Exterior Semi-Tech General discussion of exterior for the Ford Ranger.

Stupid valance and fog lights!

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Old 02-03-2009
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Stupid valance and fog lights!

So my new fog light assembly and Nokya 2500k 80w Amber 80w 9005 bulbs showed up in the mail today.

I pulled off the front bumper with no issues, but these stupid fog light assemblies are mounted in the most rediculous way I've ever seen. You have to take the valance off to get at the 2 bottom bolts that are on the front side of the fog light lens, and then there is 1 bolt at the top which you can reach from the back.

So, none of my 8mm bolts for the valance want to come out, even after spraying them with PB Blaster. They sit and turn, or won't turn and I'm just going to end up breaking them and then break the holes in the plastic valance so I won't be able to reattach it properly.

I took the bumper into my work shop and I'm going to fiddle around with it in there. I got frustrated sitting outside in the cold dumping hot water on the bumper to melt and dissolve the snow and mud built up in it.

As far as the bulbs, they are 9005s which I am going to modify to fit the plugs and lenses. I'm hoping they'll look pretty cool and also help with fog/snow/rain visibility.

I'm so frustrated I'm almost ready to take my Dremel and cut all the bolts off to get my valance off and then zip tie the entire thing back together.
 
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Old 02-03-2009
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mine had the same issue when i put new fogs in my truck water eats the bolts and rusts them in their i had to take my dremal tool and cut them out then get new bolts
 
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Old 02-03-2009
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That's most likely what I'm going to do. I have the bumper set up in the workshop with the bolts soaking in PB Blaster as I write this. I'm going to go down a little later and get angry with it some more and probably bust out the weapons of mass destruction.
 
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Old 02-03-2009
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I managed to get the new assembly in without removing the valance. I just put a bolt in the top hole and zipe ties in the bottom and it's still nice and tight and doesn't wobble.


However, when I removed my bumper, it came off easily, but now the stupid mounting brackets are catching on the tow hooks, which I already tried removing and just about gave myself a hernia in the process....
 
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Old 02-03-2009
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Why did you order 80w lights? You're gonna have problems with them, they are going to get too hot and probably draw too much power from the stock wires too. If you don't fry your wiring first, you'll mess up your lenses.
 
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Old 02-03-2009
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what kind did you get Korey? 45W 55W?
 
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Old 02-03-2009
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I can't remember if I ordered the 60 or 80w bulbs. I may have indeed clicked on 80 by accident and then sent me 80 or I ordered 60 and they sent me 80. I can't recall, it was like 2 weeks ago.

I'm not going to use them often anyways, just for when they are needed. I'm not even sure if I am going to like the lights either. But I only paid $20 for them, so no big loss if they're no good.
 
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Old 02-03-2009
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Originally Posted by 07SPORT
what kind did you get Korey? 45W 55W?
I think they are 55W
 
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Old 02-03-2009
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55 is stock, so thats what you should have. I can imagine these 80w bulbs will def. burn things up if I use them often, which isn't the plan. I already trimmed the tabs inside the plug to make them fit the 9006 socket so I can't exchange them now.

Even says right on the box "Nokya Wiring Harness Recommended"
 
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Old 02-03-2009
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You could also rewire your current harness with heavier wire. You could probably get away with running them for a short time if your fuse will handle it but the wimpy stock wiring is going to heat up, as well as your lenses and housings.
Good luck! Let us know if you find the yellow lights are an advantage in the snow.
 
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Old 02-03-2009
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How far back into the harness would I need to go? It sounds like a rather big job to do...

I'll test out these lights for a bit and see how I like them, and just to be safe, I'll go and order the proper ones. I just spent $120 on a new fog light assembly. The last thing I want to do is melt it.
 
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Old 02-03-2009
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eh,so I just went and ordered the proper 55w 9006 bulbs in amber. Same price.

So these cost me the same price as a set of silverstars. whoopdeedoo.
 
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Old 02-04-2009
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I got everything put back together just now. The modified 9005 bulbs work and look great. They are VERY amber compared to the stock headlights. I will have pictures up this evening. It's definetly a 2 person job re & re'ing the bumper.

It's cool. Me and mom had some bonding time working on my truck LOL
 
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Old 02-04-2009
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Originally Posted by crazymikey
It's cool. Me and mom had some bonding time working on my truck LOL
Well did you atleast talk like you were talking to a buddy working on the truck? A lot of cursing go on?
 
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Old 02-04-2009
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yeah,but I didn't offer her a beer afterwards.
 
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Old 02-04-2009
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Okay, so here's a couple afternoon shots of the fogs. They are more yellow in person, the pics don't really do justice. As I said, I will take some more this evening as it gets darker out.

Not so noticeable in this pic
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More noticably yellow with the headlights on
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Old 02-04-2009
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Glad to hear you got the install all figured out. They are yellow looking.

I know when I replaced my foglight housings on my 01, the screws were a PITA to remove. I remember seeing a pic you posted of your Mazda's set-up, doesn't look fun.
 
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Old 02-04-2009
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Haha man, they were a pain in the ***. I couldn't get ANY of the valance bolts undone, so I just took the whole bumper off instead which took like 5 minutes. Since the one foglight was already broken and removed, the bracket still remained, so I broke the bracket off and just cut off the front bolts with my dremel. I managed to reinstall the new housing, but for the bolts I cut off, you cannot reach them with the valance or the lens installed, so I just zip tied them tight and then put in a new bolt and nut in the top which you can reach from the back.

I don't look forward to ever replacing another fog light assembly again. I'm going tube bumper next time my front bumper has to come off! My future front bumper. *drools* Just...sooo....clean....

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Old 02-04-2009
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Okay, since it got a little darker out...
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These are the 80w bulbs too. I ordered the proper 9006 55w bulbs lastnight and should be here in a week.
 
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Old 02-04-2009
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Well I just took it out for a test drive to see how they are. Well...they kick ***. Excellent light output, NO glare, extra visibility to the sides and infront of the truck and they look sweet too.

When driving down the road you see a big yellow spot of light infront of the hood and then it blends in nicely with the white of the headlights.

I am very happy with these lights. They are Precision Optics bulbs that I bought from www.supremepowerparts.com Highly recommended mod!!
 
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Old 02-04-2009
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fogs look good!
 
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Old 02-04-2009
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Thanks. I am very happy with the look and the visibility they provide. Seeing how I will be going down from 80 to 55w, I imagine the 55s won't be as bright, but will still provide me with excellent vision.

I'm so impressed with them I'm almost considering changing my headlight bulbs to yellow! lol
 
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