Dear all,
Long time reader, first post.
I’m teaching myself - from scratch (with YouTube) how to fix cars, before I commit to a lovely defender.
I got this 2004 facelift TD4 (the M47 BMW engine) about two months ago.
Since then, I’ve:
- replaced the turbo
- replaced the alternator
- replaced the turbo pipes and AIT sensor
- Egr blank
- cleaned out the intercooler and manifold, cleared the c**p out of the manifold air ports into the engine
- Replaced new manifold gaskets
- replaced crankshaft breather, air, oil, and turbo bleed filters
- new battery
- replaced broken window motors rear doors
- tonne of internal trim cleaning repainting
- front seats out, handbrake cable retensioned, brakes changed, connected up the heated seat cables, converted the spare auxiliary for a phone charging block
- Underguard repaired and resprayed
- Headlamps removed, deconstructed, cleaned, resealed, new bulbs
- new air con and new alternator belts
- new tyres (garage), and new bearing arm things (suspension? - garage)
I’m pretty pants, had a mechanic come and check the serious stuff so I didn’t cock it up, learned a lot.
Now, my car came with what looks like an a front fog kit fitted:
- There is a thick 12V lead going from the battery + via an in line fuse (20A), to a 30a auto relay (yellow box shape), all placed in front of the battery, from which two cables go out beside each headlamp. These were connected to the fogs/spots, which have not worked since I bought it. There is a thin black wire (I assume this is the trigger wire) heading towards the engine bay fuse box, after which I lose sight of it.
- The front fog light button (far left central dash) was blanked.
- according to the fuse box in the driver side glovebox, the front fog fuse exists
- one of the lights on the bonnet is dead - rusty, full of water, cracked lens
- The other seems clean but haven’t tested it yet from direct power
- I’ve looked in the manuals, and I can’t find the relay slot anywhere - am baffled.
What I assume:
- the front fogs - like the back fogs - are controlled by CCU: press button, CCU checks against conditions (ignition on, lights on), then trips relay to deliver power.
What I have done:
- I bought from Eyay a front fog button. This is a mechanical latched switch, not a momentary like the rear fog.
- I removed the blank and connected the button. Good news - red light! So there is power going to the button.
- I checked the fuse - correct position and healthy.
- I then pressed the button- but heard no relay click. I wondered if just missing a relay, so put two more relays (30A standard automotive) into the empty slots (shown empty in this picture) - still nothing.
- Noticeably, unlike the rear fog switch that lights up when pressed/relay triggers, that doesn’t happen when new front fog button pressed.
- I wondered if it’s because it’s meant to be a momentary button (like the rear fog), and thus the latched button isn’t sending the correct signal to the CCU, hence relay not being activated - but when I contacted the seller they assured me “front is latched rear is momentary, it’s 100% the right part”. Either they’re lying or LR made some weird design choices.
- I’ve looked everywhere for some other switch whoever used this front fog kit used to turn these on, but I simply can’t find anything.
- I’ve gone out with my multimeter and checked these connections with ignition off, on, lights on, full beam, rear fogs on, and new front fog depressed - consistently nothing.
- I’ve found the blanked off constant 12v for the headlight washer pumps that were never fitted, but that’s all.
- I’m stumped. I don’t know what to do. I’ve read the whole electrical manual and doesn’t help much.
Thoughts:
- maybe the connection from the blanked button (now real) to the fuse box isn’t complete, and I need to wire something.
Maybe the relay or fuse isn’t working on the set up - I’ve ordered replacements.
- maybe the trigger lead just goes to somewhere else.
- only other thing I can think is that the CCU isn’t coded for front fogs as were not included when this one was assembled, so I’ll need one of those cool computer things to tell the CCU that a front fog set up now exists.
My question:
Can someone please help me understand what on earth is going on? Unlike every other aspect of this, there doesn’t seem to be a clear answer, and short of taking the whole dash out, tracing every wire etc, I’m not sure what to do.
I’m also considering using the front window heater button to power a rooftop light bar, as the power delivery for that isn’t being used (my car doesn’t have a bearable front windscreen).
I can only assume this forum is full of the smart blokes from whom I’ve already learnt so much, both here and on YT. If you can help me understand how to solve this, I’d be grateful.
Thanks!
Alex
Long time reader, first post.
I’m teaching myself - from scratch (with YouTube) how to fix cars, before I commit to a lovely defender.
I got this 2004 facelift TD4 (the M47 BMW engine) about two months ago.
Since then, I’ve:
- replaced the turbo
- replaced the alternator
- replaced the turbo pipes and AIT sensor
- Egr blank
- cleaned out the intercooler and manifold, cleared the c**p out of the manifold air ports into the engine
- Replaced new manifold gaskets
- replaced crankshaft breather, air, oil, and turbo bleed filters
- new battery
- replaced broken window motors rear doors
- tonne of internal trim cleaning repainting
- front seats out, handbrake cable retensioned, brakes changed, connected up the heated seat cables, converted the spare auxiliary for a phone charging block
- Underguard repaired and resprayed
- Headlamps removed, deconstructed, cleaned, resealed, new bulbs
- new air con and new alternator belts
- new tyres (garage), and new bearing arm things (suspension? - garage)
I’m pretty pants, had a mechanic come and check the serious stuff so I didn’t cock it up, learned a lot.
Now, my car came with what looks like an a front fog kit fitted:
- There is a thick 12V lead going from the battery + via an in line fuse (20A), to a 30a auto relay (yellow box shape), all placed in front of the battery, from which two cables go out beside each headlamp. These were connected to the fogs/spots, which have not worked since I bought it. There is a thin black wire (I assume this is the trigger wire) heading towards the engine bay fuse box, after which I lose sight of it.
- The front fog light button (far left central dash) was blanked.
- according to the fuse box in the driver side glovebox, the front fog fuse exists
- one of the lights on the bonnet is dead - rusty, full of water, cracked lens
- The other seems clean but haven’t tested it yet from direct power
- I’ve looked in the manuals, and I can’t find the relay slot anywhere - am baffled.
What I assume:
- the front fogs - like the back fogs - are controlled by CCU: press button, CCU checks against conditions (ignition on, lights on), then trips relay to deliver power.
What I have done:
- I bought from Eyay a front fog button. This is a mechanical latched switch, not a momentary like the rear fog.
- I removed the blank and connected the button. Good news - red light! So there is power going to the button.
- I checked the fuse - correct position and healthy.
- I then pressed the button- but heard no relay click. I wondered if just missing a relay, so put two more relays (30A standard automotive) into the empty slots (shown empty in this picture) - still nothing.
- Noticeably, unlike the rear fog switch that lights up when pressed/relay triggers, that doesn’t happen when new front fog button pressed.
- I wondered if it’s because it’s meant to be a momentary button (like the rear fog), and thus the latched button isn’t sending the correct signal to the CCU, hence relay not being activated - but when I contacted the seller they assured me “front is latched rear is momentary, it’s 100% the right part”. Either they’re lying or LR made some weird design choices.
- I’ve looked everywhere for some other switch whoever used this front fog kit used to turn these on, but I simply can’t find anything.
- I’ve gone out with my multimeter and checked these connections with ignition off, on, lights on, full beam, rear fogs on, and new front fog depressed - consistently nothing.
- I’ve found the blanked off constant 12v for the headlight washer pumps that were never fitted, but that’s all.
- I’m stumped. I don’t know what to do. I’ve read the whole electrical manual and doesn’t help much.
Thoughts:
- maybe the connection from the blanked button (now real) to the fuse box isn’t complete, and I need to wire something.
Maybe the relay or fuse isn’t working on the set up - I’ve ordered replacements.
- maybe the trigger lead just goes to somewhere else.
- only other thing I can think is that the CCU isn’t coded for front fogs as were not included when this one was assembled, so I’ll need one of those cool computer things to tell the CCU that a front fog set up now exists.
My question:
Can someone please help me understand what on earth is going on? Unlike every other aspect of this, there doesn’t seem to be a clear answer, and short of taking the whole dash out, tracing every wire etc, I’m not sure what to do.
I’m also considering using the front window heater button to power a rooftop light bar, as the power delivery for that isn’t being used (my car doesn’t have a bearable front windscreen).
I can only assume this forum is full of the smart blokes from whom I’ve already learnt so much, both here and on YT. If you can help me understand how to solve this, I’d be grateful.
Thanks!
Alex
