Fog light installation help

Infinite Toast

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My 2000 Sport does not have fog lights and is not prewired for fog lights. I have confirmed there are no pigtails under the front wheel wells nor the required 2 relays installed just to the right of the fuse block behind the glove box.

So I have purchased a set of 5” KC Apollo fogs (https://www.kchilites.com/5-apollo-pro-pair-pack-system.html) and a OEM style switch from GCD Offroad to install.

In preparation to install, I have reviewed:
1) previous posts in the forum related to fog light installation
2) KC’s install doc for these units (https://www.kchilites.com/mwdownloads/download/link/id/94)
3) KC’s general install doc on the white wire (https://support.kchilites.com/hc/en-us/article_attachments/205569827/White_Wire.pdf)

I’m asking for some help/advice determining where is the best spot or what is the best practice for attachment of the white wire in the TJ to have the fogs switched with the low beams (off with high beams). Searching the forums gives lots of info but doesn’t give much info on this specific issue related to fog light installation. If I am mistaken, please let me know.

Thanks in advance.
 
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Simple, go to an auto electrician, they know what they are doing because its their job to do so with a satisfactory outcome unlike bodge jobs from member advise ! :)
 
@MikekiM, I know you did the rear lights recently, and maybe also the fogs?

After a few false starts, I ended up using the Auxbeam 8-gang switch panel. It's an S-Pod style unit that handles switching for up to eight accessories. Switched via the ignitions main vehicle power and of course independent of the headlights. I ran both the front Hella 550FF and rear bumper flush mount aux LEDs lights to it (along with rock lights, seat warmers, OBA and inverter).

That said, here are the instructions for the Hella's. I'm pretty sure one option is as described by the OP
 
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My 2000 Sport does not have fog lights and is not prewired for fog lights. I have confirmed there are no pigtails under the front wheel wells nor the required 2 relays installed just to the right of the fuse block behind the glove box.

So I have purchased a set of 5” KC Apollo fogs (https://www.kchilites.com/5-apollo-pro-pair-pack-system.html) and a OEM style switch from GCD Offroad to install.

In preparation to install, I have reviewed:
1) previous posts in the forum related to fog light installation
2) KC’s install doc for these units (https://www.kchilites.com/mwdownloads/download/link/id/94)
3) KC’s general install doc on the white wire (https://support.kchilites.com/hc/en-us/article_attachments/205569827/White_Wire.pdf)

I’m asking for some help/advice determining where is the best spot or what is the best practice for attachment of the white wire in the TJ to have the fogs switched with the low beams (off with high beams). Searching the forums gives lots of info but doesn’t give much info on this specific issue related to fog light installation. If I am mistaken, please let me know.

Thanks in advance.

Since you're adding an independent fog light system that gets it's power directly from the battery the only thing you're needing is the relay trigger. Since you want your fog lights to come on with the low beams, the white wire you reference is the relay trigger wire and all you need is to splice into the headlight low beam 12v+ wire. Pull the headlight plug and test for 12v+ with the low beams on. Once you know which wire it is, then it's as simple as splicing the white wire from relay to low beam 12v+ wire 12" or so from headlight plug.

The relay is basically a low amp circuit that controls a electromagnetic high amp circuit. Relays are capable of many tasks especially when ganged together but your application is very simple.
 
Thanks everyone, I appreciate the help.

Is there a preferred/suggested/best location to splice into the low beam wire? Anything more specific than 12” from the headlight?
 
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Thanks everyone, I appreciate the help.

Is there a preferred/suggested/best location to splice into the low beam wire? Anything more specific than 12” from the headlight?

How much more specific would you like? Civilian GPS has limitations. Take a picture using a banana for scale and someone here will put an X on the exact spot. An inch or two either way will spell disaster SO BE CAREFUL.
 
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How much more specific would you like? Civilian GPS has limitations. Take a picture using a banana for scale and someone here will put an X on the exact spot. An inch or two either way will spell disaster SO BE CAREFUL.

200.gif


Thanks but I was able to successfully install the lights over the holiday weekend without the need for a scale banana.

I wanted to make sure I had enough length of the supplied cabling to reach the battery terminals, the interior switch location, and the fog light mounting locations (hence the question of where to tap the headlights) so I did a test fit. It fit with the exception of the white wire for the low beams. It was a few inches too short. I could have moved the relay forward to make up the difference. However, I wanted to mount the relay just forward of the PDC using an existing hole in the fender.

IMG_2828.jpg


I tapped the low beam light harness just behind the passenger side light. I removed the plug from the headlight, checked which pin was supplying 12v power for the low beams, carefully peeled back the harness cover, trimmed the existing electrical tape wrap, and inserted a quick splice wire connector about 6 inches back form the plug head on the correct wire out of the 3 bundled wires. Since the fog light harness white wire was too short, I inserted a 12" strip of primary wire into the quick connector, crimped the assembly, reinstalled the harness cover between the quick connector and the plug head, and re-taped the entire length.

IMG_2829(2).jpg


I then cut off the ring terminal of the fog light harness and connected it to the primary wire from the headlight with a set of male/female connectors. The switch wires were then run along the edge of the fender along the side of the PDC and battery then zip tied them to the existing harness, traveling with the harness until about the center of the engine bay. Then I turned the wiring down and went thru the existing grommet around the transmission.

IMG_2833 (2).jpg


From there I came into the cabin, over the transmission tunnel, up under the glove box, and over the the switch location.

I have to give praise to GCD Offroad (https://www.ebay.com/str/gcdoffroad?_trksid=p2047675.m3561.l2563). I purchased one of their OEM style switches but I bumped it hard when installing it and I thought I broke it. A quick eBay message and a few minutes later he emailed me pictures on how to put it back together. Great customer service.

The wiring for the lights was routed down past the passenger headlight, along the frame, and to each location I mounted the lights.

IMG_2831.jpg
 
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Thanks for the write-up. So in that last picture, are the wires running along the underside of the bumper, or through that hollow cross-beam?
 
Inside the bumper. It's like a c channel beam with the back open the the engine side. I used a couple of plastic kwik clips to keep things in place when there wasn't anything to zip tie to.
 
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Nicely done, OP. You'll have to forgive me. With (at the time) 2 posts and no activity for several days, that usually means you'll never be heard from again.

I may need a banana for scale to judge the length of your reply. ;)