Rear fog light

Barry Gadd

Barry Gadd

Zorg Addict
British Zeds
The M44 Massive
Joined
Mar 29, 2014
Points
46
Location
Woking Surrey
Model of Z
Z3 1.9L
My Z3 failed it's MOT today.......... BUT for 2 relatively simple problems.

1) The rear fog lamp won't switch off.
If I switch the rear fog on it won't switch off using the same switch.
If I switch the front and then the rear fogs on I can switch off both using the front fog switch.
I don't have the UK owners manual and the USA version (which a ZRoadster member kindly put on the forum) doesn't have rear fog lights.
Can anybody advise what is happening here?

2) Front O/S caliper sticking. I did free this some time ago but it must have got stuck again.I'll set about freeing it tomorrow.

Thanks guys.....nearly there.....
 
Barry, when you take your brakes apart pay particular attention to the slide pins. Where these pass through the calliper body there is a rubber "sleeve" . IF you haven't done so already remove these sleeves and clean the holes they fit in, also scrape any crap off the rubbers before refitting them into lubricated holes. Clean and grease the pins with a light spray grease only, NOT copper grease. This is often over looked but is also often the root cause of brakes sticking, assuming the calliper Pistons and dust seals are in good order too. HTH.

Tony.
 
What year is your car please Barry?
 
My Z3 is 1997
I did as you advise Tony but a few months ago, and the car has been standing since then.
I will clean the caliper sliders etc again and make sure the pads can slide easily. I think I used Copper grease last time so I'll use a high temp grease this time. I also used a G clamp to gently squeeze the piston back into the cylinder,carefully lifted the edge of the rubber dust seal and dribbled a couple of drips of brake fluid to help avoid the piston sticking. I think this can help. Any other ideas?
Thanks for your help.
 
t-tony said:
Clean and grease the pins with a light spray grease only, NOT copper grease.
Click to expand...

Interesting you should say this Tony, I previously did just this but found the rubber sliders turned to jelly, For the past few years (on the advise of forum members) I have not used any lubricant at all on the caliper pins and rubber boots and they have been just fine.

Barry Gadd said:
1) The rear fog lamp won't switch off.
If I switch the rear fog on it won't switch off using the same switch.
If I switch the front and then the rear fogs on I can switch off both using the front fog switch.
I don't have the UK owners manual and the USA version (which a ZRoadster member kindly put on the forum) doesn't have rear fog lights.
Can anybody advise what is happening here?
Click to expand...

Hi Barry,

Sounds like a broken switch to me, the mechanical latch inside the switch seems to be sticking, you could maybe try a specialist switch lubricant, failing that see if you can get a replacement either secondhand (@spurs fan in a coupe) or a new one.

Brian
 
Most new or reconditioned callipers we use at work come with a silicon grease in a small sachet to grease the slider pins, also the spray greases we use contain silicones and don't destroy the rubbers. I think that was what ruined the rubbers on your car Brian. My comment re copper grease is that it conceals and turns to a solid restricting movement. In the right applications it's great stuff.
 
t-tony said:
My comment re copper grease is that it conceals and turns to a solid restricting movement. In the right applications it's great stuff.
Click to expand...

We use buckets off the stuff on Carbon Drill Pipe, Casing & Tubing etc, as the copper particles are the lubricant for make up and we don't care about breaking out again as huge power tongs do that job.
I have seen stored pipe connections not properly protected and the stuff does harden up and you need a steam cleaner to get it off.
 
Last edited:
Like I said Mike it has its uses, I use lots but only in the right places.:)

Tony.
 
you lot are NUTS:bashhead: It took only 6 x serious reply's before it all turned to smut!! and soap on ropes:joyful:
 
Hi Barry I was thinking it is either a sticking switch or the relay which is under the dashboard. The wiring diagram says it is left hand side but it is american and the switch is on the left there obviously so the UK relay may be on the right. I'm rambling now.
 
When I did my front calipers I started to grease them, but on reading the TIS it said not too, the reason is the grease traps dirt and crap and causes the pins to stick and not slide, so I left them dry, and they are perfect.
 
zedonist said:
When I did my front calipers I started to grease them, but on reading the TIS it said not too, the reason is the grease traps dirt and crap and causes the pins to stick and not slide, so I left them dry, and they are perfect.
Click to expand...

I knew I had read it somewhere, several sets of pads later and no ill effects from having no grease.
 
What is TIS Brian/Rich please? I can appreciate excessive grease would attract dust etc which is why I use silicone grease ..... it doesn't
Why would you think calliper suppliers give you a sachet of grease to use if it was a bad idea?

Tony.
 
Christ Tony, and you are doing MOT's.

Technical Information System (TIS) includes workshop manuals, wiring diagrams, vehicle testing manuals and technical service bulletins.
 
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