25 replies to this topic

[Alexthelion94]

Helloo,

My Mini has recently been in for it's MoT and among some other things has failed due to the rear fog light not working. It's a 1992 Rover Mini Cooper and I was wondering if anyone knew if I could simply just remove the fog light to get it through the MoT (A friend suggested this but I'm a bit unsure about if it's legal without a rear fog light) as I'm a bit short on cash at the mo.

Thanks, Alex

[R1minimagic]

You will need a fog light to pass the MOT, might be as simple as putting a new bulb in! Take the cover off and check it out

[tiger99]

If it does not respond to a new bulb, clean all the connections, including the earth, and check the fuse. If the warning light, usually part of the switch (also now included in the MOT) comes on, the fuse is ok.

[majorj0nny]

I re fitted a brand new fog light after chopping the old one off. Light now works and switch had the correct illumination when it's on, but does anyone know is its normal for mini fog lights to work independently of the main lights? Mine can be switched on even with the engine off let alone when the main lights are off ! Is this normal ?

[leroy26]

no! should come on with the headlights only

[Bungle]

does the light on the switch light ?

[tiger99]

The swich should be fed by a blue/orange wire which comes from a fuse, the other end of which will have a blue wire. These colours are consistent whether you have a large fuse box or seperate inline fuses, and for any dashboard and switch layout. The blue wire is fed by the headlight position of the main light switch, so they should indeed only come on with headlights.

My best guess is that the fuse has been wrongly wired to the brown (permanently live) circuit, or if you have in-line fuses, perhaps the ends of two fuses have become crossed.

Edited by tiger99, 13 October 2012 - 09:24 PM.

[Ethel]

Original fogs will be dependent on headlights, but I think the only requirement is a tell tale for the driver to show when it's on.

[tiger99]

Ethel, that is probably correct, but if the car is wired as it should be there is less chance of driving along with foglights on and headlights off, which is illegal, as you can only use foglights in bad visibility, when you are always required to use headlights. For sheer convenience,it is worth wiring them properly.

[malynch27]

If you want rid of it from the back of your car, as it is a bit of a rust trap, you could always do a bit of re-wiring and put it into your drivers side rear cluster. I have just done this as I have twin side exit exhausts and it works a treat. Follow this kink to the scottish mini forum to see how. http://www.scottishm...ight=rear light

[tiger99]

NO! That is illegal and a certain MOT failure. There is a prescribed minimum distance between the rear for light and brake light, and you can't achieve that in the cluster, unfortunately.

[majorj0nny]

The swich should be fed by a blue/orange wire which comes from a fuse, the other end of which will have a blue wire. These colours are consistent whether you have a large fuse box or seperate inline fuses, and for any dashboard and switch layout. The blue wire is fed by the headlight position of the main light switch, so they should indeed only come on with headlights.

My best guess is that the fuse has been wrongly wired to the brown (permanently live) circuit, or if you have in-line fuses, perhaps the ends of two fuses have become crossed.

ggrrr..... Im gonna have to look at this again .... I took the original wires and reconnected them - I cant see a problem switch side , I'll have a look at the fuse side and see whats what.

[majorj0nny]

does the light on the switch light ?

yeah its the original rear fog switch - when I switch it on it lights up on the switch (as well as the fog obviously).

[Bungle]

sounds like it's the bulb or a bad earth

try replacing the bulb

[sonikk4]

NO! That is illegal and a certain MOT failure. There is a prescribed minimum distance between the rear for light and brake light, and you can't achieve that in the cluster, unfortunately.

Is that because its a modification Tiger?? the reason i'm saying this is a lot of modern cars have their fog lights within the cluster which in effect is what this is mirroring. If its not illegal then its not a bad idea.