Any Tips on Removing the Relay for the Foglights?

I recently had both of the fogs on my '06 DC stop working. Everything is stock. The 15 amp fuse in the interior fuse box is good, so I'm assuming I need to replace the relay. I did find on here that it should be the bottom, middle, relay on the back of the interior fuse panel. Problem is I can't get it out, it's really tight in there for my XXL hands. Any tips on how to get to it and remove it so I can replace it? Is there a locking tab or anything like that on it? I can see it a little bit with a mirror, it's blue, but I can't see it too well or reach it very well. Thanks very much in advance.

 

Needle nose pliers and some gentle wiggling.

I'm pretty sure there's also specific tools for the job. But let's face it, needle nose with some gentle back and fourth and gently pulling up should get it done

 

Have you confirmed the bulbs are good?
When i bought my truck it had 144,000 on the ticker, one owner who passed away and the truck sat in his yard about 2-3 years before someone in the family took it to the local dealership and used it as a trade in on another vehicle. The truck was green, (white paint covered in mildew or grime from a tree) and the dealership pretty much listed it for get rid of it price. They didnt want to touch it, clean it, inspect it, basically the sale listing was "trade in, one owner, low mileage, auction price" I knew enough about the trucks that i knew the condition it was in, all original body panels, original windshield without a single rock peck, not a single rock chip on the hood, interior was flawless other than a coffee stain or two in the carpet, timing belt had been done at 100k, i knew the truck would be solid after some clean up. I bought it and when i got it home realized almost none of the lights worked. I had one headlight working, one tail light, and a few blinkers, thats it.
I took it to auto zone and spent over $120 i had to replace both fogs, both headlights, both front running lights, both blinker lights, and everything in the tails except the reverse lights. Half the radio bezel lights were dead and burnt out, the overhead console button lights were out (still are). I guess the old man drove it during the day and never realized the lights were burning out one at a time or maybe the filaments got brittle from sitting up a while i dont know. Maybe check the bulbs just to be sure cause when i bought my truck both were DOA

 

I'll double check the bulbs. I assumed they were good, they look clear, and they both worked fine for the 2 months I've had it, then they both quit at the same time.

 

Did you check the switch?

 

If there is an on/off switch for the fogs, I haven't seen it in the few months I've owned it. I just went out and triple checked when I saw your post, there is no visible switch. As far as I know, they run whenever the lights are on. I did just pull the bulbs and there is no current being delivered with lights on and low beam. It's an '06 DC SR5. While looking with a mirror, I can see the relay on the bottom rear side of the interior fuse panel that some other posters in a different thread said runs the fogs, but I can't get it out so far. It's real tight on both sides of the relay and almost no room to work. Thank you for your input.

 

The switch is the inner ring closest to the steering wheel on the stalk with the light controls

 

Seems you already know that they will only come on with the lo beam head lights on.
They should go off with high beams.

^

 

They also often won't come on properly if you've done something silly, like upgrading your headlights to LED without making the appropriate changes to other stuff.

But @Oldfart01 said everything is still stock, so I guess he didn't install any LED lights.

 

I start by taking out other relays so I can get a good grip on the one I want. Then, use the wiggle & rock technique to gently pull it out.

There's only a couple different relays, so I wouldn't be worried about mixing them up.

 

DING, DING DING!! I'm trying to think of something clever to say, other than that I guess I'm a dumb ass and didn't know it! I had looked really hard at all the dash switches since I bought it. I've never seen a switch like that little ring on the light stalk. I read your reply and thought, "No way I missed something like that!" Grabbed a flashlight and ran out to the truck and the lights magically came on after I turned the ring.

I must have turned them off by accident while turning the headlight switch knob. I'm a little upset that you ruined all the fun I could have had tearing stuff apart for no reason. I could have driven the truck another year and not noticed that little ring. I guess the dementia is sneaking up on me! Thank you for preventing me from continued mental retardation.

 

Thank you, it's a good thing I don't embarrass easily!!! Easiest repair ever.

 

We're just glad you got it working..

I've done worse..

 

well son of a biscuit eater.... that was an easy one.

 

I wish more things could be fixed that easy!!

 

So now you need to take a pic of you turning that switch and post it in the "What have you done to your 1st gen today" thread

 

+1

 

I’m in the camp of never using them, and it drives me bananas when people have them on in the day time let alone no bad weather

 

Those probably actually work and the weather looks gloomy, you get a pass, this time

 

They technically can, just use fire. Add fire to truck, burn it to the ground. No switch? No problem. Ergo, problem solved.

 

they do, they're so bright that even during overcast days you can see the yellow reflecting off some surfaces.

 

it's inferior so you'd be doing the world a favor.

 

Don't make me call in elevatorguy on you

 

Thought DRLs were stupid long ago... now rides with fogs on 24/7