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DIY: Fog Light Rewire

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Old 12-05-2003, 12:49 AM
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This photo shows the foglights connected to work when the key is in the "run" position. With the fog light switch is left ON, the fog lights work like Daytime Running Lights.

Note that I can connect my fog lights any one of three ways just by lifting the fuse block and moving a connector.
Attached Thumbnails DIY: Fog Light Rewire-fog-lights-ignition.jpg  
Old 12-05-2003, 01:25 AM
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Originally posted by SiCkRx-8
Edit: Ok I found it, the IG fuse was the one that was blown, its a 15 amp fuse, so i replaces that and it started. Fogs look great when there's no head lights on, Thanks guys :D
Glad to hear everything worked out!
Old 12-05-2003, 01:27 AM
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Originally posted by bobclevenger
Note that I can connect my fog lights any one of three ways just by lifting the fuse block and moving a connector.
Nice work, I didn't see that blue splice/wiretap when I went to Kragen. Was there a particular name and/or brand for that part? Thanks.

EDIT: Oops, just noticed you mentioned you got the connectors at radio shack...

Last edited by brothervoodoo; 12-05-2003 at 01:30 AM.
Old 12-07-2003, 01:03 AM
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I used the Maniac twist described here. Works great. Thanks to all the contributed to the info here.
Old 12-07-2003, 01:07 AM
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Originally posted by Racer X-8
DON'T GO THERE!!!!!!!
Don't go where?
Old 12-14-2003, 07:12 PM
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I just did this tonight using the directions here. Super easy, and very useful. Thanks to you all for being bold.
Old 12-15-2003, 08:07 AM
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The next step

I just had my first chance to try the fog lights by themselves on a foggy night. It was great to get rid of the dazzling reflection from the Xenon low beams, but not so great to drive by a rather dim light that ended not very far ahead of the car. How about more powerful lights (new bulbs)? I remember some posts on other threads describing how to get at fog lights, but saying that it was a difficult job. Suggestions and instructions welcome.
Old 12-15-2003, 10:12 AM
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Look at this thread, it should offer some information.
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...lb+replacement
Old 12-15-2003, 01:51 PM
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For those who have done the fog light re-wire, does this mod remove the feature whereby the fog lights turn off when the hi-beams are switched on? If so, might there be another easily-done mod that would restore it?
Old 12-15-2003, 02:55 PM
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Originally posted by stormchase13
For those who have done the fog light re-wire, does this mod remove the feature whereby the fog lights turn off when the hi-beams are switched on? If so, might there be another easily-done mod that would restore it?
Yes, this mod defeats the "off when high beams are on" feature. This was the main point of the mod. If you put a connector on the brown wire that supplies power to the fog light relay as I did (see photos in earlier post on this thread) you can return the fog lights to stock any time you want.
If you want to have the fog lights come on with the ignition (like DRL's) but go off when you switch the main (high) beam headlights on, I think you would need to install another relay.
Old 12-21-2003, 12:49 AM
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I did my mod tonight. Appreciate the early efforts of Magnesium, Canzoomer and Omicron. If I can do it, almost anyone can. I missed one wire on the first connector but it was very simple (especially after staring at all the very nice photographs posted for hours the past two months).
A couple clarification points. I used a small connector called "Quick Connects", 3M brand, found at Wal-Mart 3pk $1.23,for 18-14 gauge wire. It takes a bit of effort to lift the tray once you push the 4 little tabs out that hold the tray down. As one can see in the pics, it is about 2" in depth and uses several small guides that the tray must be lifted over to free it. I didn't disconnect the battery. I did use a very strong light to make sure I could see the colors very well. (have trouble with brown/green/red in low light). I started out using a small screwdriver to prop up the tray but it kept slipping, so I used a small cardboard box which worked much better. I had to pull the brown wire up a bit to get enough length before cutting, and the same for the small white/red wire to get enough length to get it into the connector.

Last edited by rx8daniel; 12-21-2003 at 01:01 AM.
Old 12-21-2003, 11:01 AM
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Great job Daniel!
Old 01-19-2004, 07:36 PM
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Thanks for everyones effort on this post. I did the mod in about 15min. and I love it. No problems.
-Ron
Old 01-20-2004, 06:55 PM
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You guys might want to check this out but I did this same mod on my MR2 and all I did was run a jump between the prongs on the relay switch. On the switch it would only come on or move to the postive position if the lights were on. If you were to jump it with a wire it would always get a connection regardless of whether or not the lights were on. I don't remember needing to cut or splice any wires. I will look at it on my car and see what I can figure out in the next couple of days.
Old 01-22-2004, 02:39 PM
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I found this site which has several ways of rewiring Mazda headlights http://www.miata.net/garage/foglights.html . I couldn't find the original one for my MR2.
Old 02-03-2004, 03:39 PM
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New twist on fog lite rewiring

I have been following this thread and it was intriguing and vey informative. Thanks to all the contributors.

My variation is:
1. A dashboard switch to flip power source from light switch to ACC by running a multi conductor cable from the fuse box to the dashboard. In the up position the fog lights come on with ACC and in down position with lights only. This way I can have the fog lites stay on even on high beam, ha ha

2. one of the conductors in the wire carries power from the Fog lites relay to an LED, so I can tell when the fog lights are on.

Picture of the switch attached.
Attached Thumbnails DIY: Fog Light Rewire-fog-lite_13.jpg  

Last edited by Unser; 02-03-2004 at 03:42 PM.
Old 02-04-2004, 08:21 PM
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Unser that is sharp man. Imgoing to drive over to your place and payyou to install the exact samething on mine. I dont live too far from Lighthouse Point anyway--haha!
Old 02-06-2004, 08:20 PM
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Very, very nice indeed Unser. Great new version of the mod. Coupla questions though...

First off, why a separate LED? Why not just a switch with an LED? Secondly, did you realize that my version of the mod allows you to have the fogs on with the high beams too?
Old 02-06-2004, 11:32 PM
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Here is my set up
Attached Thumbnails DIY: Fog Light Rewire-fog-lights-installed-0001.jpg  
Old 02-06-2004, 11:44 PM
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fog light setup

Here is my attempt
Attached Thumbnails DIY: Fog Light Rewire-fog-lights-installed-0001.jpg  
Old 02-07-2004, 07:49 AM
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Originally posted by Omicron
Very, very nice indeed Unser. Great new version of the mod. Coupla questions though...

First off, why a separate LED? Why not just a switch with an LED? Secondly, did you realize that my version of the mod allows you to have the fogs on with the high beams too?
Omicron
Hats off to you and the others who were the pioneers.
As you said a new version is what I wanted, so this is version 1.4

1. the separate LED is to know when the lights are on, but I guess that is overkill, you can just look at the stalk switch, in either position of my add-on switch, they would only be on with the stalk switch on. hmmm why did'nt I think of that before ?

2. Fog lites with high beams was a welcome side benefit, but I just wanted a switch handy instead of going under the hood again.

Again, the fog-lite rewire and the maplight LED are the simplest and best mods for DIYers, thanks
Old 02-08-2004, 12:07 PM
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Fair, 'nuf, thanks. Again, good job! :D
Old 02-10-2004, 12:27 PM
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since were on the topic of foglight wiring, does anybody know how difficult it is to remove the stock foglight assembly and all wiring leading up to the stock foglight switch? i am planning to sell these when i get my new bumper.
Old 02-14-2004, 02:21 PM
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Question for pros here.

I had some time, so went ahead attempting this mod.

Looks simple enough even for a newbie like me.

Anyhow, I have a problem.

I have the "brown" wire (which isn't brown on mine, but black and white, I have confirmed that is "SHOULD" be the same as the brown wire as it is the small wire from the FOG black box that leads to the TAIL bigger black box) cut in half and then (manually for now until I get a connector) wound around a spliced portion of the red/white wire from the ACC black box.

But now everything just works the same as before, fog doesn't turn on with key in ACC and lights turned in "normal/rest" or "parking/1st click" position. Fog turns on in "2nd click" position as normal.

I will try again when I can get a proper connector, but please if anyone can point to what I am doing wrong so far, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.
Old 02-14-2004, 06:42 PM
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Re: Question for pros here.

Originally posted by AcuraEL
I had some time, so went ahead attempting this mod.

Looks simple enough even for a newbie like me.

Anyhow, I have a problem.

I have the "brown" wire (which isn't brown on mine, but black and white, I have confirmed that is "SHOULD" be the same as the brown wire as it is the small wire from the FOG black box that leads to the TAIL bigger black box) cut in half and then (manually for now until I get a connector) wound around a spliced portion of the red/white wire from the ACC black box.

But now everything just works the same as before, fog doesn't turn on with key in ACC and lights turned in "normal/rest" or "parking/1st click" position. Fog turns on in "2nd click" position as normal.

I will try again when I can get a proper connector, but please if anyone can point to what I am doing wrong so far, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.
Sounds to me like you're on the wrong relay. Far as I know, every RX-8 has the same relay positions and the same light brown wire leading from the foglight relay. If you could post some pics, I may be able to help.

In the mean time, here are a couple of pics that may do it for you. In the first, the fog relay is shown. Note that it is in the third from the bottom right position in the fuse/relay box under the hood, as you face it from the front of the car. The light brown wire comes from the underside of this relay.
Attached Thumbnails DIY: Fog Light Rewire-fog-relay.jpg  


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