quick! And best of all, no removing the belly pan!

Tools:
Phillips Screw Driver
Latex Gloves
New Bulbs or Fog Light assemblies

(may possibly need a torques head screw, but some of my screws underneath were missing)

Start by getting under the front of the car. You'll see two Phillips head screws and possibly three other screws on the lower spoiler.


Here you see the phillips screw, and on your NB there might be another screw or bolt in that empty hole on the tab. There will be two phillips screws and possibly three bolts of some kind. Mine were missing so it made it that much easier.

Once all bolts/screws are off, pull the lower spoiler off. You may need to hold on to the sides of the bumper cover at first. Use a bit of force. It may feel like you are going to rip the whole bumper cover off, but you won't.



Once you get the whole lower spoiler off, from there you can do the bulb change or even the full fog light assembly change.


look at all the space!

If you are changing the fog light assembly, simply unscrew the two remaining phillips screws on the top of the fog light assembly and put the new assembly in. Some adjusting and leveling may be required. If and when I do change the assembly (I'll have to eventually because one of mine is broke), I'll update the how to.

If you are changing the fog light blub, then twist off the rear plastic cover on the fog light assembly. There is a mark that says which way is closed and which way is open.



Unclip the metal retaining clip on the bulb. The bulb will remain in place.



Remove the bad bulb, and replace with the new. Take note of the direction that the bulb is sitting. It'll only go in one way.


bad bulb


new bulb (I know I don't have latex gloves on in this pic. The hand taking the picture had the glove on and I installed the bulb with that hand.)

After putting in the new bulb (latex gloves are recommended to do this so the oils off your hand don't touch the bulb. If they do, you'll be doing this again tomorrow because the bulb will blow.), clamp down the metal retaining clip. It should be fairly easy if the bulb is in correctly.



Then twist the plastic cover back on. If the lines on the top and bottom meet up, it should be on correctly. But make sure to test it, nothing worse then you putting the lower spoiler back on and that piece comes off. Test the bulb to make sure it's working correctly before putting the lower spoiler back on.



Repeat the process for the other side if needed. Step by step is exactly the same. Once you are done installing the bulbs or fog light assemblies, either one, it's time to put the spoiler back on. Line the tabs on the spoiler up with the guide rail in the bumper cover. Then snap it back into place. Again you might have to be a bit forceful with this.



Once it's snapped into place, replace all the screws and bolts at the bottom and your done. Your car is back together and you didn't have to scrape up your hands to do it!

[marvins_dad]

Very good How-To!
Thanks!

Just a note - Pre mid 2000 models still require the old method of taking off the bottom skid and possibly removing the front end. That's just because the grill can't be removed the same way from what I recall.

The screws missing are are actually Push Pin Rivets. The 3 Tabs at the bottom of the grill assembly connect to the skid plate. Here is a brother How-To thread on how to take off the grill that will answer any questions you have about what might be missing. Front Grill Removal - How-To

[marvins_dad]

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How to: Easy fog light bulb change/fog light assembly removal -Discussion Thread<---click here