I had posted earlier about this topic. I am trying to find a rear fog light bulb for replacement, w/o going to the dealer, their hours. I have tried 2 parts stores and of course they don't know what I am talking about it. Any advice, can I just match up the bulb?? I currently have the rear fog light indicator on at all times when the lights are on, regardless of the switch position AND the default bulb indicator is on too. I think this may be connected becuase I have pretty much changed all the bulbs, healights, except the rear fog. Someone on the board recommended changing the bulb, just can't find one yet?

Also, I discovered that if I have my parking lights on and switch on the fog light switch, my headlights come on ( I do not have front fog lights) is this normal or is this inidication that something is wrong with the switch, connected to my problem above or normal.

Once again I am a new owner and just leraning about all these things. Thanks for your help! This board is an awesome resource!!

CT

Here is my 2 cents, which may or may not help:

My 93 940 turbo has 2 rear and 2 front fog lights. The front fog lights are between the headlight and the grill. Position 1 of the foglight switch turns on the front fog lights (not the headlights), position 2 of the switch turns on both the front and rear fog lights. For any of this to occur, the lowbeam headlights must already be on. This is all in my owner's manual.

Steve H

Steve:

Thanks! I only have 2 positions, on and off. If the headlights are off and I switch on the rear fog lights switch, the front head lights come on. All very confusing right now,maybe frustrating is the word!!

Thanks

fog light bulbs are 22watts bulbs that sell at any autoparts store. Do replace both sides at same time.

I did the opposite and replaced the 22w fog light bulbs with the 5w bulbs and I keep them on all the time at night. The tail lights look nicer with the extra light on. Try it you might like it

John:

I thought the for light was just one one side, the driver side??

Thanks

CT

CT are you talking about the fog light switch or the

bulbs in the taillights.

There is one fog light per side in the tail light

assembly. Both need to be of same wattage and

amperage. That's why is recommended to replace both at

the same time. If you only replace one, the amperage

between the two bulbs could be different, even though

the wattage is the same.

This is the reason why the bulb out light indicator in

the instrument panel lights up, even though both bulbs

are working. The bulb out relay reads the difference

in amperage as if one light is out so the indicator

lights up.

As I mentioned in my post, in my 745 instead I placed

2 new 5w bulbs which are on at night all the time and

makes the taillights look nicer. Fog lights can not be

kept on, its against the law, except for severe fog or

rain conditions. Rarely a problem in Florida.

Hope this helps.

John:

Big help!! I am talking about 2 different things:

1. When I switch on my fog light switch, it does matter, excpet the headlights come on???? Also, when I have my driving lights on, the fog light indicator comes on regardless of switch position.

2. From reading this post, go back to some of my earlier posts about this and they were saying there is only one fog light because that tells you which side of the car you are seeing in fog. Also, stated if you ahve 2 rear fog lights hooked up, that can cause problems.

Some how I think the fog indicator light always being on when the lights are on the default bulb indicator being on, is connected.

I have basically replaced all the bulbs, including the headlights, excpet the from turning lights and the rear fog light.

On my 1994 940 Wagon there is a socket on the drivers side for a fog light, however on the passenger side the socket is sealed if you would. There is not a screw out socket there. Did not know if this was normal or not AND if it is not normal how do I get it open?

Thanks for all your help. I am new to Volvos and just learning this whole bulb indicator and rear fog light deal.

CT

I have this same problem with my 1995 940 T Wagon. The fog light on the passenger side rear is burned out but when I go to replace it - instead of a bulb holder with a grip on it, there is just a flat plastic panel. I tried prying it with a screwdriver - but as always with these plastic parts I don't want it to snap and break.

HOW does one remove this fog light for changing? The really weird thing is that the fog light on the driver side is 'normal' with an easy to grab raised handle. I took a photo and attached it. Any suggestions much appreciated...



Re: 940 rear fog light

Dear Peter Penguin,

Hope you're well. You can convert your in-service right (passenger) tailight cluster to support a foglight if you have: (a) a set of key-cutting (warding) files; (b) a set of hole-saws; and (c) a damaged tailight cluster.

Key-cutting files usually are about 4" (100 mm) long and come in various profiles, e.g., square, flat, half-round, triangular, and rectangular. With these files, you can cut notches of the proper width and depth.

Use a holesaw to cut through the flat plastic area at the top of the cluster. Be sure that the hole is not larger than the factory-made holesfor the other bulbs. The hole's diameter should be about 25mm (1").

To prepare for drilling the hole, use a pointed punch to dimple the plastic and then drill a pilot hole, using a 1/16" bit.

Position the holesaw's pilot bit in the pilot hole, and very slowly cut through the plastic panel. Go gently: you do not want the holesaw's pilot bit to hit the inner surface of the red plastic lens.

Once you have cut a round hole in the plastic panel, use key-cutting files to cut the notches, required to allow a bulb holder to fit into the opening. Position the notches exactly as are positioned the factory-cut notches on the cluster.

Remove from the damaged cluster, the metal fittings and insert them into notches on your in-service cluster. You should then be able to put a bulb-holder into the opening and - when it is connected to the factory-installed harness - have an upper foglight on the right-side (passenger cluster).

In the doing of this work, go slowly. You can widen a hole that is too small and can deepend a notch that is too shallow.

Hope this helps.

Yours faithfully,

Spook

There is no fog on the pass side rear. Early models had that, but it was discontinued, I believe due to laws, which were due to the possibility of confusion over what lights were on, as seen by following drivers.

Also, this thread is from '01, so it's kinda old now. Maybe better to start a new thread.

John:

I spoke with the dealer and the said there should be just one bulb there or otherwise it would look like brake lights. So with that being said I don't know if I need to replace the fog light switch and/or relay?

Any help anyone can give me in reference tot his would be great thanks!!

CT

CT, didn't mean to confuse you. On my '92 740 wagon there are 2 fog light bulbs, one on each side. These are 22w bulbs, very bright like brake lights when pressed, thus you don't want these on at night because it would appear you have stepped on the brakes all the time. I guess the 940 uses only one bulb.

The next thing would be to replace the fog switch. I have a spare green fog light switch for a 740 which should work on a 940.

If you're interested, let me know privately and I can sell it to you cheap.

Good luck.

John:

Gottcha!! Thanks, I was confused. I was thinking switch also. Would you think the switch before the relay?

Also, is it normal for the headlights to come on when the fog light is switch on?? I was thinking maybe that Volvo didn't want you to have you fog lights on w/o headlights on??

Thanks for your help!

CT

CT, fog lights are supposed to turn with headlight switch on and fog light switch on(at least in my 740).

If the headlight switch is working OK, I would suspect the switch first.

Also you might want to resolder the relay any way. Volvos relays are famous for poor soldering in them leading to failure.

As you read the different posts you might read to "fosterize" the relay. This is a slang for resoldering the relay ala Don Foster, one of the board regulars. Basically take off the plastic case covering the relay and look for broken solde and/or brown spots. You resolder these spots and VOILA! the relay works like new.

John:

I am being a pest!! The headlight switch works fine and headligths go on and off. If it is day time and switch on the rear fog light switch, the headlights come, does that make sense.

This is confusing for a new Volvo owner!

Thanks for your patience, I am going to check the switch first and hopefully it will take care of everything!!

Thanks so much!

Are you absolutely sure that they are the headlights? I feel they're front fog lights as these are housed within the headlight cluster with the heads and dips. (they are on European cars,,,not too sure on American spec cars)

I just replaced the headlights and don't see another socket for fog lights. Maybe I am missing something here. I will double check and report back.

Thanks so much!

CT

Hi,

I hope I am not going to confuse you more than you already have. On my 1991 940GLE, the rear fog light cannot be switched on unless my headlight (not the high beam)is switched on first. It doesn't even operate with the driving lights at the fenders (I think this small lights are called day time running light). If my headlights are not switched on or even if I only switch on the small light, no matter what position is the fog light switch, the fog lights (front and rear) will NEVER come on. I said no matter what position because the first click on the bottom of the fog light switch operate the front fog lights and another click at the same spot operates the rear fog light. There is only one rear fog light on my car. The other side is non-use eventhough there is a socket because there is no hole on the body of the rear lights to insert the bulb.

Whilst the rear fog light can be switched on with the headlights on, the front fog light only comes on with the high beam lights on (provided the fog light switch is already depressed once). If no high beam, no front fog lights.

But I noticed that the later model, the fog light switch can be operated with the small lights on and not the headlights i.e. the fog lights (front and rear) can be used as long as the small lights are on. But the switch operates in the same sequance i.e the first press turns on the front fog lights and the second press turns on the rear fog lights.

Hope this will be some guide for you.

velan

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Thansk for your help! I think I am clear on the 1 fog light vs. 2 fog lights in the rear. My 94 940 Wagon does NOT have front fog lights. My main problem now is twofold:

1. My rear fog light switch has only two positions in (off) and out (on). However the switch regardless of position has the rear fog lights on always. As mentioend earlier on the baord, I am going to pull the switch and take a look at it. I did notice that a smaller size bulb is in the rear fog light socket, probably becuase the light stays on all the time and the correct size would be too bright all the time, leads me to believe this was a problem the previous owner couldn't figure out.

2.In addition, my bulb default light is on and have tried everything metnioedn on this board to remedy the situation. My thoughts and hopes are that it is somehow connected to the rear fog lights.

Thanks for everyone's input!! If anyone else has thoughts to remedy the situation, please let me know.

Thanks and have a nice weekend!!

CT

In my new ’95 945 the rear fog light (singular) work like this: (btw, there is no separate front fog light)

Head light switch off – just like driving at night, all the lights on except the brights won’t work and the rear fog light won’t come on if switched on.

Head light switch in the parking lights position - same as above except the parking lights stay on if the ignition switch is off.

Head lights switch in the on position, all the lights ON (I would hope), except when the ign sw is off. Brights work and the fog light (only one) works. There is a plastic base but no lamp socket on the passenger side.

Everything I have seen always recommends driving in the fog with only the regular headlights on. Hi-beams will shine up too high, illuminate the fog only, and block vision. I think John A said that that there is normally only one rear fog light, only on the drivers side, to be used only in fog or rain just to make the car more visible and to indicate that it is not the brake lights. This may be a European “thing”, not sure, but not DOT. Until I got the brick I would say that an idiot is riding the brakes and one bulb is burnt out.

(I wonder if the fog light will turn off if I turn on the brights.)

Looks like the different years and models are all wired just a little different…… like us.

My 960 rear fog does the same thing to my bulb out indicator. I am planning on correcting that 'feature' soon. I can't think of why you are having the front light problem, other than a bad gound. Check the ground wires behind the front headlights on both sides.

wbain... Really?
--
john

Mine does too, despite the fact that the light is OK. How do you plan to correct the "feature", short of pulling the indicator light? Do you suppose it is the relay itself? That was the case in my year-long bout with a right rear park light on by 87 740 that wouldn't, well, light.