Brian's98XLT
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- Joined
- December 18, 1999
- Messages
- 372
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- City, State
- Wisconsin
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 98 XLT
Ok guys here is how to rewire your fog lights so they turn on when you want them to for the 98 Explorer. I do not know if it is the same for others.
Here is how the system works. If you understand relays this should be easy.
The factory relay located on the passenger front side of the engine in the relay box and has 5 pins.
Pin 1 is 12 volts from Dimmer switch when in low beam position. This would be pin 85 on a standard relay
Pin 2 is the wire that goes to the factory fog light switch. The switch controls the ground to the relay coil.
When the switch is on it supplies a ground to the relay coil to turn the fog lights on. When off it remove ground from the coil and the lights turn off. This would be pin 86 on a standard relay
Pin 3 is 12 volt constant and the common contact in the relay. This would be pin 30 on a standard relay
Pin 4 in the normally closed contact. It is not used. This would be pin 87A on a standard relay
Pin 5 is the normally open contact. This would be pin 87 on a standard relay
Pin 1 wire is the one you want to locate. The color on my truck was Dark Blue/Light Green.I located it the harness coming out of the relay box. If you have the factory air cleaner housing it is easier to get at the harness by removing the housing. You can verify this wire by using a volt meter and the wire will read 12 volts when the low beams are on and 0 volts when you turn the lights off or turn on the high beams.
When you find this wire cut it in half. If your fog lights no longer come on you should have the right wire
Now all you have to do in tape off the end going to the car because it is not used.
Now extend the side of the wire coming from the relay box to a source of power. If you want the light to only come on when you have the parking lights run it to a parking light wire. If you want to turn them on when the ignition is on run it to a ignition source.
Make sure that you put a fuse inline with what ever source you choose.
Here is how the system works. If you understand relays this should be easy.
The factory relay located on the passenger front side of the engine in the relay box and has 5 pins.
Pin 1 is 12 volts from Dimmer switch when in low beam position. This would be pin 85 on a standard relay
Pin 2 is the wire that goes to the factory fog light switch. The switch controls the ground to the relay coil.
When the switch is on it supplies a ground to the relay coil to turn the fog lights on. When off it remove ground from the coil and the lights turn off. This would be pin 86 on a standard relay
Pin 3 is 12 volt constant and the common contact in the relay. This would be pin 30 on a standard relay
Pin 4 in the normally closed contact. It is not used. This would be pin 87A on a standard relay
Pin 5 is the normally open contact. This would be pin 87 on a standard relay
Pin 1 wire is the one you want to locate. The color on my truck was Dark Blue/Light Green.I located it the harness coming out of the relay box. If you have the factory air cleaner housing it is easier to get at the harness by removing the housing. You can verify this wire by using a volt meter and the wire will read 12 volts when the low beams are on and 0 volts when you turn the lights off or turn on the high beams.
When you find this wire cut it in half. If your fog lights no longer come on you should have the right wire
Now all you have to do in tape off the end going to the car because it is not used.
Now extend the side of the wire coming from the relay box to a source of power. If you want the light to only come on when you have the parking lights run it to a parking light wire. If you want to turn them on when the ignition is on run it to a ignition source.
Make sure that you put a fuse inline with what ever source you choose.
