wiring foglights... is a RELAY necessary?

[DavidT]

shrug

 

[SHOtype]

I have only installed two sets of fog lights. But in my very limited experience yes, I believe it is. Not positive though.

 

[SHOZ123]

It's either that or find a switch that can carry ~20-25 amps.

 

[wild01ride]

Generally, a relay is necessary unless your are planning on ghetto-rigging your foglights hard-wired to the battery (you know, the way that people do it even with a relay but that never gets switched off- so your fog lights will come on with no other lights on AND so that you'll be sure to leave them on and come back to a dead battery!)

Otherwise, I can't think of a way you'd come up with a switched hot source that will supply whatever it normally does AND a set of foglights.

(Is there a reason you'd prefer NOT to use a relay ? I can't think of a good one for the sake of the integrity of the electrical system, not to mention for aesthetic purposes)
If you need help, I'm sure someone would be able to lend the advice that you are in need of. lol

 

[DavidT]

I was thinking of wiring them into the parking lights... So they come on when ANY lights are on, and they automatically go off with them as well.
I bought the same Pilots that gluemaker got. Could someone explain the wiring for this.
The wiring kit comes with an inline fuse, switch, and wires.
I assume the switch won't be needed if I run it to the parking lights... BTW, how do I do that? shrug huh rofl
What is the best route to take?
TIA.

 

[99V8SHO]

DavidT:
I was thinking of wiring them into the parking lights... So they come on when ANY lights are on, and they automatically go off with them as well.
I bought the same Pilots that gluemaker got. Could someone explain the wiring for this.
The wiring kit comes with an inline fuse, switch, and wires.
I assume the switch won't be needed if I run it to the parking lights... BTW, how do I do that? shrug huh rofl
What is the best route to take?
TIA.

Where did you get the Pilots? I want to use those lights and can't seem to find them.
I am also in the same boat you are in terms of wiring them up. I also want it so that they stay on with the high beams. Is that possible? I don't see why not, but maybe someone has had trouble with that. shrug

 

[wild01ride]

DavidT:
I was thinking of wiring them into the parking lights... So they come on when ANY lights are on, and they automatically go off with them as well.

I would strongly advise against this. The stock parking light cicuit was not designed to handle two additional lights which draw more current than the parking lights do to start.
The ONLY way to do this would be to replace the parking light fuse with a fuse that is rated for the sum of the fog light fuse and the parking light fuse combined- and even in that case, you are risking the safety of your wonderful car by seriously overloading the parking light wiring itself.
If you decide to take this dangerous gamble (again, I strongly advise against it), you would simply splice into one of the 12V+ wires that goes to the back of the parking light and run that to the 12V+ of your fog lights.

Now, the method that is easy, safe and much more slick is as follows:

1) Pry out the headlight switch (carefully slide a small screwdriver or pry tool under the bottom lip of the assembly and CAREFULLY pry the switch out.

2) Now all you need to do is splice into the larger guage, brown wire on the back of the switch. It will be I think the bottom wire towards the outside of the car.

3) Use this wire to provide the "activate" function to your switch (no matter what position the switch is in, the lights will only function when this wire has current.

This wire will allow your fog lights to turn on:
-With the parking lights (and then, of course, the headlights)
-Automatically with the AutoLamp feature

Additionally, if you leave the switch in the "on" position, the fog lights will turn off when either the AutoLamp turns off or when you manually switch the parking lights off.

Good luck- let us know if you need further help!

 

[DavidT]

Thanks!
I got them at Autozone. (14.99, wiring kit was extra 4.99)
Only difference is, it is a 1078CK. (Not sure what the K stands for)

 

[SHOZ123]

Do not wire these to any existing circuit without a relay. You will burn the wiring or a switch up. A relay is cheap and easy to use.

Connect terminal 30 of the relay to the battery through a fuse big enough to handle the fog lights.

Connect the hot wire going to the fog lights to terminal 87 on the relay.

Connect terminal 85 on the relay to ground.

Connect terminal 86 to the parking light hot wire. This can be done under the hood and does not need to be done at the headlight switch.

This way when the parking lights come on the fog lights will come on. All the heavy current will be going though the relay from the battery and the parking light circuit will only be carrying an addition amp.

 

[cartfan76]

are you guys aware that there already is a switch on all GEN3's? With your headlights on, pull out the dial....bingo.. I assume it was part of Ford's nickle/dime plan for everything. Just use an exsisting switch out of the parts bin, but don't wire it as there are no foglights from the factory......

 

[SHOZ123]

You would have to replace it with one that actually had some contacts is it for the fog lights. And you would still need a relay if it was a functional switch.

 

[99V8SHO]

wild01ride:
Now, the method that is easy, safe and much more slick is as follows:

1) Pry out the headlight switch (carefully slide a small screwdriver or pry tool under the bottom lip of the assembly and CAREFULLY pry the switch out.

Actually, you do not need to do this. Take out the black plastic piece that surrounds your gauge cluster. Two Torx bolts at the top, then grab the piece by the vents and pull. Two clips hold it in, do not worry about breaking these. Once you do that, you can reach in you can see your headlight switch. There are two pieces of plastic sticking up out the switch, and they move to the outside of the car. Move one of them over, and the whole assembly comes out, no prying required.

 

[Glue Maker]

I think this is how I did it