Help with Front Fog Lights/Corner Lights
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 58
From: Jacksonville, FL
Help with Front Fog Lights/Corner Lights
Since owning my 99 I30 the fogs have never worked. I have been reading and trying different things to get them going with no luck and no idea what the issue is. When I got the car all the corner lights and fogs were full of old nasty water which is the only thing that I believe could have caused it. Looks like the previous owner just didnt give a crap. Anyway I have since drained and replaced the corners which are working now even though they still take on a little water. I also got new housings and bulbs for the fogs. I had one of them on for about 5 mins once but couldnt get either one back on since. Tried different fuses, no change, tried swapping hardware and bulbs back and forth, still nothing.Not sure why these things are so difficult but I was thinking of maybe re wiring them directly to the battery somehow and installing my own switch inside the car? Any ideas?
Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 235
I happen to look into the fog light for my max 97 too:
So far I figure out fog circuit as follow:
relay & pins: (4 pin total)
3 ---/ ----5 : load circuit (fog light)
1 ---oo---2 : switch circuit (stalk)
where:
3-5 is the load circuit for fog light
1-2 is switch circuit
if you stand in front of the car, look down on the relay device, it looks like a cross + with the extended east pin
pin assignment is 3-5-2-1 in East-West-North-South order, or Right-Left-Head-Foot order.
Load circuit is going from 3 to 5. 3 is always energized at 12v.
Switch circuit is North-South, going from 2 to 1. 2 is energized when low beam is on. 1 is not grounded, only when fog light switch is switched on on the stalk.
diagram:
To independently turn on fog lights without low beam, theoretically, you just need to jump pin 2 and 3 on the relay.
IMPORTANT:
This is what I think it works. I am noob. You should re-validate and check if it is applicable and would cause no damage to your car since I am not liable for the damage.
So far I figure out fog circuit as follow:
relay & pins: (4 pin total)
3 ---/ ----5 : load circuit (fog light)
1 ---oo---2 : switch circuit (stalk)
where:
3-5 is the load circuit for fog light
1-2 is switch circuit
if you stand in front of the car, look down on the relay device, it looks like a cross + with the extended east pin
pin assignment is 3-5-2-1 in East-West-North-South order, or Right-Left-Head-Foot order.
Load circuit is going from 3 to 5. 3 is always energized at 12v.
Switch circuit is North-South, going from 2 to 1. 2 is energized when low beam is on. 1 is not grounded, only when fog light switch is switched on on the stalk.
diagram:
Code:
Low Beam switch
|-------/ --------- to battery +
2
|--- 5 3 -------------- to battery +
| 1
| |--------/ -------- to battery -/ground
| Fog Lt Switch
|
| ---------------O ----------- to battery -/ground
|------| Fog Lights
---------------O ----------- to battery -/ground
IMPORTANT:
This is what I think it works. I am noob. You should re-validate and check if it is applicable and would cause no damage to your car since I am not liable for the damage.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 58
From: Jacksonville, FL
good info dude. Ill look into it. as far as splicing into the corner lights its a good idea but wouldnt work I think. The corners on the I30 only turn on with the turn signals turned on. I was hoping to maybe go in line with the head lights? I dont see why it wouldnt work if I just spliced into the power line going to the headlights?
Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 235
I would NOT splice into the power of the headlights. You will overload the headlight circuit. You will burn your circuit.
But I think it is safe to tap corner light load sinal as a switching signal.
So assume your corner light load circuit as below, you can tap 12V signal
to pin 2 of the fog relay:
You can reuse existing fog load circuit, or you may separate relay + relay base and wire to use new fog circuit easily.
Code:
Assume you do wire as below (Note: do not use this - too risky) ,
2 headlights
+---- O ------+
12V + ---fuse--| |------- Ground
+---- O ------+
fog lights
with
fuse : 15Amp
power: 12V
This is 15A * 12V = 180 Watts Load circuit.
Your max/I30 headlight uses 9004 type bulbs with rating at 65w/45w
(hi/lo beam), and H3 fog light bulbs with ratings of 55W.
So at night with lowbeam+fog, it consumes 45x2 + 55x2 = 200W.
This will toast your fuse. If you bump your fuse to 20A to make 240W
(20*12) circuit, the wirings may get hot and its life will be shorten.
I don't know ratings of fuse and wirings of the corner light load circuit
to suggest yes/no as the above.
So assume your corner light load circuit as below, you can tap 12V signal
to pin 2 of the fog relay:
Code:
+---- O ---------- GRND
12V ---| corner lights
+---- O ---------- GRND
|
|
|
2
----- 5 3 ----- 12V
| 1 ------------------ GRND
|
|------ O ---- GRND
| fog lights
|------ O ---- GRND
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 58
From: Jacksonville, FL
ok so basically my plan to wire my own interior fog light switch would work in your opinion as long as I get the power from the corner lights rather than the head lights themselves. Makes sense I guess and wouldnt require much additional wire. Ill give it a go this weekend.
This is noob power at its best! This thing cracks me up cuz I can wire amps, speakers and DVD in cars with one hand behind my back but these fogs have been an absolute PITA to crack!
This is noob power at its best! This thing cracks me up cuz I can wire amps, speakers and DVD in cars with one hand behind my back but these fogs have been an absolute PITA to crack!
Last edited by marcyprojects; Jul 23, 2012 at 11:02 PM.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 58
From: Jacksonville, FL
Indeed, your everyday best buy type stuff is childs play. I'm talking about the cars I have worked on for car shows and competition. I guess I need to clarify my level of expertise...
I am trying to get these lights going without having to fab up some intricate setup as I have done in the past. my 99 is my DD, so im not looking for anything crazy.
I am trying to get these lights going without having to fab up some intricate setup as I have done in the past. my 99 is my DD, so im not looking for anything crazy.
Newbie - Just Registered
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 7
From: Glassboro, NJ
Klembo (NEWBIE)
[quote=marcyprojects;8547731]Since owning my 99 I30 the fogs have never worked. I have been reading and trying different things to get them going with no luck and no idea what the issue is. When I got the car all the corner lights and fogs were full of old nasty water which is the only thing that I believe could have caused it. Looks like the previous owner just didnt give a crap. Anyway I have since drained and replaced the corners which are working now even though they still take on a little water. I also got new housings and bulbs for the fogs. I had one of them on for about 5 mins once but couldnt get either one back on since. Tried different fuses, no change, tried swapping hardware and bulbs back and forth, still nothing.Not sure why these things are so difficult but I was thinking of maybe re wiring them directly to the battery somehow and installing my own switch inside the car? Any ideas?
ME TOO. Same problem. 1999 Maxima, can hear the relay clicking when I use the switch, but no power to the bulbs. There used to be power to ONE of the lights, and it worked, but ever since I replaced the other burned out bulb, now NEITHER of the lights work. AAARRRRRRGGGGGGGG!
ME TOO. Same problem. 1999 Maxima, can hear the relay clicking when I use the switch, but no power to the bulbs. There used to be power to ONE of the lights, and it worked, but ever since I replaced the other burned out bulb, now NEITHER of the lights work. AAARRRRRRGGGGGGGG!
Indeed, your everyday best buy type stuff is childs play. I'm talking about the cars I have worked on for car shows and competition. I guess I need to clarify my level of expertise...
I am trying to get these lights going without having to fab up some intricate setup as I have done in the past. my 99 is my DD, so im not looking for anything crazy.
I am trying to get these lights going without having to fab up some intricate setup as I have done in the past. my 99 is my DD, so im not looking for anything crazy.
[quote=klembo;8556401]
youre sure the wiring is hooked up correctly right? white to bulb and black to the lil terminal.
Since owning my 99 I30 the fogs have never worked. I have been reading and trying different things to get them going with no luck and no idea what the issue is. When I got the car all the corner lights and fogs were full of old nasty water which is the only thing that I believe could have caused it. Looks like the previous owner just didnt give a crap. Anyway I have since drained and replaced the corners which are working now even though they still take on a little water. I also got new housings and bulbs for the fogs. I had one of them on for about 5 mins once but couldnt get either one back on since. Tried different fuses, no change, tried swapping hardware and bulbs back and forth, still nothing.Not sure why these things are so difficult but I was thinking of maybe re wiring them directly to the battery somehow and installing my own switch inside the car? Any ideas?
ME TOO. Same problem. 1999 Maxima, can hear the relay clicking when I use the switch, but no power to the bulbs. There used to be power to ONE of the lights, and it worked, but ever since I replaced the other burned out bulb, now NEITHER of the lights work. AAARRRRRRGGGGGGGG!
ME TOO. Same problem. 1999 Maxima, can hear the relay clicking when I use the switch, but no power to the bulbs. There used to be power to ONE of the lights, and it worked, but ever since I replaced the other burned out bulb, now NEITHER of the lights work. AAARRRRRRGGGGGGGG!
Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 235
can hear the relay clicking when I use the switch, but no power to the bulbs.
a. fuse is blown, or
b. discontinuity somewhere in the load circuit
|---5-3-----12v
|
fuse
|
|------ 0 ------ GND
|------ 0 ------ GND
Use a volt meter check these places for voltage.
1. check pin 3 for 12v.
2. check pin 5 for 12v.
3. check both side of fuse for 12v
4. check red terminals at both fog connectors.
no voltage indicates fault segment from last good place.
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