stupid fog lights...

[nova1313]

I'm not if anyone else has had a problem like this but I figured I would share... It's an epic tale of myself, a drill gun, and a screw.

I just bought my spyder about 3 weeks ago now. The right fog light was burnt out and so I figured I'd replace them both. The instruction manual made it look super simple. And it was for the Left light (not the one I needed changed!).

The screw on the right had been placed very tightly in place and it looked as if someone had stripped it before... So I tried to get it out with a screw driver that fit... It wouldn't budge. I tried to use some gas pliers on the back of the bolt and managed to get it to move a bit but then It stopped. So I switched to the vice grips a little more and I could now unscrew it a bit.. But not thinking.. Using the vice grips I had squished the threads on the screw...

It was now officially not coming out... I tried to first drill a hole in the screw so I could maybe get an easy out to work (for those of you that don't know you drill a hole, stick an easy out in and twist, the easy out bites into the hole and allows you to turn it...) no luck this was not budging. So I tried a deeper hole... Still not budging...

Eventually (about an hour and a half in on the light) I drilled off the head of the bolt and unscrewed the entire fog light assembly from the chasis and then pulled the remainder of the bolt out. Mind you this was all done with the front bumper on and it's pretty tight in that small hole...

I felt defeated at first but when I was done it was great. Stupid stupid stripped screw! *shakes fist*. In hind site it makes me ponder the usefulness of the fog lights and if it was really worth my time...

[l_eclipse_l]

I feel your pain, trust me on this. I have the exact same problem. The main screw that holds the entire assembly on will not budge. I tried pounding it to death, heating it, and anything else that came to mind except cutting it off. I gave up, and I will probably end up paying the $20 to a dealer to do it for me, because I have learned it is not worth the struggle and time. I think its a combination of the screw rusting itself to the nut, and the fact that they probably stripped it putting it on. Oh well, life goes on its just foglights, right?

[nova1313]

If you have it done ask them to use stainless bolts. They might try to charge you an arm and a leg, you might consider picking some up from a hardware store. Also ask them if they use any cleaner. I picked up this stuff that holds the bolt tight while causing you to always be able to break it loose. Bind tight I think it's called. I asked the guy in the screw isle at home depot.. they can point you in the right direction.

The screw will never harm me again.

[david-b]

I just ordered me some foglights for $25 used. I heard these thinkgs were hard. Looks like Im going to struggle just the same when I get them

[nova1313]

as long as the screws aren't stuck you should be fine. Like I said the other one was simple to take off. It's alot of work just to change one stupid bulb but it's not to bad. It's the plastic cover screw needs to come out, the light mounting screw, three small ones on the light bulb cover, then 1 more small screw to release a spring that holds the bulb in..

If they already have good bulbs should be pretty simple to bolt on and go (provided you have the wiring done...)

[96spyderman]

Lesson # 1 .... a few days before tackling any project of the like..... soak that shit with WD40 or equivilent and reapply a number of times to eat at any rust and to give it time to soak into the threads.... your job will be SOOOO much easier...

[nova1313]

haha I had soaked it twice earlier in the day. I think it was a combination of the partially stripped screw, rust and my impatience since the sun was setting and the temperature was dropping below 30 the forced me to use the pliers and end up drilling out the screw.

[96spyderman]

haha haha ... it's best to give it a couple days...

[l_eclipse_l]

I'll try the WD40 thing. I never thought to use the shit! Good suggestion.