Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Aesthetics Fog Light Problem, Help!

O.K., Guys,

I just put in a pair of 855 (50w) replacement bulbs into the fog lights of my '00 Mystique wich have the low profile rectangle fog lamps. The stock bulb was the 893. The problem is I have felt the front lens (plastic) and it is getting very hot and I mean very hot. I am afraid that it will ruin the lens/housing. Will these bulbs cause it to melt?? What can I do??

Do they make a bright stock 893 that is still the standard 38watt?. I just do not want to damage the units as I just replaced them after hitting a few stones. At the same time I want them to match (close) to the Cool Blues that I just put in the headlamps.

You shouldn't have much of a difference in temp going from a 38w to a 50w bulb. As long as you are moving when they are on, the passing air will help cool them. I have almost doubled the wattage (100w) of my high beam lamps, and have yet to have any problems.

The only other thing you could do would be to give the 38w bulb a better power supply. I know from personal experience that rewiring the headlamps with heavier wire doesn't do anything on a Contour. Ford pretty much already did it by placing the relays right next to the battery. Find out how long the wiring is for the fog lamps, and where they get their power from. If they get it from inside the car, they will lose some power due to the resistance of the wiring. You could place a 20A breaker and a heavy relay closer to the bulbs. This will allow them to get the power that they need. I did this on my old Grand Am, and on the Ramcharger and have had excelent results.

The problem is that I have them on all the time when driving around town etc. and that is a lot of stop and go and sitting around traffic.

I see that autotoys.com has a 893 Hiper White bulb that is only 37.5 watts that would run much cooler but I am not sure if they will produce the same amount of light as the 50 watt bulbs do. Does anyone have experience with this bulb or its cheaper Euro bulb that they are advertising?? Thanks !!!!!

Many people on here have melted their lenses with the 855s! Be careful!

be prepared to melt the lenses. the 885 does not have the coating on the tip of the bulb like the 893 does, this lets more heat and light out (there's your increase in wattage) and also makes your lenses more prone to bubbling. i ran 885s for a while and they melted my fog lenses so i had to switch to piaa 510s (WELL worth the money). if you leave the 885s in, plan on buying new fogs in the future.

Well I took out the 885's last night but I am still wondering if the 893's from autotoys.com that are 38watts are worth the money? Are they brighter (they say Hiper White) than stock?? Any one else running these?