Well, I added my first new aftermarket part this weekend!:) Not much of a mod, but I LUV it. I got fog lights. They match my truck too, they have a purple haze!

I do have a question though. When we wired them in, it said not to try to integrate them with the existing wiring harness. Why? Now I have to find a place to put the new switch. (its lighted too! red when its off, green when its on).

a yes...sounds like some Piaa's. Just don't ask matt about them. :) There are several places to put them. Do you plan on adding more or not. I'm not sure about the 95's but I know on the 94 there's an extra spot by the wiper controls and the defroster. I've got one switch there. I've also got one it the center console by the floor. There's space inside for all the wires and makes for a easy access for the fuse. I've also got a switch next to the rear wiper control and defroster by the stearing wheel. That seems to be the best place to put them. There's room to expand for more light switches, but it is a tight fit insid though.

Good luck

I mounted four switches in the spot vacated by my kleenex dispenser. I took out the kleenex box, mounted a black plastic plate from the inside of the console, and put in my switches. There are about 10 more wires running under the console now, so it's a chore to put it back on whenever I take it off. However, the switches look great and are in perfect reach since I usually rest my right arm there anyway. Pics up soon.

Why don't they want me to hook them up to my parking lights or whatever....
I know they aren't supposed to be on all the time...but I just LUV them so much and they look cool! :) I would like them NOT to be wired to the battery in case I forget to turn them off. That could be bad...I want that little ding ding ding to remind me to turn off my lights! Any suggestions?

theres not a single reason why you can't. Who said that this shouldn't be done?? Ford??? In fact on my set of dreaded Hella's it comes with the wire to hook up to the hibeams. If your able to tap into the wire alone the way and that's what you want I myself can't see a single reason why you can't

It came with its own wiring harness. Relay, switch, wires to battery. And it said "Do not attempt to integrate this harness with the existing OEM wiring harness" Can't figure that one out? So we didn't just so we did not do anything detrimental.

The only thing I can think of is it might blow some fuses. Fog lights arent that powerful so I can't see it doing any damage to the switch or oem wires. Like I said...you might want to upgrade the fuses and put a fuse between the lights and the oem wires just in case but I can't see a problem. It might just be a way to get out of legal action if anything does happen by the manufacture

Sorta on the subject... ya know that blank spot on 94s? Did you know you can buy the oem fog light switch thats supposed to go there? I did! :)

nick

o ya...I had one of those kick a## fighter piolt switches there where you flip up the cover and then turn on the switch. Looked great. It's now powering my Hella lights and a cheap switch from checker is there.

leebo~ I've been looking for some of those flip top switchs you mentioned for over a year. where the hell did you get em?

high country 4x4 here in Denver sells a wide variety of switches, the "fighter pilot" type is one fo them. I don't recall what they want but I'm there occasionally so I can ask if you'd like..

The problem with wiring directly into the headlight or parking light harness is the added amperage/current that you would have going thru your factory harness. They are designed to carry a specific amount of current and that is about it. If you figure a typical foglight being 55 watts, that would mean you are drawing an additional 4+ amps per light or around 8 amps for a set. Wire will begin to heat up when the current flowing thru it increases. If you get too much current flowing, the insulation on the wires will eventually melt and cause a short, which can result in a fire.

If you want to connect it to the harness, at least use a relay to connect to your factory harness. If you do this, you will have to use another wire hooked to your battery to supply power to the lights. All the relay will do is use about .5 amps and this should not hurt your harness. By doing it this way, you will not damage your harness.

Think twice before just upgrading the fuse. If you simply replace a smaller fuse with a larger one, you are asking for trouble and again bypassing the reason for the fuse to begin with.

A possible reason why the manufacturer said not to connect it to the factory harness is in the event you get a light broke off while driving. If this happens and the wire shorts out, you have lost your lights.

there is a sure answer to your question friskey1....matt saw your post and the answer and he didn't disagree. Go for it. You do run the risk with the wires but with fog lights of that power a relay should of been used in the first install. But they're right, if you didn't use one you should use it for wiring into the oem wires.

I bought my switch at a local racing shop. The one I got was for power sources like lights and such but these would work too.
http://www.longacreracing.com/catalog/item.asp?id=448&catid=13
go and buy a switch at checker or somewhere and put these over them.


[Edited by leebo on 09-25-2000 at 08:51 PM]

Thanks, I guess maybe I will just leave it as is.

It does have its own relay, though. I asked my fiance why we couldn't plug the relay into one of the empty slots in the little black box that holds all those fuses and relays...he said it was too big and wouldn't fit in there, and the wires then wouldn't reach to the battery.

I am gonna check out those switches :) I like mine, but I can't stand the thought of missing out on something cooler! I have no empty places for an extra switch around my stereo. :( I will have to run it else where...

Thanks for all the input guys! This is the best site ever!

relays vary greatly and the Ford relay is designed only for the Ford lights, not even one watt more. I think the relay is one of the most important components of the wiring of the lights, much like the switch... make sure that the one you have can handle the juice your putting through it. This was someone on here put 110 watt bulbs in to a set of Hella 550's... the result was two blown relays and fried wiring. same thing would happen if you tried to hook up an aftermarket set of lights (if its more then the stock wattage) to the existing wiring. I would recommend using the wiring, relays, and switches that come with the aftermarket set of lights. You would have to run extra wiring, and you wouldn't have the switch integrated into the radio (or wherever the heck they put those dang switches now!) but you'd be rest assured that your lights would work, because its using the parts the manufacturer recommended. ANd you know if you use stock wiring and blow a bulb or fry a relay, first thing both Ford and whatever company you buy your lights from will say is "we're not responsible, its not designed to be hooked up that way"

They put that on there for a reason, I am sure. So I will stick w/ the safe bet. Leave them as is, installed as directed by the manufacturer.

At this point...I don't even care where they are hooked up...I love them so much I don't think I COULD forget to turn them off! :) (I think I am becoming obsessed!:O )

Michelle... all part of the fun! :)

Originally posted by Frisckey1
I think I am becoming obsessed! :O

Originally posted by mattadams
Michelle... all part of the fun!

Uh oh...this could get out of control. :D

And, Oh, What Fun!!!!! :) Its already out of control. I have considered a second mortgage on my truck! lol

Michelle, when I bought my Explorer I paid cash for the Explorer... and took out a loan to modify it! LOL

Looks like you needed a loan just for all those lights! lol I see why everyone says you have that PIAA thing going on! :)

If anyone really wants "fighter pilot switches", email me, and I can send some authentic ones out.