Xantia. Loss of earth to front fog lights

[ecohouse1]

My td front fog lamps suddenly stopped working after being fine the week before. Just checked the bulb holder and plug at the holder. Getting 12v at the plug but no earth. Why would this suddenly break. Am thinking it's either the earth connections to the inner right wing near the battery or am I better just wiring in fresh earths? Anyone else had this? Cheers alan

[Xantidote]

You're lucky, some of us don't even have foglights

I'd go for checking the inner wing earthing first, on the basis that if problem is there, then you will be cleaning it all up which may prevent some other electrical item from playing up in the future (& this won't happen until the depths of winter of course!). At least it should be fairly easy to sort.

You sure it's not the power side? Getting 12 volts on a multi-meter is not the same as 12v with a few amps to make the 2 fog lamp bulbs work

[ecohouse1]

Just been out before the rain hits. Cleaned and sanded all the earths on the inner wing. Still no life in the front fogs!!! Thinking of wiring separate earths to them unless I am missing something obvious. Incidentally I found headlights out was easiest way to get good access to the front fog lights. You can get in via the indicators but I found my arms got sliced up on protruding edges and good "fiddling" space was limited.

[Xantidote]

Oh well, worth a try Been looking in Haynes, but it shows different circuitry for cars up to 1998, and cars after 1998 - presumably the changeover from S1 to S2. Not sure the year of your car.

Can't see any reason why you can't fit a new earthing wire. Initially, I'd just try a temporary jumper wire from some convenient earth point, or even the battery earth terminal itself if you're working on the n/s foglamp, and see if both the lamps then function. A new earth to one of the foglamps may connect through existing earth circuitry to the other lamp. Am assuming here that the fault lies at the fog lamps' common earth point. I personally prefer any bulb to be separately earthed if it's a high wattage bulb, to help minimise voltage losses (and help my night vision), but that's just me No other electrical niggles at the moment, and I assume the rear fogs work OK?

in via the indicators but I found my arms got sliced up on protruding edges

I don't think Mr Citroen thought ahead to anyone sticking his arm in there

BTW, the front hub you kindly sent me couple of years ago is still sitting in the garage. The bearings on the car's existing hub seem to be lasting longer than expected

[ecohouse1]

Thanks Martin. I will try a jumper wire and see if I get some life in them. Can then try a permanent earth. French car electrics eh!! Work fine one day and then .............

[Stickyfinger]

Thanks Martin. I will try a jumper wire and see if I get some life in them. Can then try a permanent earth. French car electrics eh!! Work fine one day and then .............

and not even designed by Lucus

[ecohouse1]

Possibly a breakthrough! Coincidence more than wisdom! Noticed that the o/s full beam bulb was out. The filiment was wrecked. The little earth wire, a 5 mm 90 degree spade connector was off. I suspect it's been off and loose for a while. This would cause intermittent earth shortening bulb life etc. I adjusted and reconnected along with new higher output bulbs and not only did I restore full beam but by jingo the fog lights came back to life!! Wired thing is that it's a tiny thin wire. Not quite sure if that was the cause or not. Happy they are functioning again.

[Xantidote]

Easy peasy As they say, try the simple things first. Seems you've fixed 2 problems in one go - wish all car problems were like that!

[ecohouse1]

Short lived euphoria. 2 miles down the road they stop working! Rechecked the earth wire in the headlight. It's ok. So not that then. Looks like previous comment about not taking the amps is true as I got 12v at the bulb but the bulb didn't illuminate - hot wired earth and on it came. Anyway wired in new earths to the 13 mm bolds on the slam panel and jobs a good un. For now !