Ford Ranger Fog Lights

You know you bought a Ford Ranger because you can count on it to carry you through any adventure. Fog lights sweeten the deal even more because they provide badly needed illumination through the darkest nights or even the worst weather. Seeing that these fog lights are a worthwhile investment, it makes sense to keep an eye out on their condition as you use and abuse them to their fullest potential. It's easy enough to determine when your fog lights are struggling a bit, and here are the most common things you can keep an eye out for-and the simple things you can do to take care of the trouble.

Dim or faded lights

The most common sign that your fog lights are in trouble is when the light it throws off starts coming across as a little weaker than it used to be. Naturally, your first instinct would be to blame faulty electrical wiring-it's fairly obvious enough. But before you start groaning in frustration and pulling out your wallet to change out the entire fog light, you might want to check first the condition of your lens.

Sometimes, faded lights are caused by problems with the lens. You either have fogging or condensation inside the lens due to a break in the seal that keeps the lens in place. If the cause of the fading or diming is the lens-you're in luck. The lens is easy to clean and, worse comes to worse, not too costly to replace at all. If the trouble is the electrical connections, it's still not too late, as the diming indicates a fault, not a breakdown. Unless you have experience with wiring, it's better to consult a mechanic.

No lights at all

When the fog lights refuse to engage, it's a big chance that the wiring is completely messed-up. You should still physically check the entire fog light and all its components. Sometimes, things are still repairable and you wouldn't need to purchase a replacement just yet. If the fault lies in the wiring, it's a cheap enough replacement. It's when the fault is with the assembly, structure, and components of the fog light that might necessitate a full replacement.

Since coming out in 1983, the Ford Ranger has been one of America's most durable and enduring icons of rugged class. It is one of the true pickup greats that have rolled off the Ford assembly lines in recent years. Unsurprisingly, a lot of products have become popular with the Ranger and its owners over the years, all geared towards on common goal of making the Ranger a true adventure ride. Fog lights are one of the most popular because they enhance the range and capabilities of the Ford Ranger in even the darkest nights and the worst of weather conditions. For that reason-relevant reliability-it is important to always make sure that your Ford Ranger fog lights are in the best condition to better undertake the task they were designed for.

Check for problems as they happen

Fog lights are very durable by design. After all, the conditions that they're designed to operate in-extreme weather and inhospitable environments-could all potentially mess up their sensitive electrical components. As with any part on your truck, there are many vulnerable points to look out for. The most vulnerable of all, perhaps, are the seals that keep the lens in place. Normally, these are supposed to keep out water and other harmful substances that might cause damage to the fog light internally. As they wear out over time, however, these seals eventually let all that nastiness in. Once you notice condensation forming on the lens, or the lens fogging up, it's time to-not just clean the lens-but reinforce the seals themselves.

Keep things clean-always

Cleanliness is one of the most vital parts of overall maintenance that people easily neglect. When it comes to fog lights, there are two aspects that need your attention. The first is to clean the external-or exposed-components of your fog lights. Invariably, that means the jutting lenses. Any normal water-and-soap mix is good enough. Just make sure that you use a clean, smooth cotton rag to wipe it down to avoid unnecessary scratches. The second is to make sure the internal components are dusted off and wiped down. Do not use any liquids in cleaning as the electrical wiring is part of the internal system of the fog lights.