2005 Mazda 3
My fog lights won't work!
I just bought this car and cant seem to get the fog lights to work.
With the car running and headlights turned on low and the fog lights switched turned on, nothing!
No light on the dash and no power to the fog light plug.
I've checked the fuse under the hood, replaced the relay and both bulbs.
Any ideas?
Please help!
Thank you.

 

did you buy it from a private party or a dealer? if you bought it from a dealer, then this is something they should be able to fix since you just bought it from them.

 

I bought for a wholesale dealer that's dumber then I am.

 

With the relay removed I have power on two terminals. The switch doesn't change the power at the relay so it must ground throught a computer??? When the headlights are on low and you turn on and off the fog light switch the relay doesn't make any noise.

 

Sounds like the only thing left is the switch. I can't recall if the switch is on the turn signal stalk or a button on the dash. If you can get to the switch, you should be be able to check it with a voltmeter set on the continuity test or with some other continuity tester, or jump across the terminals to see if the fog lights come on. If it is in the stalk, a much bigger project.

 

The switch is a rotator ring on the turn signal arm

 

I guess then it depends on how comfortable you are with getting into the steering column and stalk. I've never torn into that so I can't tell you whether it is easy or hard but if you want to give it a go, I guess you can see if you can pick up a stalk/switch assembly either new or used.

Of course, you can always ante up and take it to the dealer, tell them what you've eliminated as a cause so far and let them have at it. But, as you know the labor cost will add up quick if they have to do much analysis so you easily could be looking at a couple hundred bucks or more.

Do you have the wiring diagram for the car? You know where the relay is so could you do a test by jumping across the terminals that go to the switch and see if it works, then you would be sure that the switch was bad. If so, I guess you could get a rocker switch, wire to that and mount it somewhere on the dash and stay away from the stalk.

 

Replacing the stalk is very easy.
-pop the upper rubber section of the column loose
-remove two screws from bottom of column
-remove upper plastic section of column
-unplug harness from stalk
-remove two small screws holding stalk in place
-pull down on lower column section to flex it out of the way of the talk
-slide the stalk out from the column sideways
-reinstall in reverse order

A new stalk runs around $90

 

That may be the way to go then, would be nice to narrow it down to knowing the switch was the cause for sure before going through the trouble. But he may be able to pick up a stalk at pick-a-part or the junkyard for far less and get it done for next to nothing.