Rear Red Fog Lights

[EchoWiskey]

So I spent a good bit of time last night reading the entire thread on the back red faux-fog lenses. I'm very keen on doing this mod, but I'm not really going for a big effect. I simply want to make them into what they were supposed to be... the red rear fogs.

The long thread mentions in a couple of spots that there is vestigial wiring for this in older models. Yay, I have an '03. What I'd ideally like to have (for now) is the fog dial switch on the turn signal handle turn both the front fogs (like it does now) and the rear fog (the intended mod) on.

Currently the front fogs come on only when the headlights are on. I'm not sure how difficult it would be, but I'd kindof like them to be independent (capable of turning the fogs on using that twist switch even when the others are off - or the 'auto' sensor hasn't kicked in).

1) has anyone else done this - NOT the standard tail/trailer connect, but the connect through the pre-existing wiring harness?

2) I know some of ya'll have seen these 'extra' wiring harness pieces. Can you tell me what I'm looking for? I can't find a wiring diagram in the forum anywhere (someone said there was a pdf copy around somewhere, but I couldn't find it.)

3) Someone [Kmvreter maybe?] had found out what bulbs were used in the Jap/Surf versions where these rear fogs were functional. I can't find it a second time, though. Anybody know what the overseas (UK? Europe?) standards are for rear fog brightness? Should they match the brake light (on braking) brightness?

I know most of the folks involved in the thread did this years ago and have probably long since forgotten the details, but any leads on where to look would be appreciated.

 

[Mike07SE]

Here's a link to J.A.'s Fog Light Mod. Hopefully all of your question about being able to run them independent can be answered there.

Also, it might also be an idea to run the rear red fog lights on an independent switch for when the weather is actually foggy, raining, snow, etc. All imports with these lights have it. I know a lot of people who don't know any better think cars running with these on are people who are riding their brakes, plus IMO, they're kind of annoying to be behind on a perfectly good night if they're too bright.

 

[EchoWiskey]

Re: Re: Rear Red Fog Lights

Here's a link to J.A.'s Fog Light Mod. Hopefully all of your question about being able to run them independent can be answered there.

Also, it might also be an idea to run the rear red fog lights on an independent switch for when the weather is actually foggy, raining, snow, etc. All imports with these lights have it. I know a lot of people who don't know any better think cars running with these on are people who are riding their brakes, plus IMO, they're kind of annoying to be behind on a perfectly good night if they're too bright.

Thanks! And your suggestion about an independent switch makes a good argument. Maybe I can figure out how to do both. Put in a dash switch that 'enables' or 'disables' the rears, and then let the dial switch control the full fog on or off.

 

[Kmvreter]

So I spent a good bit of time last night reading the entire thread on the back red faux-fog lenses...

The long thread mentions in a couple of spots that there is vestigial wiring for this in older models. Yay, I have an '03. What I'd ideally like to have (for now) is the fog dial switch on the turn signal handle turn both the front fogs (like it does now) and the rear fog (the intended mod) on...

3) Someone [Kmvreter maybe?] had found out what bulbs were used in the Jap/Surf versions where these rear fogs were functional. I can't find it a second time, though. Anybody know what the overseas (UK? Europe?) standards are for rear fog brightness? Should they match the brake light (on braking) brightness?

I know most of the folks involved in the thread did this years ago and have probably long since forgotten the details, but any leads on where to look would be appreciated.

Not sure if anyone has done the mod the way you want to. Follow the linked thread about doing the independent fog light switch or there is also a thread in the DIY Mod sticky at the start of General Discussions. Putting in a selector switch like you suggest should work. Don't know if anyone actually found the unused wiring in the harness for a N.A. 4th Gen. It's not in the wiring diagram. I'm not sure what the standard bulb is for the Japan rear fogs but I used OEM parts that match the front turn signals because they fit.
Good luck and post a writeup of how you make out with this.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Also check to make sure it's legal since this isn't Europe but I don't see there being a problem.

 

[Mike07SE]

Rear fogs aren't issue here in the states. Most Euro's (Audi, BMW, M-B) here all have them.

 

[Redstone8]

Not sure how you would wire the front and rear fog to come on with the existing switch for the front fogs, but I will comment on a few other things. The European cars sold here in the US that have rear fog lights usually have a separate switch for the rear fog and the intensity is usually the same as the brake light whatever wattage the brake bulb is. Most have one rear fog usually on the same side as the steering wheel, but I have seen some with two.

I don't know how the folks from the thread you mentioned earlier did the mod, but it would be nice if you could somehow get a bulb in the dummy bumper light in the rear bumper since you have an 03. For instance UK version of the Lexus RX350 have a rear bumper light/reflector similar to the 03 - 05 4runners. This is where they put the fog on these models in countries where rear fogs are required. The US models on the other hand this same light as just a rear reflector and rear side marker/ reflector. I have an Maxima and I read somewhere on one the forums a long while ago about a guy who did a rear fog mod on his car, but he bought the rear fog kit and instead of hanging the light from the bottom of his rear bumper he modified it so it would go into one of the reverse lights cluster. All he had to do was to buy the led bulb that would fit into the socket. As for the wiring I believe he had a separate switch which can be turned on independently. I hope this info might be helpful to make this mod a success. Let us know how it turns out.

Take a look a look at this Toyota truck. This model is not sold here in the US. Notice the reverse light on the left hand side is red which indicates it's a fog. You could always go for a setup like this. You will loose one reverse light in the process though.

http://www.nihoncar.com/en/news_gallery.php?id=903&img_name=Hilux_051.jpg

here is another pic

http://www.nihoncar.com/en/news_gallery.php?id=903&img_name=Hilux_017.jpg

 

[EchoWiskey]

Thanks for the pointers. That's a pretty HiLux. I hadn't seen that 'reverse light' substitute before. I'm not sure if I'll go with one rear or two. I'll start with the driver side reflector and see how it goes. How I wire the switch is going to depend upon what it looks like when I start pulling it apart.

The guys here in the forum had put a lot of effort into modding the bumper mounted reflectors to house a bulb. The write up is a few years old, and didn't seem too difficult, however most folks were modding the lights to either be extra running-lights, brake lights, or reverses... all of which could be pigtailed off the existing corners or the trailer light harness.

The mod I'm looking to do appears to be a bit more rare, even though it was what the reflectors were originally intended to be. It was mentioned in the rather long thread that the '03 models had wiring harnesses that still had pieces in them that were meant for the Japanese/Euro models with the rear fogs. Supposedly these disappear on the later models. I haven't dug around to find them, yet.

I think the sides indicators look nice on that HiLux look pretty sweet, too. Maybe down the road I'll shoot for that as well in order to have an 'intercontinental' model