DDM hid kit with factory fog wiring

[GX4SEVEND]

Yeah it's got like 4 different "slots" I guess would be the best way to describe it.

 

[FlipStyle54]

Just go to the autoparts store and ask for a relay for the foglights for a 2000 4runner and stick it in there and you should be good to go

 

[GX4SEVEND]

Ok that will be my next stop. Then I've gotta buy a few washers to hold the bulbs in.

 

[GottaBeTRD]

^^ man your experience totally demotivated me to do this lol. I might just try out some of those LED's they sell. I cant wait to see some pics though. Maybe i'll change my mind... again haha

 

[FlipStyle54]

^^ man your experience totally demotivated me to do this lol. I might just try out some of those LED's they sell. I cant wait to see some pics though. Maybe i'll change my mind... again haha

It's annoying til you figure the first one out but the second one is cake.

 

[Yoter]

I too was sure I was going to do this but your trouble here and the information provided by "Markus" in this thread on "hidplanet" have made me reconsider the poster of this information claims to have worked for Hella on the development of the micro de's:

"Using fog lights in good weather at speeds over approx 20 mph is an exercise in futility. Sure you'll light up the road immediately in front of the car but that light does you no good. Some people use fog lights as "fill in" lighting. They fill in the area between the front of the car and the low beams. Again this is an exercise in futility in normal driving. It gives people a false sense of comfort. Some people claim to use fog lights to avoid hitting things that might jump out from the side of the road. Again this is nonsense. At speeds over approx 20 mph you won't be able to brake in time for any object that is illuminated solely by fog lights.

In summary, then, if you want good night vision then you need to avoid lights such as the ones shown in that photo. And you always want to leave fog lights off in good weather. Using fogs in good weather hurts your vision. Many will claim this is not true but proper objective testing has proved them wrong. Quite honestly there has been no car sold in the past 10-15 years that will benefit from the use of fog lights in good weather.

There's a good piece on fog lights here: http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...fog_lamps.html

Then there's the issue of HID light sources for fog lights. HID light sources tend to have a lot of blue light in their SPD and this blue light is detrimental in wet weather. Even the so-called 3000K HID has a lot of blue. This blue reflects back into your eyes from rain/fog/snow and the human eye deals poorly with bluish light. It's very hard for the eye to focus on objects illuminated with blue light. Blue light tends to scatter within the eye which makes it hard for the eye to properly use the more yellow components of light. For fog lights you really want to avoid HID light sources. If I had to choose between the halogen Micro DE and the HID Micro DE for use in inclement weather I'd leave the HID version on the shelf."

 

[GX4SEVEND]

Sorry to be Debbie downer guys but that link makes it look a lot easier than it is. If you've never done any wiring before, read that thing like 10 times. Plus, he says to save the aluminum plate for later because you reuse it, yet it never shows it again even assembled.

The annoyance factor gets to me easily with things I don't understand how to do. I'm a visual person and the parts I got stuck on aren't pictured and barely mentioned.

Plus if you mess up the wiring, you're now cutting into the hid kit and factory wires. It's just a lot of work for this mod, at least I think so. Especially for the amount of money this costs.

Hella micro de kit for Toyota 4runner $165
DDM hid kit $40
Head light stalk from Toyota $90
Random tools I didn't have and relay and connectors $35

I mean I'm over $300 for hid fogs. I'm really hoping the end result is awesome and totally worth it.

 

[Yoter]

I'm sure they will be awesome, I cant wait to see pics once you get them fired up.
I'm betting the first time your driving and see your reflection driving down the road you will be stoked!

 

[FlipStyle54]

Here are the only two pics i have so far from Fridays install. I have not aimed them down yet before i took the picture so there is a lot of glare plus I'm standing on a slight decline

 

[GottaBeTRD]

wow that looks like a lot of usable light. those HID fogs do pretty good!

 

[GX4SEVEND]

Ok so I'm almost completely done, just need to zip tie the ballast and wiring down. No pics yet because I had to put the little one to sleep.

Here is what I learned......

1) read directions a few times and look at multiple threads to have an idea of what you're getting yourself into.
2) the link posted from hid planet or where ever isn't the most exact so I will tell you what should be changed.


A. There is absolutely no need to remove the aluminum looking plate and use washers to secure the bulb. You still need to remove it to fit the buld, but do not use washers in lieu of it.
B. Before stripping the connectors off, which isn't easy the first time, disassemble the hella light to take that plate off that holds in the bulb.
C. Once you've stripped the connectors off, slide that aluminum plate on there before you put the wires through the rubber backing. This allows you to secure the light with that instead of random washers.
D. There are literally only 3 screws that hold these things in. The kit didn't come with anything, but two of the three are already attached to the body.
E. The third screw I just went to Walmart and bought two screws, nuts and washers.
F. The bolts listed in one of the threads linked, I believe they are M3 .50 20mm are worthless unless you had the fogs from the factory. I wasted my time trying to find these and my money. You can't use them.
G. Have a lot of patience and some time set aside because it's kind of tedious work.


I will take some pictures of the output tomorrow. I only took a picture of the back plate to show for reference. The pics in the hid planet one are sufficient, I just think some things are left out.

 

[FlipStyle54]

Congrats. Can you take a picture of where you're mounting the ballast. I'm still trying to find a permanent spot. There is plenty of room on one side but where i was going to mount the other one, that space is already taken. At least you don't have a headache anymore and hopefully my comments helped a little bit instead of confusing you more.

 

[GX4SEVEND]

No problem. I'm planning on just mounting the ballast to the fog light mounting bracket. The power wire that goes from the ballast to the factory plug is plenty long but the connection to the light s itself is not so there aren't many options.

 

[FlipStyle54]

Any update?

 

[GX4SEVEND]

Well they're in haha. Had to remount the passenger side ballast. I heard a metal on metal rattling sound and figured it was the ballast. Well I was wrong. But at least it's down tight now. I will snap a few pics tomorrow of the out put for you guys.

 

[FlipStyle54]

I've heard a metal on metal banging too. I did a couple things at the same time so I can't trace it.

 

[BillIam]

Well they're in haha. Had to remount the passenger side ballast. I heard a metal on metal rattling sound and figured it was the ballast. Well I was wrong. But at least it's down tight now. I will snap a few pics tomorrow of the out put for you guys.

any updates? are the factory 4runner fogs hella DE's? I was reading the one link to hidplanet and a member who claims to have worked for hella was strongly against putting hid's in the fogs because he claimed it would project to much light to close hurting distance vision. i would deffinitly like to put some thing better than stock in my own vehicle as i am visually impaired hahah. some pictures would be awesome!

 

[FlipStyle54]

I can get you whatever kind of pics you need [MENTION=68961]BillIam[/MENTION] I don't think the factory fogs are Hella Micro De's though. The housing on the Hellas are alot longer than the stock fogs

 

[Ed_C]

any updates? are the factory 4runner fogs hella DE's? I was reading the one link to hidplanet and a member who claims to have worked for hella was strongly against putting hid's in the fogs because he claimed it would project to much light to close hurting distance vision. i would deffinitly like to put some thing better than stock in my own vehicle as i am visually impaired hahah. some pictures would be awesome!

I can get you whatever kind of pics you need [MENTION=68961]BillIam[/MENTION] I don't think the factory fogs are Hella Micro De's though. The housing on the Hellas are alot longer than the stock fogs

FlipStyle54 is right,the factory fogs are not made by Hella. Koito Japan makes the OEM ones and are a different design. Bulbs are installed from the back (which is why Hellas are longer) instead of bottom and mounting brackets are so different that they're not interchangeable. The only things they share are bulb type and electrical connector (if you have the 4Runner-specific MicroDE kit)