I figured a good weekend project would be to mount and wire some behind the grill lights in my 03 screw. I had a couple quesions though. Mostly about the wiring that you guys have done.

Im thinking tying them in with the fog lights, so that way i can independantly run the headlights from the fogs/grill and still use my stock switch. If i do this however will my fogs be not as bright because i am robbing power? and what colors would i splice into? I know basic basic electronic stuff so im thinking i need power and ground, and was hoping to wire into the harness for the bumper fogs.

thanks for the help and pics are always appreciated

 

If you are going to wire it into the fog light circuit your best bet would be to hook them up through a relay. The fog light circuit wasnt designed to have more lights hooked up to it and by doing that you might have problems blowing fuses or melting wires. If you use a relay you can run the power directly from the battery and add in a separate fuse for your extra lights. Installation is pretty simple, you will need a wire running from the battery to the relay, one from the relay to your lights, one from the lights to chassis ground, one from the positive side of your fog light circuit to the relay and one from the relay to chassis ground. I cant remember which terminal on the relay is which off the top of my head but if you do a search im sure youll find it.

 

It all depends where your from I'm in MA and I have an 03 scab and the lights are technically illegal and for off road use only I wired them right to the batter with an in-line fuse and ran it through to the firewall and mounted a switch for them so I can turn them on and off by the switch and not by my regular lights

 

Check your local laws.

In my state, lights above the bumper are "driving lights" and must be switched together with the high beams to be legal. Lights below the bumper are "fog lights" and must be on only with the low beams. More than four white lights in front are illegal.

And in any case, power your lamps directly from the battery with a relay to switch them. Assume that in order to save manufacturing cost, the OEM has used the minimum gauge wire for stock equipment and it will not support additional load.

 

hey bud. our local law states that you cannot have more than 2 sets of lights on at one time (heads and foglights). it also states that the the candle power of 4 lights cannot exceed XXXX i forgot the total lol. you can wire it how you wish, personally i wire my aux. lights to their own circuits instead of tapping into factory harnesses. either way will work though.

if youre wanting to tap into the fog lamp circuit the wire you want to tap into for power is the TAN/ORANGE wire. just pull the connect out of the fog light assy and pull back some of the wire coating (i would recommend making your splice about 3-4" away from the connector. when making your splice its easier if you take a sharp razor blade and strip the wire coating off of the wire, dont cut it. after the wire is stripped, stick something skinny inbetween the wires and make a hole to put the wire for the lights through and wrap it around the fog light wire nice and tight. i would also solder the connection and tape it up really good.

if you wire it the other way make sure you use an inline fuse for the power wire to your relay and a fuse for your switch.

 

 

most places they are illegal for onroad use, and i say run it to the battery and run a line thru your firewall you can get some fairly nice switches and the mount them on the shroud around the steering wheel colum

 

^ that's how my lights are hooked up, so easy to reach without looking

 

As far as tapping a fog or high-beam wire to power the relay, I highly recommend Posi-tap connectors. They are simple, waterproof and foolproof, and don't require any pulling or splicing of wires. I use them on all my bikes and cars to switch air horns and aux. lights.

 

You guys are a wealth of knowledge. I didnt even consider the legal aspect of all this, so thanks for bringing that up.

Any of you guys running these light have problems with johnny law about this stuff, or do they not even care slash notice. I just live otuside town so am always worrying about deer. I figured extra lights are cheaper then a big grill guard that might not even help if i tag one.