MOT Fail Rear Fog light failed

[vengenerator]

My 54 Altea failed it's MOT due to rear fog light not working. The garage reckoned it was the problem of the fog light switch on the dash and they couldn't get hold of a new one for me - said out of stock everywhere they tried and suggested I source one of the internet.

Got one secondhand off ebay, swap it out with the old one today and low and behold makes no difference - still doesn't work. Then got our my multimeter and had a fiddle with the switch, as far as I can tell both the old and new switches seem to be working fine. Then I checked whether the bulb was getting 12v and nothing. Not sure where to go from here, anyone have any suggestions? Need to get the car back on the road asap - 1 roadworthy car and 3 kids is getting tricky!

Thanks
V

 

[m0rk]

Run a wire from the switch straight to the bulb terminals just for the MOT - then spend your time figuring out where the break in the wire is.

I used to do the same on my Eunos, then removed it straight after the MOT.

 

[vengenerator]

Not sure how to go about this practically - the switch controls both the headlights and foglight and has a integral multiconnector at the back that then links to a wire cluster - how would I figure out where to run a wire from?

 

[m0rk]

OK, just fit (securely) a lit toggle switch 'somewhere' out of the way.

Or just run from the output of the multi connector that goes high when you enable the fog light (choc blocks, or those terrible wire clips)

 

[adestu]

You have checked the fuse?

 

[adestu]

If you fit a separate switch let the mot tester know where it is.

 

[vengenerator]

Was poking around trying to see if I could work out which wires were running from the connectors at the back of the headlight unit. Then when I put the unit back in and turn the key I got only very dim light on the dash and couldn't start the car! Don't even get the trying to start noise just silence. Oh dear.

Then when I get out the car I see all the indicators are flashing - no dink dink noise just all lights flashing, think this was triggered by me trying to use the central locking which doesn't work! Yikes what the heck have I done - now I can't even lock let alone use the car!

 

[adestu]

Might be worth having someone with vagcom or maybe auto logic.

 

[inbetweener]

Sounds like you have a flat battery lol
Try jump leads or charge the battery before doing anything else


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[inbetweener]

And for the fog lamp issue, there is a connector behind the rear bumper at Offside. Make sure that and connector at light unit not corroded


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[vengenerator]

I thought battery aswell and plugged my charger in - charged for 5-10mins then said fully charged.

Had a look at the fog light socket, was a little spot of corrosion but not bad, scraped out a little but still couldn't read a voltage getting to the socket. Think I'll call garage tomorrow as just need to get back on the road asap now.

 

[vengenerator]

Is the connector you refer to underneath the plastic bumper - i.e. undo the 6ish torx screws take off bumper and connector is revealed?

 

[adestu]

Is your reverse light working

 

[adestu]

You should be able to see the plug for the bumper lights if you get underneath

 

[vengenerator]

Yes reverse light is fine.

 

[adestu]

If you can find the bumper connect plug switch your meter to continuity and buzz out all the connections from the bumper plug to the bulbs make sure you check the earths as most faults are negative related.what this rest does is it checks the wiring is intact. Before you do that check for power at the bumper plug at the car side.if yoh have power it has to be in the bumpet wiring

 

[vengenerator]

Turns out it was the wire from the control unit to the bulb. After a bit of head scratching the garage found it and fixed it. Thanks for all the advice!

 

[rambalad]

Got shut of mine for the same reason the other year - wasn't a dark red metallic with chrome mirror covers was it?

 

[MrDurst]

Where is the control unit located?