I just got a 2002 F150 with the factory equipped fog lights. I have always liked the looks of a pick-up with its parking lights only on-with smoke headlight covers, and fog lights on (I could always do this with my Rangers by installing aftermarket fogs and just running the parking lights). However, my F150 only lets me turn on the factory fog lights after I've turned the headlights on. Is there any way to get around this? Thanks.

 

If you use the search term fog* mod* limited to the electrical forum, there are about 298 entries.

If you use the search term foglight mod* this hits the limit of 500 threads on the search.

Here is one with FedEx pilot's how to, and the modified EVTM page for the fog lamps

https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...=fog%2A+mod%2A

 

Thanks for the links. I read over both different procedures that I found in the posts (1 with a 1997 F150 and 1 with a 2000 Lightning) but neither method allowed me to even remove the switch assembly from the dash. I only succeeded in breaking a couple of the little press-in plugs/pins that connect the face of the switch assembly to the actual module. So I figured that I should quit before I broke anything else. I am not blaming the procedures as the number of successful posts verify their quality, and I always quickly admit that I am not very mechanically inclined at all. I just know that I followed the directions used on th '97 involving the internal "lock" and the assembly would still not come out. I was unable to pry on the three "clips" holding the assembly in that are mentioned in the '00 procedure to get the assmebly out, only break some of the press-in plugs/pins that connect the face to the rest of the assembly like I mentioned above. I will just deal with not being able to run fogs with parks only. So thank you again for the information but its not worth it to me to either break anyting further or pay somebody to pull it for me.

 

well if you keep trying a little more with a screw driver on the top and the left i think i should come out. and in order to do the mod the face has to be broken off and then re epoxied back on.

 

The headlight switch was a pain for me to. I broke a couple of those little plastic pieces that hold the face on the module like you are saying. Basically what I learned after I took it out is after you make that final turn.. you must hold the switch and pull.. because that is what holds the tabs unlocked.

 

I wired my fogs to some on with the parking lights by cutting the +12v from the switch to the lights and supplying the +12v from the battery via fused link and relay, then all you have to do is tap the +12v to the parking light for the +12v to the relay coil. Another plus is that the fogs stay on with the high beams also.

 

Does this require any switch modification?
If it does not I'd be interested in any additional instructions you have, rough wiring diagram, pictures, etc. Thanks.

 

My setup bypasses the headlight switch completely. I tried the "headlight switch mod" and as I was trying to pry the switch out I figured it was cheaper and easier to rewire the fogs than to break a switch that costs $100 from the dealer.
To rewire the fogs the way I did you need to buy 1 12vdc relay (15a capacity), about 20' of wire, some crimp on slide connectors to attach the wires to the relay and if you dont want to cut and solder your wire splices you can buy some crimp on wire splices that save a lot of time (just make sure to seal them with elec tape. It is also a good idea to buy a 15a fusible link unless you may have one laying around from another project.

This is the basic procedure (I tapped the left parking lamp due to ease of access)
1. Probed the OE wires that go to the fogs and marked the +12v wire and then cut the OE wires that go to the fogs and taped the ends of the wires from the OE wiring harness. (do this for both sides)
a) You will need to splice a set of wires from the right foglight to the left side of the truck and splice them into the new +12v and ground wires.

2. Then take the +12v wire that goes to the fogs and attach it to the load terminal of the new relay.

3. Then probe the wires that go to the parking lights for +12v when the only the parking lights are on. (if you remove the left parking lamp lens assembly the wires are easily accesible) then splice into that wire and run a wire from it to the + terminal of the relay coil.

4. Connect a wire to the ground (-) wire for the fogs and attach it to a suitable grounding point. (most any screw that is in metal will work).

5. Attach a wire to the (-) terminal of the relay coil and run it to a good grounding point.

6. And finally attach one end of the fusible link to the "line" terminal of the new relay and attach the other end to the (+) terminal of the battery.

Now when you turn on you parking lamps the fogs will also come on and because the fogs no longer use the OE light switch they will stay on when the high beams are on.

 

Thanks for the instructions.