I have a '99 Grand Am (obviously) and need a little help. How do you change the fog lights? I read somewhere that it is a professional job, but I don’t feel like shelling out $100 for a fog light. I bought the replacement already for $7.99 at Wal-Mart, now I just need the proper installation advice. Thanks in advance to anyone that may be able to help.
Are you talking about the bulb or the actual light?
If its the actual light (casing/housing, lens, etc) I doubt very much the Wal-Mart job is going to be a direct drop in.
Sorry, but if you haven`t the figuring skills or the mechanical skills to look at your new part and look at the one on the car and figure it out then I doubt we can help you.
This is not a knock on you, you may just be inexperienced with cars. You SHOULD be able to figure it out. You may have to throw a rug down on the driveway, jack the car up, chock the wheels and examine how the original ones are mounted.
Maybe someone with a similar car can take a look and guide you. I doubt that a pro is needed for the task.
I’m not sure. How do you tell what you need? I bought the bulb, hoping it would just be a drop in job, but how can I tell if it is the entire ‘unit’? I just noticed that the light was out, so I went to Wal-Mart, checked out the little computer thingy that recommends replacement bulbs, and bought it. Then I read somewhere that it is a pro-type of job. Something about the bulb needing a special tool to properly adjust it.
I had both of my fogs replaced on my '99 G.A. (sweet ride) (sarcasm implied)
Both times, they were noticed, and subsequently changed, by the friendly kids at the local Jiffy Lube.
The labor was included in the cost of the oil change, but the I paid for the bulbs, <$10 each.
Something about the bulb needing a special tool to properly adjust it.
I’m not familiar with the details here, so this is speculation. I’ve never heard of adjusting a bulb. I find it plausible that the fog light as a whole is adjustable/aimable, like headlights are, and it may well be that special equipment is suggested to do it accurately. But headlight bulbs can be replaced without disturbing their aim, and it would be pretty asinine to design fog lights that required re-aiming after bulb replacement. So I have serious doubts that replacing the bulb is that big a deal.
Typically bulb replacement requires removing the lens, held on with screws, or accessing the back of the light unit and disengaging a retainer. If the bulb has an electrical terminal plug built in, it should be the latter. I would think that five minutes’ inspection would reveal whether the bulb is easily gotten to without disturbing the body of the light.
Thanks for the help, guys. I think the Jiffy Lube reply is the one that will stick, since it is the easiest and I’m a lazy person with money.
Why not buy a Haynes manual for your car? That has instructions on how to do anything.
I remember lights on those things but another year, you have to have hands like a little kid to access the bulb.