Need help wireing aux lights to my parking lights.

[ajthefishermen]

I am sort of new to this but i would like to wire my aux lights so they come on when my parking lights do. I don't want to connect them to the battery etc. So could anyone help me with how to find where the wires run to or a picture of what to look for. Any help is welcome Thanks in advance!

 

[NHarris]

I'm not sure anyone has done this set up. Most of us have a seperate switch.

 

[tabezic]

i would definatly run a seprate switch. it would be safer for ur truck

 

[BigRondo]

I am sort of new to this but i would like to wire my aux lights so they come on when my parking lights do. I don't want to connect them to the battery etc. So could anyone help me with how to find where the wires run to or a picture of what to look for. Any help is welcome Thanks in advance!

AJ, I would highly recommend using a relay! I have my lights wired so that they can only come on with the parking lights and I have a switch also so I can shut them off when the parking lights are on. I picked up the relay and the switch at Radio Shack.

This is the diagram I used for wiring my lights. The relay is triggered by the parking lights, turning on my aux lights, and the switch allows me to turn off the lights:

I found a great path for running wires through the firewall on my '02 XLT:

This is the view from the engine compartment. The access is behind the brake booster. Look behind the brake booster and down and you will see it.

This is the view from inside the Ex. Follow the brake pedal up to the firewall and look to the left. The red arrow points to the piece that you peel back and the black arrow points to the grommet:

Have you checked out this sticky?: How to: Auxilary/offroad lites

Whereabouts in CT are you? Maybe if it's not too far, I can give you a hand? or you can PM your phone number and I can explain the wiring diagram to you?

Hope this helps out!! :biggthump

 

[ajthefishermen]

Thanks for all the info now rondo where is the circut for the parking lights? That's where im stuck lol

 

[BigRondo]

Thanks for all the info now rondo where is the circut for the parking lights? That's where im stuck lol

I tapped the parking lights at the driver's side parking light itself, not a big deal since you have to route wires in that area anyway. The picture is from my how to for installing signal mirrors, the link is in my signature. There is some good info there for routing the wires.

Peel back and remove a portion of the plastic wrap - The red arrow indicates the quick splice connector connected to the Green w/White Stripe wire for the signal mirror - The white arrow indicates the quick splice connector connected to the Brown wire for my fog light relay.

 

[ajthefishermen]

Thanks again my last question where did you ground the lights to?

 

[BigRondo]

I grounded the lights on the negative terminal of the battery and the relay to an existing bolt in the engine compartment. I'll see if I can find a pic and post it.

EDIT: Don't have any pics. Going outside to take some now, and get exact grounding points. Stay tuned......

 

[BigRondo]

I got the pics. I will post them when I get home. For some reason I couldn't access the forum earlier.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[BigRondo]

Here is the pic of the grounding points. The red arrow indicates the grounding point for the lights, the white arrow indicates the grounding point for the relay & the switch, the yellow arrow indicates where I mounted the relay, the blue arrow points to the wire run from terminal 30 on the relay to the positive terminal on the battery (including in-line fuse):

My relay wiring is as follows:

Term #30 - wire run through in-line fuse to positive terminal on battery
Term #85 - wire run to ground point indicated by white arrow
Term #87 - wire run and connected to positive wires on fog lights
Term #86 - wire run to switch located inside vehicle

The switch shown in the link has 3 terminals (ground is required to illuminate the LED indicator light):

Line - wire run to parking light circuit at driver's parking light
Load - wire from term #86 on relay
Ground - wire run to point indicated by white arrow
If you use a switch without an indicator light then the ground wire is not required.

When wired as above, the aux lights can only come on when the parking lights & the switch are on. When the parking lights are on you can shut off the aux lights with the switch.

I hope I didn't confuse you too much. Feel free to ask any questions.

 

[ajthefishermen]

No that's great that's all i needed thanks for putting all the time in too take the pictures and explain you were a great help! A++++

 

[BigRondo]

No that's great that's all i needed thanks for putting all the time in too take the pictures and explain you were a great help! A++++

No problem, glad I could help.

 

[therover1991]

Here is the pic of the grounding points. The red arrow indicates the grounding point for the lights, the white arrow indicates the grounding point for the relay & the switch, the yellow arrow indicates where I mounted the relay, the blue arrow points to the wire run from terminal 30 on the relay to the positive terminal on the battery (including in-line fuse):

My relay wiring is as follows:

Term #30 - wire run through in-line fuse to positive terminal on battery
Term #85 - wire run to ground point indicated by white arrow
Term #87 - wire run and connected to positive wires on fog lights
Term #86 - wire run to switch located inside vehicle

The switch shown in the link has 3 terminals (ground is required to illuminate the LED indicator light):

Line - wire run to parking light circuit at driver's parking light
Load - wire from term #86 on relay
Ground - wire run to point indicated by white arrow
If you use a switch without an indicator light then the ground wire is not required.

When wired as above, the aux lights can only come on when the parking lights & the switch are on. When the parking lights are on you can shut off the aux lights with the switch.

I hope I didn't confuse you too much. Feel free to ask any questions.

Hey Rondo, I know this thread is old, but I wanted to wire my fogs up to my parking lights in case I ever leave them on accidentally.

So just to clarify, brown wire is where to tap relay power into correct?

Also can I tap both wires for fogs and hellas to that wire?

 

[BigRondo]

Hey Rondo, I know this thread is old, but I wanted to wire my fogs up to my parking lights in case I ever leave them on accidentally.

So just to clarify, brown wire is where to tap relay power into correct?

Also can I tap both wires for fogs and hellas to that wire?

Correct. The brown wire from the parking lights gets tapped and run to terminal #86 on the relay. This way the fog lights will come on when the parking lights are on & and off when the parking lights are off. You can switch this wire so that you can turn the fogs off when the parking lights are on.

The connection of the brown wire only energizes the relay which, in turn, turns on the fog lights via the #87 terminal.

I recommend using a second relay for the hellas. Wire the relay in the same manner as the relay for the fogs.

I hope this helps out. Feel free to ask any questions you have. Remember, there is no such thing as a stupid question, just stupid people that ask questions, just kidding. :

 

[therover1991]

Correct. The brown wire from the parking lights gets tapped and run to terminal #86 on the relay. This way the fog lights will come on when the parking lights are on & and off when the parking lights are off. You can switch this wire so that you can turn the fogs off when the parking lights are on.

The connection of the brown wire only energizes the relay which, in turn, turns on the fog lights via the #87 terminal.

I recommend using a second relay for the hellas. Wire the relay in the same manner as the relay for the fogs.

I hope this helps out. Feel free to ask any questions you have. Remember, there is no such thing as a stupid question, just stupid people that ask questions, just kidding. :

Thanks rondo, got the hellas on the parking light circuit. Will put the fogs on to the other parking light wire tomorrow. Was having too much fun waxing the car today.

 

[BigRondo]

Thanks rondo, got the hellas on the parking light circuit. Will put the fogs on to the other parking light wire tomorrow. Was having too much fun waxing the car today.

You're welcome. Waxing is good to go. I often find myself staring at the fruits of my labor!


Make sure you are using a separate relay for the hellas. I used this one from Radio Shack: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3020762&numProdsPerPage=60

Good luck!

 

[therover1991]

You're welcome. Waxing is good to go. I often find myself staring at the fruits of my labor!


Make sure you are using a separate relay for the hellas. I used this one from Radio Shack: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3020762&numProdsPerPage=60

Good luck!

I have to say I think I did a fine job waxing the explorer today.

I have them on two separate relays and switches, I just wanted to wire them to parking lights because I have accidentally left the lights on and come out with a dead battery.

 

[BigRondo]

I have to say I think I did a fine job waxing the explorer today.

I have them on two separate relays and switches, I just wanted to wire them to parking lights because I have accidentally left the lights on and come out with a dead battery.

Make sure you put the switch between the parking lights and terminal #86.

 

[CADILLACPAPA]

Big Rondo is THE man!

:exp:
Sir,
I have been reading your posts since I joined this wonderful forum and your knowledge, willingness to share and constantly going the extra mile to help shines as bright as the sun. Many thanks to you and a snappy salute!

Terry

P.S. I am retrofitting factory fog lights to my 02 XLT and will be using your wiring diagram. Also using your pointers on replacing the LR window regulator (my 4 year old granddaughter does not like to be unable to roll her window down!).

 

[BigRondo]

:exp:
Sir,
I have been reading your posts since I joined this wonderful forum and your knowledge, willingness to share and constantly going the extra mile to help shines as bright as the sun. Many thanks to you and a snappy salute!

Terry

P.S. I am retrofitting factory fog lights to my 02 XLT and will be using your wiring diagram. Also using your pointers on replacing the LR window regulator (my 4 year old granddaughter does not like to be unable to roll her window down!).

Glad to help out. Let me know if there is anything else you need!