FOG LIGHTS

[THE CLEANER]

DOES ANY ONE NO WHERE I CAN GET FOG LIGHTS THAT FIT IN THE SPACE PROVIDED ON STOCK BUMPER.

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[Cooker]

First off I'd like to say welcome to the TDR.

As far as the fog lights go, do you want a quick and easy direct fit installation, or are you willing to do a little fabrication.

Here are some options for you:

OEM Dodge fog light kit - fit perfect and easy mounting, but low light and kind of pricey (lights with brackets I think are ~$100, wiring harness for pre-98 is ~$110)

PIAA - 30195 Bracket, and PIAA 510 lights - this kit is expensive (over $200), but the light output is excellent and installation shouldn't be difficult

CATZ - Many members are running the CATZ (I think MSC series) lights in the factory location with the factory mounts. If you don't have factory mounts the PIAA brackets should work or you could fab. a bracket easy enough. These have excellent light output. Price for the lights only on the G/P was ~$100/pair, I don't know the normal price.

Hella - Optilix 1300 series - these will fit, but again you will need to fab a bracket or the PIAA bracket will probably work, these are only $50/pair. I don't know about the light output, but they are a 55watt H3 bulb.

Do you want the factory on/off switch for your truck? What year is it? You can usually get this through Dodge and wire any light you want thought the factory switch (I'm not sure about the 98's and newer) I got the switch for my 96 from a salvage yard for $10.

Ryan

 

[nmurray]

I have at 2002 (build date 09-31-01) I ordered the truck without fog lights. I want to add PIAA 510's. I checked the PDC and it had the pins in the for the for light relay. In addition the 15 amp fuse was already installed in the PDC for the fog lights. I purchased the relay PN 04671168 ($10. 50) and the factory switch with the fog light switch ( pull knob out) PN 56021675AE ($59. 20). I installed the switch first and pulled the knob out, the fig light icon did not light up. Next I installed the relay and turned the switch on, the icon lit up. I then checked the harness under the radiator and I do not have 12 V. I checked the continuity from the PDC output pin to the fog light connector, nothing. Do you have to hook something up in the PDC to make this work? I looked at the fog light kit from DC and it had a whole new harness. I decided not to install this because I have a lot of extra wiring under the hood already, aux fuse box, espar heater, heated wipers... This is one accessory that I would like to use the existing vehicle harness if possible.

 

[B.G. Smith]

nmurry, First, You did pull the switch out, right? If the truck is already wired for the fog lights, you should have 12v at the front wiring even with the switch off. I think all the relay does is turn the fog lights off when high beams are on, it is probably a NC relay and the fog lights work on those contacts. Check the 15 amp fuse in the PDC again. bg

 

[KMeek]

I have the CATZ MSC series that were added as an aftermarket because my truck came without fog lights. They were bought on the strength of recommendations from fellow TDR members. This was the one occasion I was disappointed in what TDR members thought about a product-the MSC lights are not that good and I would not recommend them to you. Plus--they were a pain to install.

 

[MToney]

I recommend the Cibie, pronounced C-B-A, or the Marchal line of lights. The stock dodge fogs leave much to be desired, the PIAA's are way overpriced for what you get. Now while these brands are not cheap, they are the best fog lights I have seen and I have owned many. I have a pair of Marchal 750 series mounted in the bumper openings in my 95, now these are rectangular lights. I havent seen any good round lights of the correct size that I am happy with the beam pattern. I live in Erie, PA and we get the worst weather from heavy snow, fog and rain, and we get it most of the year, and we have a bad deer season with lots of hits. The Marchals light up the road and side ditches just beautifully! I made a crossbar in front of the coolers mounted to an exhisting bolt on one side and a torx screw on the other and then mounted the lights to the bracket, I can take pictures if anybody wants me to. Marchals havent been made for a few years, but they are avaible on ebay all the time. The Cibie Airport 35 light is the exact same light just a different name, Cibie and Marchal were owned by the same parent company, In fog lights you can pay alot but not get alot. I hope thats some help, email me if you want some more info or where to get lights. Cheers Mike T

 

[CAKUZ]

Originally posted by THE CLEANER

DOES ANY ONE NO WHERE I CAN GET FOG LIGHTS THAT FIT IN THE SPACE PROVIDED ON STOCK BUMPER.



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It would help to know what kind and what year vehicle do you have?

 

[nmurray]

I went back and checked the connector. Since it has not been used the pins were severely corroded. I cut the connector off, stripped the wires, and check from the red/orange wire to batt neg, 12. 4 V regardless of switch position. I checked the resistance from the red/orange wire to the light blue wire. Switch off 24 ohms, parking lights on 3. 4 M ohms, fog light on infinite resistance. I am still waiting for the lights so I will see what happens when I get them.

 

[Un-Hemi]

There is a constant 13. 8 volts to the fog lights from fuse G in the PDC through the red/orange (RD/OR) wire. What the foglight switch does is to ground the low side of the fogs through the normally closed relay contacts and headlight switch to turn them on.



In other words, the light blue (LB) wire heads off to ground via the relay contacts, the foglight switch (part of the headlight switch) and one pole of the headlight switch proper.



AS B. G. Smith says, the relay does nothing more than turn off the fogs when high beam is selected. Yeah, it's backwards. The relay does not supply power to the fog lights; it simply interrupts the foglight grounding circuit when high beam is selected.



ALL the current that the fog lights use is running through the headlight switch. The headlight switch does not have a good record of reliability.



Dodge wiring is marginally adequate, at best.



That's what is shown in the '99 manual; I don't think the '02 is any different.



Manuals are Maaarvelous things to have! (and highly recommended).



There is a factory harness, by the way, that runs between the two fog lights and the center connector under the radiator. Its part number is: 56021863AB. It's not expensive, and you can cut the connector off it and wire it directly to the RD/OR and LB wires if you desire. Weatherproof the connections well, 'cuz they're in a vulnerable spot.

 

[nmurray]

Thanks, I have the Mopar manual. I got messed up when I did not see any voltage at the connector. I ordered my truck without factory fog lights. The connector and wiring are all installed in the truck. When you order the fog lights they install a different head light switch put the relay in the PDC and plug in the harness and fog lights. Since my connector has been dangling in salt spray open for two years it is in bad shape. This is why I did not read any voltage. As soon as I cut the connector and stripped the wires I read the 12V. I will use the PIAA harness and solder and heatshrink the wires under the radiator. Thanks for the help. I am waiting for the PIAA 510's and the Ute bumper so that I can do both at once.