Help : 4th gen USDM Fog Lights - Honda Prelude Forum

E_Luder · 03-15-2005, 01:21 PM

I'm tossing around the idea of getting the fourth gen USDM fogs. I was wondering how much trouble it would be to install and with the help of the 4th gen faq it doesn't look too bad. My question is this... I can get the lights but then I would need the switch which is $30, the sub harness and the relay. Can someone get me Honda part numbers for these please.
As well for those who have already done this mod how is it? Big pain in the ass?

Thanks

Lucke · 03-15-2005, 01:26 PM

you shouldn't need the sub-harness, most of us didn't need it.

so the only thingsyou'll need are the relay and switch.

the install isn't hard at all if you're the slightest bit mechanically inclined.

UWNTSUM · 03-15-2005, 03:39 PM

you don't really need the switch or subharness, it would make things alot easier like "plug and play". The fogs are simple to install. All 4th gen preludes are pre-wired for the fog lights. The main thing you will need to do is pull the entire bumper off w/out braking anything, then cutting off the lil flaps where the fogs are supposed to go, screw the fogs into the preset locations with some tapping screws put ur bumper back on plug everything back up including the fogs. Then wire up a relay and either do the paperclip trick or hard wire the fogs to come on whenever the headlights are on. Trick is, with getting a switch for your car, is finding the correct switch. 92/93 have the fog switch on the driver side tweeter cover. 94-96 have the switch on the center console.

red92si · 03-15-2005, 03:48 PM

The subharness is useless besides aesthetics (if you like gazing under your dash and seeing the subharness screwed in its precise location). The relay will plug directly into the connector that you would normally connect the subharness to, so the subharness is more a vestigial piece of equipment.

Installation requires the removal of your front bumper, and cutting out holes in the bumper to accomodate the new lights. Its not that difficult to do.

E_Luder · 03-15-2005, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Then wire up a relay and either do the paperclip trick or hard wire the fogs to come on whenever the headlights are on

Can anyone point me to a resource that explains the above or explain it in this post. I haven't started thinking about how I would like them connected but I would like to know all my options.

Thanks for all the good information guy!

petern101 · 03-15-2005, 04:20 PM

about how much does this cost............i know jdm ones are freaking expensive but i would not mind having some fog lights if its kinda easy to do and the right price

red92si · 03-15-2005, 04:23 PM

USDM and JDM doesnt make a difference. People will say "the JDM ones are yellow lenses", but in fact both clear and yellow lenses were available in Japan (depending on model year).

I say the median price for a set of fogs is ~$100-150. If you dont get the switch with your lights, it will probably cost another anywhere up to $20. The relay is expensive from Honda (~$30 IIRC), so try and find one from a junkyard (I got mine for $1). You can save and do the paperclip trick so you wouldnt need a switch.

UWNTSUM · 03-15-2005, 04:36 PM

what year is ur lude? i can tell u how to do it from there...

E_Luder · 03-15-2005, 06:52 PM

95 Sr-V

UWNTSUM · 03-15-2005, 09:25 PM

ok.. so the paper clip trick won't work for you... anyhow... that's fine... the harness where u plug the subharness/relay too.. u will need to locate that. Check the FAQ section, there is a link to a step by step guide on where it is.. its under the steering column and is blue taped onto one of the main harness. From there... u will need 2 short pieces of wire... i'd say about 2inches long... 3 t-tap connectors and 3 spade connectors to plug into the t-taps. From there locate the 2 red/yellow wires that go into one pin connector on the harness. Use the t-taps and tap one into each of the red/yellow wires. from there locate the green/red wire, t-tap into that wire. now take the 2 short wires u have, choose one end of each of them and crimp the spade connector on one end of each wire. then take the other 2 ends of the wires, twist them together and get the last spade connector and crimp it, so it will make a y connector. From there, take the Y connector u just made, connect the single side to the green/red wire and then connect to 2 red/yellow up. Tuck all the stuff back under the steering column and put ur panels back on. This will turn the fogs on everytime ur headlights are on. Since u have no switch, the fogs will always turn on with ur headlights... Yes i know its ghetto, but it works, i've done it on several cars with no problems what so ever. Its similar to the paper clip trick that you can do on the 92/93 models.

Remember, above is the "other" way of turning it on w/out a switch.

aneurysm · 03-15-2005, 11:21 PM

I bought a whole kit that came with EVERYTHING, lights, housings, switch, and relay for $250 from honda.
Install requires that you take off the front bumper.....pretty easy. Wiring is super-simple if you get the Honda stuff- plug and play, literally.

brad

E_Luder · 03-17-2005, 07:38 AM

If I were to hook them in to turn on wiht the lights couldn't I just hook them into the lights up front. I haven't looked at this yet, just an idea. I am wondering though if the high beams would have an effect on this. I'll have to take a look when I get home.

E_Luder · 03-20-2005, 12:52 PM

Ok so I took a look at how my 1 pieces are setup and I can hook up the fogs to the lights. The question is will this burn the harness? I'll be running the night driving lights and the fog lights off the same wire on each side.

Will that work?....

UWNTSUM · 03-20-2005, 01:11 PM

I would not suggest this at all... last thing you want is to fry your headlight wiring harness.

E_Luder · 03-20-2005, 04:13 PM

Are you saying that it will burn out the harness? I'm not that big on electrical so personally I am not sure without doing the research first. If your sure it will can you offer an explanation why. Please don't take this as me being a smart ass.... I would just like to understand why.

Thanks for the help.

UWNTSUM · 03-20-2005, 08:16 PM

Look i'm not super duper technical too nor am i a expert electrcian

I'll put it this way.... the headlight wiring harness if u ever taken the time to look at it, is like super thin wire... its like the same as the corner/signal light harness... So if you were to say tap the fogs to the headlight or corner light harness it could burn out ur wireharness. I'm not saying 100% it will if u do, but there is a big chance that something like that could happen. When some people do the JDM 1pc headlights on the car, some even go and buy a new wire harness simply since the factory one is so thin.

Another thing to think about is, if say there was a short, and ur fogs were to connected to the corner lights/headlight harness what is inbetween to stop it from burning it up? All 4th gen preludes are pre-wired for OEM fogs... just use it... that's what its there for... why try to make things harder on urself when there's already a connector to plug the fogs directly into? I've already given u a step by step way how to make them turn on w/out a relay. And don't worry about asking questions, that's fine... that's y people go on this fourm, to help one another out... I was once in ur shoes way back when...

aneurysm · 03-20-2005, 09:13 PM

he's right....you DO NOT want to wire your fog lights off the same circuit on the same wires. Headlight and foglight bulbs draw a significant amount of current (enough to drain your battery within about 1 hour if you leave all 4 on). The reason why it becomes a fire hazard is because your headlight wiring (as well as the relays and switches) are designed to be compatible only for the one set of bulbs. If you try to run more current with an extra set of bulbs it will heat up the wire conductor, and eventually melt the insulation.

Ummm.....I think its already been mentioned, but 4th Gen Preludes are PREWIRED for fog lights. If you purchase the Honda fog light accessory kit it comes with the switch and relay...its all plug and play. No wiring necessary at all.
Even if you don't use the Honda kit, it would still be possible to use the existing wires and just install your own relay. The relay socket is directly below the stearing column under the dash. Its a brown 4-pin harness that is taped to another wire harness from the factory.
The switch socket is inside the center console, taped to the power mirror/hazard switch harnesses.

Brad

E_Luder · 03-21-2005, 06:17 AM

Thanks guys for the explanation. I did take a look at the harness last night and as was mentioned the wiring is quite thin. I don't have the relay or switch and it really doesn't bother me as I am comfortable with the headlights activating the fogs.

Again thanks for the extra info.

Peace!

ExodusFX · 03-21-2005, 11:55 PM

Seriously, you don't need the honda relay or switch. I bought a cheap relay from Pep-Boys and it plugged directly to the prewired harness. I suggest you do the same.

E_Luder · 03-22-2005, 04:23 AM

What part # was the relay?