Can I wire Rear Fog to Front Fogs w/out frying my system?

[Cooper911SC]

The switch you want to get is the same PN as the switch used for the rear window defrost.

It will be pull out for front fog lights and quarter turn clockwise for the rear fog.

You should be able to get a used switch.

Cooper

[Amochosto]

In my Swiss market 84 Carrera ROW I have to pull the headlight lever 1 detent and pull the foglight switch back to light up the front foglights and then turn the foglight switch to light up the rear foglight. If the headlight switch is in the full on or full off position neither foglight will operate. Only if it is in the parking light position. Interestingly my car does not light up the parking lights when the headlight is in the parking light position only a very dim light emanates from the headlamps.

All this nonsense drove me nuts after I bought it, when I was trying to figure out if the rear foglamp was operational or not, so I tried the owner's manual. Unfortunately it was in German, no joy.

Now to figure out the heating and vent controls. Lol.

[Canada Kev]

The reason your fogs only work in the #1 stop on your headlight switch is because the grey wire for your fogs is on terminal pin #57. It's easy to check to know for sure by just removing your headlight switch. Just pop out the centre cap from under the rubber lip, and unscrew the 10 or 11mm nut and washer, then slide the knob off. You will also have to unscrew a little plastic cap from the shaft of the headlight switch, too. It has two little dimples so you can use a pair of needle nose pliers (or scissors or or two small screwdrivers or whatever) to rotate it off. The switch will pull out from under the dash. Just don't unhook anything when you're yanking it out by accident.

That grey wire supplies power to your fog switch which. When it is turned on, it will allow that to go to your fog light relay to switch the lights on. The current is quite small. If you want your fogs to be able to work under some different circumstance other than just having the parking lights on, you can move that grey wire to a different terminal on the headlight switch.

I moved mine to pin #75 so the lights could work anytime that the car is running. When driving on the highway, I often use my fogs instead of headlights to be visible. I also use 35 watt bulbs in my fogs to use less power and not heat up the plastic fog light enclosure to the melting point. I didn't want mine on pin #57 because I would need my parking lights on for them to work, so if for some reason I forgot them on and left my car, my fogs would still be on. This way, any time my ignition is switched off, my fogs also go off regardless of the position of either my headlight or fog light switch.

Here is a diagram to show when each terminal on the switch will be hot, in all the headlight and ignition switch positions. It indicates that anything on pin #57 will get power anytime the headlight switch is the first detent, and also if the ignition switch is either on or off.

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[Canada Kev]

Originally Posted by Amochosto

In my Swiss market 84 Carrera ROW I have to pull the headlight lever 1 detent and pull the foglight switch back to light up the front foglights and then turn the foglight switch to light up the rear foglight. If the headlight switch is in the full on or full off position neither foglight will operate. Only if it is in the parking light position. Interestingly my car does not light up the parking lights when the headlight is in the parking light position only a very dim light emanates from the headlamps.

All this nonsense drove me nuts after I bought it, when I was trying to figure out if the rear foglamp was operational or not, so I tried the owner's manual. Unfortunately it was in German, no joy.

Now to figure out the heating and vent controls. Lol.

Another thing about your car's lighting that you mentioned is that the front yellow "parking" lights are not like the North American car's running lights. They are ONLY signal lights. The true parking lights are when you turn your car off, you can flip the signal lever to the left or right turn position, and the turn signal lights will turn on to warn other drivers that your car is parked there at the side of the road in the dark. As well, there is only one lens for each side where the US models have two. On yours, there is another piece of rubber trim strip to the rear of your signal lens between it and the bumper bellows. This is where the US cars have another yellow lens.


Your headlights will glow like you say when the headlight switch is in either on position because of the small 4 watt bulb that is in the bottom of the light assembly. They are commonly referred to as "city lights." Your headlights should come on normally in the second position, but the city lights will stay illuminated.

As an example, you can see in this pic of my RoW car that the headlamps appear to be glowing, but not as brightly as if the they were on, and all my signal lights are also illuminated. The only way I could get the signals to do this is by turning on the hazard flashers and snapping the shot just when they lit up. This the only time when they will light up. And the headlight glow is because of the city lights.

[Amochosto]

Thanks Canada Kev, although I have never tried any wiring before, I might just do the mod you suggested so I can leave my fogs on all the time and use them as daytime running lights, without killing the battery if I forget to turn them off. Bentley manual comming in the next week or so.

When I have the fogs on my rear running lights (not the rear foglights) turn on is this also the case for your car? I seem to recall that yours is a Swiss market car too, so I imagine the light configuration must be pretty much the same.

[Canada Kev]

Originally Posted by Amochosto

When I have the fogs on my rear running lights (not the rear foglights) turn on is this also the case for your car? I seem to recall that yours is a Swiss market car too, so I imagine the light configuration must be pretty much the same.

No, due to moving that wire on the back of the headlight switch, my fogs will work anytime the car is running. My running lights to not need to be on. If I wanted to use them as daytime running lights, I'd just leave the fog light switch pulled out and then they'd be on whenever the car is, and then they'd turn off automatically when I took the key out.

To make that wiring change, it's pretty easy. I've taken the switch out a number of times, and the hardest part (if you could call it hard...) is removing the plastic cap from the switch knob - just use a small screwdriver to pry it out. If you want any other specific info, just let me know.

EDIT: Actually, you may have the earlier style knob, so prying out the plastic cap might not be the best way. Other than the knob, the switches are operationally identical.

[Amochosto]

Thanks Kev I will look into it.

I guess the rear lights are on as a consequence of the "city lights" being on.

[Canada Kev]

Yep. Part of the running light circuit. Other than the colour of the signal lenses, the tail light function, I believe, is the same between US and RoW cars.

On yours, the first notch will turn on the city lights, tail lights and allow your fogs to work. Second notch adds the headlights.

[Tachin]

Kevin - your car looks awesome in that low light. Love the color too. Are those 17 inc wheels? Post some more pics if you have any others available. Thanks!

[Canada Kev]

Thanks. Yup, 17 inch Zuffenhaus wheels.

Here's a couple pics for ya. Always willing to share.

Kills bugs fast.
OK fine, I suppose that's not really what you had in mind...








That should keep you satisfied. Thanks again for the interest.



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[4flyboy]

Interesting question Tachin, I got a kick out of reading this old thread. The '85 is gone and I've regretted selling it since the day she left. I'm in the market for another 3.2 and plan to install that rear fog again......love this stuff. Hope that you get an answer. Scott

[pavegeno]

Taking the plunge and ordering the rear reflector with incorporated rear fog reflectors and bulbs (911-633-123-01). Will replace the current US fog light switch that pulls out to illuminate the front fogs with the two-stage switch (911-613-147-00) that controls front and back fogs by adding a twist capability. Also ordering a couple of spare 21W bulbs (900-631-127-90) and the three electrical connector parts to the reflector assembly (911-631-261-00, 944-612-548-00, and 944-612-547-00) just to make the wiring easier. My reference was the UK PET from the Porsche site.

More to follow...

[RDM]

Another cleaner, simpler, and cheaper solution that Autofarm in the UK does is to install a red LED into the right reverse light housing and wire it to the rear foglight switch.

See here for bulbs (I'm sure there's a US source) LED for light bulbs - car or van . Custom 12v LED bulbs, white or red for rear fog lamps .

This gives the function, but if it's the look you're after, never mind.

Dru

[pavegeno]

Thanks RDM...going for the stock look though...parts arrive next week...

[Jesset100]

Just installed a rear fog light I bought off a fellow Pelican years ago. I don't use the lights for the license plate so I used the left license plate light wires to light the fog light. Maybe one day I'll install a single light for the license plate or when Mcgarrett tells me to.

[pavegeno]

All my parts arrived yesterday and will install over the next two weeks...looking forward to this mod!

[4flyboy]

No, no Tachin. Reread the thread. It's your fog switch, pull to activate front fogs and rotate to activate the rear! Very cool and just the one switch albeit the European dual purpose one.

I'm revisiting this thread myself because I sold my rear fog and want another to rig on my widebody!

Scott

[pavegeno]

Here's a link (Euro Rear Fog Light) to my rear fog lamp install that is integrated into the rear reflector using the two-stage switch for my 88. Really enjoying it. With the two bright 21W bulbs, anyone who starts tailgating me gets a shot of these. They slow down real fast and back off...works every time.

[JQ911]

I just completed my rear euro bumper install over the weekend and mounted the rear fog light housing this afternoon. Hope I mounted it correctly, please refer to photo.

I have no knowledge nor experience in tinkering with the electricals of any vehicle I have, so bear with me. After reading inputs on this thread, I would mostly go the route of what javadog has recommended. My 86 US spec came with a single stage fog light switch (pull only). Hence, I would order from host the two-stage switch (pull and turn) with part number 911-613-148-00-OEM. Moreover, I don't have the mysterious wire hidden on the rear driver side like some of you have so I will run a new wire from the rear to the switch.

While I am on it, I was thinking of making the front&rear fog lights work even with city lights only. I know a few of you guys did this. How do I do this? Sorry guys newbie here with stupid questions, lol.

I love the way the car looks if city lights on head light, side marker (photo of Canada Kev) plus fog lights work simultaneously.

Thanks!

[Canada Kev]

Originally Posted by JQ911

While I am on it, I was thinking of making the front&rear fog lights work even with city lights only. I know a few of you guys did this. How do I do this? Sorry guys newbie here with stupid questions, lol.

I love the way the car looks if city lights on head light, side marker (photo of Canada Kev) plus fog lights work simultaneously.

Looks good!

The side markers (and SIGNAL lights in bumper) are only illuminated because I shot the picture with the hazards flashing and caught them while lit. Normally they only work as signal lights.

If you want the fogs to work with just the running lights, you can pull the headlight switch and move the grey fog light wire from pin 56 and move it to pin 58L or 58R. That will move the power feed to the fog relay form the headlight circuit (lights need to be on for fogs to work) to the parking/running light circuit where they will need to be on to get fogs to work.

I have mine on pin 75 so the fogs (front and rear) will operate any time the ignition is in the "on" position.