When I got my new '99 Jeep Cherokee I was very disappointed how dim the factory fog/driving lights that came with it were. They cost 110 dollars, but perform like a cheap flashlight. I checked to see what type of bulb they used. I discovered that they use a 55 Watt, 12 Volt halogen bulb. This is a very powerful and industry standard bulb that can be found in most every auto parts store.

The problem, I determined, was not that the bulb was too dim, but that there is a METAL BAFFLE that sits in-between the very bright bulb and the outside of the light. This baffle prevents any light from leaving the bulb with out first being muted by this baffle and being reflected off of the back of the fog/driving light. I imagine that Jeep engineered this light in such a manner so as to have a more diffused, calm light leaving the fog/driving light. This way of delivering light might be less reflective in an actual FOG situation.

However, I use my fog/driving lights for DRIVING much, much more than I use them to actually make a difference in the fog. So, I removed the annoying, dimming baffle and was VERY pleased with the results! It is a simple procedure, and after completion I noticed the fog/driving light to be about twice as bright!

Okay: If you get down on the floor and look up at the bottom of the fog light....you will see the power wires running out from the back of the light and to a WIRING CLIP that is attached to the back, underside of the bumper. There are two parts of the clip...one fits into the other...on the one that is on the outside, press down on the top of it to allow you to pull the two parts apart.

Look closely at it...and you will see the spot to push...you DO NOT need much force to pull the two parts apart, so be sure that you are pressing on the right spot of the clips switch so as not to break it.

Once the switch is apart you now want to take the fog light down out of the Jeep. To do this you will need to remove only ONE bolt per light. The bolt has a special multi point head called a TORX head. You will need a special torx head socket to remove the bolt. - (by the way, the bolt is very tight) Remove the bolt all the way....and then pull the fog light down. Once you have it down, go inside to a work place with lots of light so you can see what you are doing. You want to remove the small panel on the bottom to the light that is held in with two Philips head screws.

Now you will see the inside of the fog light and the place used to change the bulb. You want to remove the bulb. The Bulb is PERMANTLY ATTACHED to a circular piece of metal and has a white wire running out from it. Remove the bulb and its metal piece by pressing down and inwards on the two metal wire pieces that are holding it in place.

Now, carefully remove the bulb...be sure NOT to touch the glass of the bulb because the oils from a person's hands will cause the bulb to be heated un-evenly and burn out faster. You can just let the bulb dangle out held on by its white wire while you are doing the rest of the procedure.

Now, look inside the light and you will see the dull gray piece of metal that comes between where the bulb used to be and the outside glass of the fog light. I used a pair of curved needle nose pliers to grasp and remove the piece of metal.

If you can get to it with a pair of pliers and turn it side to side, and then pull on it...it should break loose and then, be careful not to drop it inside the light...it might be hard to get out if you do drop it.

Keep a hold of it with your pliers...and then bend it inwards, and smaller with another pair of needle nose pliers...this will make it small enough to fit through the hole.

Just pull it out, be amazed at what CHEAP DULL metal it is, laugh at WHY Jeep put this unreflective piece of junk in your $110 pair of fog lights, and then, trash it! :-)

Then, put the bulb back in...being careful to only hold it by the metal base...

Close the light back up, and remount it...
Plug the wires back in...
And see how much brighter they are!

Have fun!!

You should know that the possible problems of doing this are that you might have some trouble getting the piece of metal out once you have removed it...but, if you are patient, and have some needle nose pliers it should be easy.

Also, don't try and remove the glass front of the fog/driving light. This is permanently attached with an industrial glue.

GOOD LUCK!!

A note: This modification is completely legal. If you go to Pep Boys or any place that sells Fog/Driving lights you will see MANY fog/driving lights there that use the EXACT same bulb, and have NO baffle in front of the bulb. All of these lights are street legal, and so too are your newly modified Jeep fog/driving lights!

- Tom Clardy
Questions?? You can feel free to E-mail me at Clardytw@etown.edu or All4Jeepin@aol.com

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