Another Driving light Question

[Pritchard]

I would like to add driving lights to replace the fogs. I have rectangular Hellas with H3 bulbs in them. One problem I have is that my fog light switch (factory switch) sometimes works and sometimes doesn't.

Anyway, to my question. I have located a wire just behind the left headlight bucket that will go hot when the lights are turned on. It stays hot with both the high and low beams. Can I tap into this wire to run (H3-55W) driving lights? This way, the driving lights would stay on with either the high or low beams. I'm not too knowledgable when it comes to automotive electronics and would appreciate y'alls' input.

I've tried this already and it works, but I don't want to leave it this way if I'm going to melt something.

Another question. The amperage of the fuses?
blue = ? amps
red = ? amps
white = ? amps

Thanks in advance for the help

David Pritchard
'74 2.0

[pbanders]

please ignore

[This message has been edited by pbanders (edited 04-20-2001).]

[HMeeder]

Brad is right. You will want to be very careful tapping into the headlight circuit. That circuit is already very loaded with the current for the headlights, adding 55w lights may cause some broblems that you just don't want to deal with.

Definitely try replacing the relay and see if that does any good. The relay is on the back of the fuse block. On many cars, it is the center one, though I have heard the far left one mentioned. The relay will have a white and red wire and a white and blue wire running to it in addition to the fat red ones. To test it, replace it with a relay you know to be working well (there are three or four on the relay board in the engine compartment. Even easier to get at would be one of the ones that run the headlight motors up front.)

Also, to wire the lights to run whenever you want, pull the black and blue wire from the back of the light switch and patch a new one from that same post to one of the extra tabs on the input side of fuse 8 or 9 (these are switched with the ignition.) Then ground the white and blue wire (cut it real close to where it joins fuse #1 and ground it to the main fuse block ground up to the left of the fuse block.)

If my description is confusing, there is a diagram in the link Dave Darling posted to Farleyd's post from about a week ago. It is very clear to see how it is supposed to go from the diagram.


Motor On!

------------------
Herb
'72 1.7 Tangerine 'Teen
'74 2.0 Red Rustmobile

[This message has been edited by HMeeder (edited 02-07-2001).]

[Pritchard]

Thanks guys. I will most definately check the fog light relay. I would definately be more comfortable using a circuit that already exists and is rated for the load that will be put on it. I am replacing the fog lights with driving lights. I guess I should have been more clear on that. Thanks again!

David Pritchard

[pbanders]

please ignore

[This message has been edited by pbanders (edited 04-20-2001).]

[HMeeder]

I just re-read my post and realized that I confused the wire colors in my description. I too have updated the post and corrected what I wrote. I hope you haven't done any cutting yet. (between us all we might melt your car to the ground.(

BTW the link to that diagram is
http://members.rennlist.com/gman/porsche.html

Good luck!

------------------
Herb
'72 1.7 Tangerine 'Teen
'74 2.0 Red Rustmobile

[Pritchard]

Not to worry. I haven't cut anything yet that can't be soldered back together. Any suggestions on how to lay under the dash and not drip solder in your eyes?

Just kidding. I am trapped at work for another hour or so. I hope the relay is bad for the fog lights. I can handle plugging in a relay a lot better than wiring a new circuit.

Pritchard

[pbanders]

Herb, Prichard,

Note that the diagram that Herb has the URL for applies to '72 and onward. '70 and '71 cars are wired slightly differently - the coil ground wire for the fog lamp relay is connected directly to terminal F on the combination relay, and is not connected to the base of fuses 1 and 2 as on '72 and later cars. Also note that there are TWO white/blue wires connected to the base of fuses 1 and 2 on 72' onward cars - one is for the high beam indicator lamp, the other is for the fog lamp relay ground. Make sure you cut the right one! The diagram that Herb has the URL for shows the indicator lamp wire as being on the other side of the fuse, but the wiring diagrams indicate it is on the same side. Check and make sure.

Brad Anders

[pbanders]

please ignore

[This message has been edited by pbanders (edited 04-20-2001).]

[Pritchard]

Thanks for all the technical input. My Fog Light switch problem was only the relay for that circuit. Now I can begin to rewire for the driving lights to stay on with the high beams.

Many thanks again!

Pritchard