No, I'm not asking how to install the JDM Foglights, these are the SIDE foglights that are in the same location as USDM turn signals.
Take a look at these pictures, tell me if you have any idea on where to get more information on this purchase I just made. I don't know exactly how I'm going to wire them up and haven't found anybody on PO with them yet or a writeup on them.
The basic background on these was that they came as an option in Japan so that as you turned a corner, these side lights would illuminate and show the rest of the road on the side you were turning to. It was kind of a big deal at the time I'm sure, before Lexus started the whole trend of mainstreaming "swiveling headlights." So I'm looking to find out what triggered these to turn on. I know it can't be the activation of the regular JDM driving lights (see: JDM Foglights) because I don't think you'd want both of these on going down the road. They should only come on when you're turning and therefore it makes me wonder if they had to connect into the turn signal's "signal" in any way so that if it wasn't as advanced to tell which direction you were turning, at least the activation of the turn signal would tell it which one to light up until the turn signal was turned off.
This may not be an official answer; but personally I'd use a relay off of the power steering pressure switch; with the hot coming from your fog light switch.
Wiring them up that way would make them turn on every single time he would turn. Great if he wants that, but the original function was that they would turn on with the turn signals.
the only thing i can think of at the moment is a combination of a capacitor and a relay. when the signals engage they send a pulse to the indicators, so if you just used a relay the foglight would blink with the indicator. but if you place a capacitor in between the indicator and relay, the capacitor will charge and release a steady stream of 12v (assuming you buy a 12v capacitor).
this is the simplest way i can think of, there's a way to use just relays but you'll end up having like 3 of them for one corner fog.
Thanks Shimee, do you have any brands you trust for capacitors or relays that would be a safe bet for me to check out? This sounds really great and I want to do it right the first time.
Does anybody else think that this idea will or will not work before I would buy them?
jdm cars have another harness coming from the turn signal relay. it's a negative switched relay. it'd be 10x simpler to run 2 negative switched wires from the negative wires running to the blinker/turn signal relay to 2 dioded relays running to the lights. gl.
hell i'd buy the damn things even if you can't figure out how to install them.
for some reason i'm thinking we don't have the proper function in either our ecu or fuse panel. because as a human its pretty easy to execute the function; "ooh it's blinking, ok keep this light on!" but in the electrical sense it's kind of confusing. so i'm wondering if on the JDM ecu there was a "sensor" that would turn on the foglight in the scenario i just described.
as far as capacitors, i really don't know. it was the first thing that came to my head but i actually haven't played with capacitors in an automotive setting. the only other thing i can think of is some custom wiring to the indicator throw switch on the steering column.
the honest answer is that it will take some ingenuity and effort to get these to work on a non JDM prelude without the proper wiring.
Ok... if you want either fog light to come on when your fog lights are on, and the respective blinker is on, it should be pretty simple:
Tie 2 relays that connect when you turn on either blinker, that feed GROUND.
Wire the switched ground to the ground on either fog light; and feed the + line from the fog lights to the other fog lights.
You might not need relays; but its safer to use them anyhow..
The Left/Right Constant + lines are the GRN/BLU and BLU/GRN lines that run to the TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD RELAY in the under dash fuse/relay box. You can use the BLK that runs to that same relay, as a ground for the relays.
You can pickup some cheap 10a relays at radioshack for $2 each.
oh congratz on the pickup. i didn't realize the auction ended
if you can't figure out how to do it and you wanna do it by relays, i can have my friend figure it out and give you a list of parts to get from radio shack
as an Electronics Engineer; I created a messy, ugly wiring diagram for it.
The Relays can be wire-tied below the dash, above the fuse box; as all of the wires that you will need are already there (including the fog +; but you would be better off splicing that wire at the fog lights in front of the car.)
With the relays; depending on which ones you get; you will use the Normally Open, or N/O post.
Remember, the wires coming from the relays will be ground when the respective blinkers are on.
One other note- where the wires come out of the COMBINATION LIGHT SWITCH; do NOT cut them... I know it shows them cut in the diagram... just splice into them.
Not really- The Hazard switch is seperate; and dropped after a diode. wired this way; the fogs won't come on with the hazards; only with the turn signal switch.
anyway, don't the GRN/BLU and GRN/YEL lines go straight to the turn signals? if so, wouldn't that make the corner fogs blink with the indicators?
No, the GRN/BLU and GRN/YEL lines carry +12VDC, while the respective blinker is engaged. they are the lines that come directly from the blinker switch on the left of the steering column. The "pulse" comes from the relay that their connected to.
No, the GRN/BLU and GRN/YEL lines carry +12VDC, while the respective blinker is engaged. they are the lines that come directly from the blinker switch on the left of the steering column. The "pulse" comes from the relay that their connected to.
V/r,
Mike
ahhh that's how i thought the blinker was wired. i was pretty positive the switch was wired between the relay and turn signals, hence my original idea for the solution.
so that would make this relay a dual position right? this setup suggests the relay is in between the indicators and switch, so a single position relay would cause both to blink.
regardless, i'd suggest using a chassis ground instead of the flasher relay ground. there are plenty of bolts in that area that would suffice. those lights definitely draw a good few amps. better be safe than sorry.
thanks for the tips though, i learned something myself. i'm a ChemE so i don't really care much for this kind of stuff.
I want to thank you all for your help on this matter, it has definitely opened my eyes to what I need to do. I will say though, that I had no idea until today how widespread across all the various OEM's out there that this option was. And I definitely didn't know it was older than the 5th gen was. For this reason, I put a bid up on the harness that DIZAVE619 mentioned. I really appreciate your keen eye for these small things! If I do win this, it will certainly make my job much easier.
And yes, I will post a video as soon as these items become installed and functional, you can all count on that.
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