XJJeff

My Jeep didn't come with fog lights from the factory. I want to know If I can buy the fog light switch and wire my own aftermarket lights to it so It has a nice finish inside and not a random switch under the steering wheel. Basically can I just go to Walmart get 10 gauge wire run it back into my new lights or is the fog light switch plug and play only.

This right here. If anyone has done an aftermarket switch that will fit in the fog light spot let me know thanks.

alsxj

I'm not sure about the newer xjs but my 90 xj as well didn't come with fog lights and when I got it one of the previous owners had installed some cheapo wal mart lights and it had a big red switch that I found ugly. So I went down to the local boneyard and got the factory switch and trim around it and installed it all without a problem and now looks nice clean inside as well gives it the factory look.

XJJeff

OK so you can run a factory switch with your own wiring thanks.

TheDriver

I don't know offhand what the power rating of the switch is, but it is sure to be a good idea to use a relay in the circuit. HTH

XJJeff

I was going to run a fusible link straight from the battery if that what you mean, I wasn't going to connect it to a fusebox or anything. I want the fog lights to stay on with my high beams. The fog switch is going to be aftermarket but look factory.

Destination XJ

I have the factory switch in mine, and it works fine with 55w lights.

TheDriver

I've checked the factory-fit setup, and it uses a relay which suggests the switch is only suitable for a low-current.

You could take a fused feed from the battery to the power contact on a relay, and on to the lights. The relay switching contact would be supplied from the switch, which in turn would take power from the main-beam circuit if you want them to auto-off when you dip the headlights - although why you would use fogs on high-beam is questionable!

XJJeff

Have you ever herd the term its just not bright enough if ever thought about getting a roof rack don't its like a disease. It all starts with back up lights. Also what you just said I would have to splice into the headlights more work if I left them alone I get a second free switch Ill stick with that then let the lights turn off and on by me. Plus I could mess up then I am screwed.

XJJeff

Ok thanks for your help now that I know I can run a fusible link to an aftermarket switch sorta its made to be a fog light switch replacement. Anyway being able to run is nice, make the Jeep look factory.

TheDriver

OK, there seem to be a few misunderstandings here which I'll clarify as it might help someone:

1. From your previous post :
I gathered you were intending to retrofit the standard XJ fogs, which have a wide, short-range beam pattern and don't help long-distance visability.

If you're fitting spot/driving lamps it's obviously a different matter.


2. I - it seems erroneously - inferred from this:
that you wanted them to go off when you weren't on hi-beam


3. In the UK to be road legal additional lights are subject to the construction and use regulations, which state that:
a). lights used in fog (which must be sited within certain locations, such as standard XJ fog lights) can only operate when parking (aka riding/side) lights are on.
b). other additional lights can only be used with hi-beam, and be wired to prevent use in other conditions - eg dip/park/off.

(I don't know if this differs on your side of the pond, but it would be worth checking. Obviously if a vehicle is only used off-road it doesn't apply. Also, don't take this as definitive or comprehensive guidance to the law as this can vary over time and location and has other criteria.)

Either of these requirements can only be met by using a suitably connected relay - unless you take the power direct from the relevant lighting circuit, which is inadvisable as all the switches would then be overloaded and likely to suffer premature failure


That does go on a bit, but someone may find it worthwhile.

What's this about roof racks and backup lights?!?

87xj Pioneer

I have 2 6" KC 110w daylighters running off my FACTORY fog light switch, no fog lights though (PO REMOVED) WIRED EM DIRECTLY TO THE SWITCH!!!! been like that bout 6 months now n I run down the road with em at night in place of brights.......illegal in the state of OR but I turn em off as courtesy to oncoming traffic!!!

XJJeff

These fogs are more for personal use not me to drive on the highway but thanks for all your help.

Apostle2

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.


This is the correct way you should wire any accessory lights, wether it be fog lights or driving lights or what ever. USE A RELAY!!! Using the wiring diagram above you can use the factory switch for any lights (<40A). With SW1 closed, the lights will turn on when you turn the high beams on and turn off when you turn the high beams off. If you don't want the lights to turn on at all, just open SW1. If you allways want the lights to turn on with the high beams, you can eliminate SW1, but I wouldn't recomend it because some state laws don't allow it.

I would mount the relay under the hood somewhere, high on the firewall or fender well. This eliminates runing the high current wires for the lights through the firewall for safey reasons. The relay is a common automotive SPDT 30A/40A relay that can be purchased from any auto parts store or even Walmart. See image below:



Diode D1 is a current shunt diode which prevents current from back flowing through the coil of the relay when power is removed, this prevents the lights from turning on (flash back on temporarily) when the lights are turned off. Some relays have this shunt diode built in, if it does, it should say so on the package the relay comes in.

And don't forget the fuses!

Hopefully this sheds some light.

Dave

bmrrwolfe

Hopefully not jacking this too much, but on the same topic, I have a factory fog light switch in my 99, but have an aftermarket with lights on it from the PO. The lights work but his wiring was sketchy so I took it all out, and tried to just wire them into the factory plugs for the fogs up under each side of the bumpers, but they won't turn on off it... I can't even get the fog light switch to light up, and yes its plugged in from the back, and I tried to swap the relay for the factory fogs in the elect. box under the hood with no luck.
Any ideas?

Gorillaxj

check fuses yet? if the switch inst lighting up then the power inst to the switch, and the relay wont be powered to turn the lights on.

I have a 2000 cherokee, do not have factory fogs. but the wiring is there. so get the factory trim (have to have it or drop the wiper/defrost) and switch. plug it into the factory harness. install a relay in the factory location and a fuse. then tap into the factory connector tied up under the headlights behind the bumper.

no need to wire, or make your own circuit. its already there. at least it is on mine.