When I turn my fog lights on it blows out my #18 15 amp fuse. I finally took it to a local shop last week. They couldn't find what was causing it in the hour allotted to this issue. So now, $149.86 later I'm carrying around a bunch of 15 amp fuses incase I forget out of habit and hit my fog lights switch. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

97' 2500 club cab 5.9L 12V 4X4 Laramie SLT

 

Almost has to be a dead short. Three options.. The switch (my guess), in the wiring to the lights, or in the lights themselves.

 

Thanks Contractor, I appreciate your help. I finally gave up. At the shop right now, and gave them your opinions. They actually wrote them down, which kind of surprised me. I thought they would take offense at outside suggestions, glad they didn't.
Will post the solution to this issue soon "hopefully"!

 

I hope you didn't take it back to the same shop that charged you $149.86 for an hour of diag time with no result.

If you don't have a factory service manual (FSM), you can get a paper copy from Geno's Garage. PM me if you want to know where to get a free downloadable copy. The FSM is a wonderful tool. Description of fog light operation and wiring diagrams are in the FSM. According to the FSM for '96, there are two relays involved (because the fogs only operate if the headlight switch is in park mode or the headlights are in Low mode, so it takes two relays to control them). My '96 doesn't have fog lights, so reading the operation description and wiring diagram are interesting.

I think it more likely that its in the wiring harness. Although the relays complicate matters a little, you could test for a short using a multimeter - just unplug the lights first.

 

Hey texasprd, thanks! I will hit you up for that downloadable FSM. I think the last time I checked it was like $100 or more for a hard copy.

Thank you guys for your help! Yes, I did take it back to the same shop. Why would I do that!? This is a family owned business that's been around almost 30 years under this name, the families original shop that this one was founded on opened in 1975. They have a great warranty, 24 months, or 24,000 miles parts and labor. They are not cheap, but they are very fair (*example below). Yesterday, they worked on my truck for 3 1/2 hours trying to find the short that was causing my fog and dash lights issues. And only charged me $181.77.

I'm not going to copy the process they went through to find the short (unless somebody wants me to) just the results: "found voltage irregularities when left front turn signal housing was wiggled. Found a 5 amp draw when the left front turn signal is disturbed. Found the wiring harness for the left turn signal socket is chafing against the body and has exposed wiring. Recommend replace left front turn signal bulb socket with pigtail." Note: They came out and let me know the results of their diagnosis, told me the cost to do it, and asked if I wanted them to proceed.

Its been working like it should since I left the shop. Unless its an emergency, there are only 2 shops in the whole state I will let work on my truck, this is one of them. The other shop I had do a complete engine re-build about 6 months ago.

* This is a good example of how this shop rolls: While in the waiting room I hear a guy come in and say to the Service Writer, "I need need a new transmission in my truck, can you order me one, and install it for around $5,000?" The guy is insistent on getting a new tranny, going on to explain all the estimates he's gotten from transmission shops around town. The SW asks what the tranny is doing, and after A LOT of back and forth, the SW says please, let us drive it, and do diagnostics on it before ordering you a new transmission. Explaining to the guy in great detail all the possible reasons his tranny could be acting the way it is, and the costs to do those repairs, which were in the hundreds, not thousands, the guy "finally" sees the logic in this and agrees.

Don't know about you guys, but I was impressed!

 

Glad they found/fixed it.

Check your PMs

 

I haven't found a good honest mechanic in quite a while. As a mater of fact, one shop that use to be real good is no longer in business. It was bought out by some outside money people and it immediately went down hill. They fired all the good mechanics and replaced them with idiots that can't even do tires right. A year later the shop closed because no one would go there anymore, not even for an oil change. Anymore, all they no how to do is bleed you dry.

 

I hear you cougar, it really sucks! The shop that did my engine re-build last year is owned by a diesel mechanic and service writer that had worked for a family owned business for about 15 + years. Their shop got bought up by a large corporation with about 8 or 9 other "truck stores" through out the state, that sell a couple brands of trucks and provide service on them. They try marketing themselves as being part of the community. But, truth is they quit doing basic small truck service and repairs, kicking maybe a couple hundred locals or more to the curb, who after all these years had to go find somebody new to wrench on their trucks. Their corporate mentality really put off the original employees that had become friends of mine over the years. So, these two guys decided they couldn't take it anymore, and as difficult as it was quit, and were eventually able to open their own shop and bring over several employees with them. One of the 2 guys was the head mechanic at the previous shop, who is such a great guy that while they were trying to find a suitable location, get financing, etc. serviced my truck at his home! I am so happy they are doing well, they are honest, very capable, really hard working great guys, I wish them all the success they deserve!