Pre 89 foglight mod

[lil_dcb7]

I've been searching like crazy, and I cant find any info for this. I've found the 89+ DIY, but the wire colors are different for the older mk3s. (if you dont know, this is the mod so we can turn our foglights on whenever we want:icon_bigg )

well, if any one knows where a DIY is, or has done it and can give me a little guidance, i would really appreciate it.

thanks!

 

[daledoe]

I think I know what your talking about. Its so you can turn your lights on when there half up right!!!!

Like in my sig on pic #3 \/

 

[Mob]

I think he just mistyped because the thread title says fog lights. He probally means the fog rewire so you can operate them independently of the headlights.

 

[lil_dcb7]

I think I know what your talking about. Its so you can turn your lights on when there half up right!!!!

Like in my sig on pic #3 \/

hmm, that would be cool,

but thats not what i was talking about bro. :biglaugh:


im talking about turning the foglights on or off whenever I want, without having the headlights ON :1zhelp:

 

[daledoe]

I see, he ment the say.....this is the mod so we can turn our foglights on whenever we want not headlights.

 

[lil_dcb7]

I think he just mistyped because the thread title says fog lights. He probally means the fog rewire so you can operate them independently of the headlights.

you are correct sir!

and I love the quote in your Sig, it made me LOL :biglaugh:

 

[lil_dcb7]

Whops. Sorry typo fixed! :naughty:

 

[Jeff Lange]

All you are doing is isolating the fog circuit from the headlight circuit.

For Pre-89:

1. Find the fog light relay, cut the white/green wire (pin 3) and ground the side going to the relay.
2. Find the fog light switch, cut the red/black wire (pin 4) and connect the side going to the switch to a switched +12VDC power source. See Note

For 89+:

1. Find the fog light relay, cut the red/black wire (Pin 1) and connect the side going to the relay to a switched +12VDC power source. See Note
2. Find the fog light switch, cut the red/green wire (Pin 4) and ground the side going to the switch.

Note: For example: splice it into the black/red wire (Pin 2) on the cruise control switch (pre-89) or cruise control main relay (89+), or splice it into the red/yellow wire (Pin 2) on the fog light relay, however this will result in the fog lights functioning even if the car is off.

 

[jdmk3_87t]

All you are doing is isolating the fog circuit from the headlight circuit.

For Pre-89:

1. Find the fog light relay, cut the white/green wire (pin 3) and ground it.
2. Find the fog light switch, cut the red/black wire (pin 4) and connect it to a switched +12VDC power source. See Note


Note: For example: splice it into the black/red wire (Pin 2) on the cruise control switch (pre-89) or cruise control main relay (89+), or splice it into the red/yellow wire (Pin 2) on the fog light relay, however this will result in the fog lights functioning even if the car is off.

Jeff,

What do you mean by ground it? Sorry...I'm an electrical noob!

 

[lil_dcb7]

Jeff,

What do you mean by ground it? Sorry...I'm an electrical noob!

when you ground it, you mount the wire to a location on the chassis. :icon_razz

 

[Figit090]

preferably one that isn't painted if i'm correct.... find a bolt or another ground wire and attach it. don't do something like taping it to a painted price of metal...lol. unless paint isn't a good insulator ....but i'm pretty sure paint in between the metal of the chassis and your switch lead will cause a bad ground.

 

[Jeff Lange]

Ground it means connect it to the "negative" side of the battery, which is the entire car's chassis. There are plenty of "ground" wires as well. Wires that are white/black in the car are ground wires.

 

[turbo06]

All you are doing is isolating the fog circuit from the headlight circuit.

For Pre-89:

1. Find the fog light relay, cut the white/green wire (pin 3) and ground it.
2. Find the fog light switch, cut the red/black wire (pin 4) and connect it to a switched +12VDC power source. See Note

For 89+:

1. Find the fog light relay, cut the red/black wire (Pin 1) and connect it to a switched +12VDC power source. See Note
2. Find the fog light switch, cut the red/green wire (Pin 4) and ground it.

Note: For example: splice it into the black/red wire (Pin 2) on the cruise control switch (pre-89) or cruise control main relay (89+), or splice it into the red/yellow wire (Pin 2) on the fog light relay, however this will result in the fog lights functioning even if the car is off.

Hey so if someone were to connect it with the cruise control switch then they would never turn off even if the car was off or they would but you have to push the switch to turn them off afterwards.

 

[CRE]

Here's the long version.... I figure it may be helpful for newbies.

Thanks for the short and sweet version Jeff!

Tools Required: Wire strippers/cutters, Elec. tape, Solderless connectors

Skills Required: Wire stripping/splicing

Note: Tested on an 87, should work fine on 88 too

Okay everybody, here is the rewire for the 87's. I know this works, because I just did it.

I recommend taking the driver's seat out, it makes it much easier to get underneath the dash.

1) Remove the kick panel from the driver's side footwell. Also remove the dash piece under the steering column, and the scuff plate from the door sill.

2) RELAY : Locate the F/L relay. It is just behind the dashboard up and away from the fuse block. It clicks when the fog lights are turned on. Locate wire #1 (red/yellow) It will test at a constant 12volts. leaving enough wire to splice with, cut the wire, and tape off the dash side. Attach a splice / lead to the relay side, and connect it to a wire or fuse that is 12v when the lights are switched on. ( I used the bottom side of the Tail fuse). Locate wire #2 (white/green) cut this wire the same way, but attach your lead from the relay to a known ground. (There is a large screw very close to the relay that works perfect.)

3) SWITCH : pull the switch panel with the fog light switch away from the dash. It snaps right off. locate the third wire from the top (red / black). Cut this wire, tape off the dashboard end, and run a lead from the switch to
the third wire of the rear defogger switch (yellow). Splice your lead into this wire.

4) TEST : TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH ON! turn the parking lights on, then click the fog light switch, it should work. If it doesn't, recheck all your wires, and make sure that you have the relay connected to a fuse that is 12v when the parking lights are ON, and that you have a good ground. If you have a test meter, it makes it much easier. If it works, put every thing back together, and you are done. Note : My fog light switch was wired with the third wire being red and green. My guess is this was done during service some time before I bought the car. simply take the wire plug out of the fog light switch, remove the back, and arrange the wires from top to bottom in this order. 1 white/green, 2 green, 3 red/black, 4 red/green. You will notice that all the switches have the white/green and green wires in the same place.

Oh!, and make sure you turn the ignition switch on when testing, I feel like an idiot, but I forgot to do that, and was halfway through my sailor's dictionary of swear words before i saw my keys sitting on the passenger's
seat. Doh!

Good luck
Darin Moore 87T targa 183,100 miles
Powder Springs, Ga.

EDIT: BTW, Jeff, Exactly how many days are there in Jeff history month? :biglaugh:

 

[Jeff Lange]

Hey so if someone were to connect it with the cruise control switch then they would never turn off even if the car was off or they would but you have to push the switch to turn them off afterwards.

If you wire it to the cruise wire I mentioned, the lights will work if the keys are set to on.

If you wire it to the relay wire I mentioned, the lights will work if the key is off or on.

Both still require the use of the fog light switch to turn them on/off. Basically there are a few ways to get it done, it just depends what you want to happen. CRE's post will make the fog lights only work if the parking lights are on, mine will make them work no matter what, both are good, so you decide. I'm not entirely sure the wiring colors are correct in that, maybe they are, but I don't think they match up with my 88 EWD.

Jeff history month is as long as it takes for me to think up a new history month .

 

[Big Wang Bandit]

What pins on the fog light switch would creat a connection. I am going to add two smaller hella lights to my setup and just want to run them via an inline fuse from the battery...

So in short terms.. Which pins on the back of the fogs switch to complete a circuit? Im eliminating the relay all together.

 

[Big Wang Bandit]

I guess its time to go at it with a voltmeter?

 

[Jeff Lange]

The stock switch cannot handle the current needed to power lights. You have to use a relay. In any case, pin 4 and pin 5 are the switch contacts.

 

[Big Wang Bandit]

So would it be at all possible to wire it all up standalone from the headlights jsut by disconnecting the relay and wiring via that? Or should I rid of the fog switch and just do it the easy way.... Little covered switch like I have in my garage haha.

Wiring ideas Jeff?

 

[Jeff Lange]

Follow my wiring for pre-89, splice power from the cruise switch, and then you have +12V and Ground at each stock fog light to work with.