Guest Nikos Posted March 29, 2004 Share Posted March 29, 2004 Hi guys, I have a 1993 Japanese import in the UK. Its just been in for the MOT and they arent happy with the fog light. The way it was when I bought it was that one of the rear reverse (I think) lights had a bulb painted red. Apparently that isnt good enough. I also tried fitting a red 21watt bulb as used in clear lights but they say that isnt bright enough. Is there any simple way I can get this sorted and quick? I dont want to go painting the plastic as it would ruin the look, Any help would be appreciated, thanks Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digsy Posted March 29, 2004 Share Posted March 29, 2004 if your tester is going by the book then a fog light has to have a red lense. A red bulb wont do (look at cars with clear tail lights - the fog lamp still has a red lense). Buy a Halfords special and wire it in temporarily then you can decide what to do about it at your leisure. There are plenty of options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Nikos Posted March 29, 2004 Share Posted March 29, 2004 What do you mean a halfords special? presumably that is something I can chuck in for the MOT and take our afterwards, but please let me know what it is? Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUPRACHRIS Posted March 29, 2004 Share Posted March 29, 2004 I think they are being a bit tight, i had an FTO which was done like yours i.e. one reverse light as a fog light, and it went through fine. Who is doing the MOT if its Kwikfit or somewhere like that i am not suprised:angry: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Nikos Posted March 29, 2004 Share Posted March 29, 2004 They are being tight, but I dont have much choice, the cars MOT has just run out and I need it on the road right now, so I need a temporary solution to get it through the MOT Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digsy Posted March 29, 2004 Share Posted March 29, 2004 Originally posted by Nikos What do you mean a halfords special? presumably that is something I can chuck in for the MOT and take our afterwards, but please let me know what it is? Nick Yeah a generic fog lamp that you can take off later/ It'll be a bodge , but it'l get you the certificate. The two main methods are to convert a reversing lamp or two of the tail lights. Both are technically illegal, but as the poster above said you can usualyl get through an MOT with them. Or you can do a better job of an aftermarket one or do a full UK tail light conversion (like me). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Nikos Posted March 29, 2004 Share Posted March 29, 2004 So whaT I can get a generic fog lamp from halfords and stick that in for now and you reckon that would do it? Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUPRACHRIS Posted March 29, 2004 Share Posted March 29, 2004 I too have uk spec rear lights, how did you wire them in then, i mean did you wire them to the inside set or outside set of reds (prob inside but just checking) Oh an go get a bolt on rear fog from a motorists shop and run a wire down from your already converted lights, and that should do the trick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digsy Posted March 29, 2004 Share Posted March 29, 2004 Absolutely. Buy a Halfords fog lamp and wire it up to your foglamp feed. Remember to disable the modded reversing light (just take the bulb out - having only one reversing lamp is perfectly legal). Make sure you mount the temorary fog lamp at least 10cm from the nearest brake light on the driver's side of the car. BTW - When they told you the 21W bulb wasn't bright enough it was bollocks. 21W is the brightest blub you can fit to the tail of a car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Nikos Posted March 29, 2004 Share Posted March 29, 2004 Ok thats cool, you say about fitting this light, but where does it actually fit on the car? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digsy Posted March 29, 2004 Share Posted March 29, 2004 Originally posted by SUPRACHRIS I too have uk spec rear lights, how did you wire them in then, i mean did you wire them to the inside set or outside set of reds (prob inside but just checking) you can plug UK lamps into the J-spec harness. The only pin missing from the plug is the foglamp one. I had some spare pins laying around and added the wiring on the car side of the plug. Plug n play Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Nikos Posted March 29, 2004 Share Posted March 29, 2004 With this light you say its a bolt on one, but does it actually fit? How does it attach? Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUPRACHRIS Posted March 29, 2004 Share Posted March 29, 2004 Mine is screwed to the bottom of the bumper, so when you take it off you cant see any hole marks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUPRACHRIS Posted March 29, 2004 Share Posted March 29, 2004 what about the switch to turn it on then, or did you just wire it up to an external switch???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digsy Posted March 29, 2004 Share Posted March 29, 2004 Originally posted by Nikos Ok thats cool, you say about fitting this light, but where does it actually fit on the car? Most common place is to screw it to the bottom of the bumper. One of the larger importers (JIC) used to hide the mounting hole behind the rear numberplate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Nikos Posted March 29, 2004 Share Posted March 29, 2004 I not massively keen on drilling into the bumper though, is there some way of just putting a piece of red plastic infront of the bulb? if so how the hell do you get the light cluster apart? Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digsy Posted March 29, 2004 Share Posted March 29, 2004 Originally posted by SUPRACHRIS what about the switch to turn it on then, or did you just wire it up to an external switch???? Proper UK switch wired through a dedicated feed, fuse and relay. . I modded the instrument panel to put the indicator lamp inside the rev counter as per the stock UK spec. I kinda went to town on my foglamps. Would be much simpler to buy an illuiminated switch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUPRACHRIS Posted March 29, 2004 Share Posted March 29, 2004 Just stick it with some decent double sided pads if its only for the MOT,just make sure it does not fall off Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUPRACHRIS Posted March 29, 2004 Share Posted March 29, 2004 Yeah i will probably just leave my little red switch where it is, but cheers for the note on that, next new job then UK spec rear light do look the part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaithStalker Posted March 29, 2004 Share Posted March 29, 2004 rather than pay all that money buying fog lamps and pads just take it to a different MOT tester, i have the rear reverse light converted to a fog light using a red bulb 21W and it passed last year (just) because some paint had flaked off the painted bulb and caused it to look pink , and this year i bought a proper red bulb and it passed with no questions. the guy is being so picky its untrue. take your business and money elsewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Nikos Posted March 29, 2004 Share Posted March 29, 2004 Ok I have a plan, I am gona fit a temporary red film over the lens, but the question is how the hell do I get the light cluster apart to get to the back of the lens? there are about three lugs that look like they need pressing in to get it open, but they dont seem to want to push in and I dont want to break the cluster by forcing it apart, any ideas guys? Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian R Posted March 29, 2004 Share Posted March 29, 2004 My fog was connected into break light ( got a switch on dash that puts one breaklight on perm. when turned on) passed mOT no probs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Nikos Posted March 29, 2004 Share Posted March 29, 2004 sod that plan, the cluster just isnt coming apart. Instead I have bought a bolt on break light. Origionally I was gona fit it at the bottom of the bumper, but according to law it has to be 25 cm off the ground, and theres only about 20cm of clearance. Then I wanted to fit it instead of one of the black plastic pieces by the number plate, but I cant get them off. The only other choice is to put it on with double sided pads, which I suppose should work to get it through. but any more advice would be useful, thanks Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Nikos Posted March 29, 2004 Share Posted March 29, 2004 Its ok, have the problem sorted now, have just fitted a fog light at the bottom of the bumper to an existing bolt, so it can come right back off afterwards, thanks for your help guys Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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