i was curious which wires on the back went to what.....this is a good question for anyone who has the dual fog switch because i got my explorer bezel today and will be installing it tonight....i want to use the other switch for my projector lights.....could i just tap into the factory fog light switch for the power and controll wire..

which color wire goes to the lights so i know which ones to hook up to the projectors....

 

The factory foglamp switch works by switching the ground side of the relay. This is different from most aftermarket switches that control the hot side.

Aux lights can be adapted to operate from the factory foglamp switch like this:






Color codes:

pin 1 unused
pin 2 unused
pin 3 LB/BK from relay coil to switch contacts
pin 4 BK chassis ground
pin 5 LB/RD Night illumination power
pin 6 TN/OR Hot from foglamp power wire for "ON" LED

 

so i will have to get a relay for it to work?

 

Yes, if you want to use the OE switch.

 

what kind do i need to get and were is a good place to get it?

 

The type in the diagram is SPDT and is often called a Bosch-pattern automotive relay. It is a very common relay that you can buy at any auto parts store or Radio Shack for $4~10. I prefer to use OE Ford relays from the dealer - just ask for the relay for the Ranger's HVAC blower motor. It costs about $7~9.

It is possible to buy a prewired relay socket that will make wiring easier. However, these are harder to find than the relays and you definitely won't get one at a Ford dealer. If you can't locate a socket, individual spade terminals will work.

 

thanks bob........i just got my explorer center bezel and part of it is broke.......so i tried to cut my stock ranger one and i butchered it.....i am going to a u pull it yard tomorrow and trying to find another explorer piece.....and maybe a few other things!!

 

bob, which pin is what #.....if i am looking at the back how do i tell?

 

awwwww....i guess look at my factory harness.....what an idiot!!!!!.......would it be ok for the dash lights and the ground to just tap into the stock fog light switch wires??? why does the spot 86 on the relay have to go to either the park lights or the high beams??? Also...i want to make my factory fogs to come on with the park lights instead of just the low beams....how?

 

what about this relay bob....

Napa fog lamp relay...

or this one...with the connector

blower motor relay...

and this connector....

 

Yes

Some people want the aux lights to come on with the high beams only, others don't.

If you tap 86 to a solid brown wire (parking/exterior light circuit), your aux lights can work with parking lights and low and high beams.


Either relay should be OK and the socket looks like it would work too. To be safe, check the max current rating for the relay you choose and be sure that it exceeds the total current that the aux lights will draw.

Make sure that you use adequately sized wire for the current and protect it with appropriate fuses.

 

thanks bob......you have been a huge help!

 

also bob, the lights i am going to be hooking up to the switch are the projectors in my projection headlights....would a 30 amp relay and fuse be ok you think?

 

You will need to check that with the instructions or manufacturer. If the spec is in watts, just divide the total watts by 12 to get amps.

Also, find out if that particular type of lamp has an initial startup current that is way higher than the steady state current. If so, you might have to allow for that to keep from melting fuses on startup. Don't know anything about projectors myself.

When figuring the final maximum current capacity of the relay, don't forget to multiply the individual lamp current by the number of lamps.

 

both lights run on 9.2 amps..which is 4.6 amps per light.... since they have 55 watt bulbs in each light i divided 55 by 12 and multiplied by 2 to get 9.2 amps......so should i figure a 10 or 15 amp fuse? is a 30 amp relay that i put the link to it above too big or will it be ok?

 

Any relay will be fine whether it is 20, 30 or 40A.

I wouldn't use a 10A fuse with a pair of lights that draw 9.2 @ 12v. Remember that the system voltage can rise to nearly 14 volts when charging. That means the current could reach (14/12) x 9.2 or about 10 1/2 amps. Better to up the fuse size to 15A and choose wire that will support 15 amps or higher.

 

sweet......thanks for the help again...if i think of anything else i will ask....

 

oooo yea another question......

if i want to change my factory fogs to work with the park lights, would i need 2 relays and just rewire the factory's to work like the acessory lights?

 

From the factory, the 97 F/L Relay is triggered by tapping the low beam circuit (red/black wire). You would need to move it to the parking light circuit (solid Brown wire) to make the fogs work with parking lights, low beams and high beams.

 

so on the fog light switch the red/black wire just cut it and move it to the brown wire behind the headlight switch? did i understand you correctly? or do i have to find the relay and change it from there?

 

Actually, what you need to do is disconnect the dark green/light green foglamp power from the red/black and tap it to the parking light power wire.


Here's what I would try:

Disconnect and isolate the negative battery cable.

Cut the DG/LG foglamp power wire near the back of the dash fuse panel. This disconnects it from the low beam headlamp power on the red/black coming into the panel.

Insulate the short cut end of the DG/LG coming from the fuse panel to prevent it from grounding or contacting other terminals.

Route the harness end of the DG/LG to the headlight switch which is just a couple of inches from the fuse panel.

Tap that end of the DG/LG to the parking light power wire at the headlamp switch. There are two color code possibilities for the parking light wire at the H/L switch on a 97. If the truck has antitheft, the parking light wire will be white/black. If the truck does not have antitheft, the parking light wire will be solid brown.

 

thanks........mine has anti theft so i need to look for a white/black wire.........i shouldn't have anymore questions.....geeze bob i think you are a robot that knows everything!

 

everything worked except the dash light in the switch....is it just a bad switch?