I just added fog lights to my 2000 Lariat, and it's not wired for fog lights. What's the best way to go? Do I really need to get a new switch in the dash to allow for fog lights? or can I just hard wire them into the switch that I have so they just come on when I turn on the headlights?

 

I'd think it's possible to hardwire a control circuit to your existing headlight switch for the fog lights. But I'd sure power them through a relay on a dedicated power circuit.

- Jack

 

I was thinking about putting an in-line fuse when I wired up the fog lights, do you think the relay is a better way to go?

 

Do you want to use the factory fog lamp switch, or a different one ?

Sounds like you want to use an aftermarket switch you already have, which is fine.

Here is an example of how you can wire them up



This uses the parking lamps as the circuit to trigger the relay, but you can use anything as the trigger to the relay via the switch.

 

Another idea is to splice directly into the headlight power supply wire and not even run through the switch. Still a relay needed?

 

Is the box in the middle of that diagram a fuse box? I am a little confused looking at that diagram.

 

If you are talking about this :


Please do not do this, it will not work for very long. Even if you wire each fog lamp to the headlamp on that side.

If you just want them to be on anytime the headlamps are on, use this diagram


The item in the center of that diagram is an Automotive relay.
Do the fog lamp kit you have, come with a wiring harness ?

You might want to purchase a fog lamp wiring harness with the relay installed if that diagram is confusing.

 

Yes I bought a fog light wiring harness, but it does not have a relay. It simply has fuses in-line.

 

Don't know where you got that, but it is not a fog lamp harness.

Don't know if Walmart would carry something that cheaply made.

It should look like this

 

I got it at carquest, and it says Auxillary Lamp Harness Kit. It comes with an aftermarket switch and is made by Navigator.

 

Onefifty, in case you may not be quite understanding what SSCULLY is warning you about, is that you DO NOT want the power supply to the fog lights (probably 55 Watts each?) to be on the same wire as the headlights. The current draw would be too much for that sized wire.

His second diagram uses any of the circuits to the existing lights as a "control" to a relay. If you have any existing light ON, it will cause the relay to "close", completing the new supply circuit you've connected directly to the battery with the new fog lights. The "control" circuit takes very little power, so it won't hurt anything. The relay acts as an on/off switch in the new circuit to the fog lights.

And if you DID understand this, forgive my tendency to "teach" - I come by it honestly. :o

- Jack

 

Jack you always seem to pull through when I need clearity. Thanks, as I still did not fully understand what the big deal was, but now it all makes sense. I think I will use the second diagram and wire the fog lights completely seperately from the headlights with an aftermarket switch on the dash, that way I can turn them on whenever I want to. Thanks again guys! And SSCULLY thank you for all your detail and posting those diagrams they will definately come in handy! Thanks and I'll let you guys know how it goes.

 

Well I got the fog lights all hooked up using the second diagram and they work perfectly! The next question is where is a good place to mount the switch on the dash? I have placed it in a few places, but am still unsure. Anyone have any pictures?

 

That one buddy, I can't help you on! :o All I can say is, "Wherever it looks good."

- Jack

 

Come on Jack! lol. thanks for all the help anyway!