Does anyone know how to bypass the high beam fog light cut off? I know JC Whitney had a kit a few years ago.

I spoke with someone at a dealership and they said it is now controlled in the computer monitor and can't be messed with?

This might be a good product for someone like WebElectric.

 

+1

 

I would be interested in that also. I miss having two headlights with high beams on. It's like getting the best of both worlds.

Jon

 

I didn't even realize they did that, I'd be curious as well.

 

From what I've been told, having high beams and foglights on at the same time is illegal. That's most likely why it doesn't come that way from the factory. I'm sure there's some way to bypass the thing that turns them off when the high beams get switched on.

Kris

 

Yes it is illegal, but who gives a crap. I have done this on my 04 Sport Trac and it is definately nice to have. If someone figures this out and posts it, I will be the second one with that done.

 

i also have a 1999 gmc yukon, which had seperate high and low beams. with the highs on, the lows would switch off. stylin concepts sold a little box you splice onto 2 wires and it makes the lows stay on with the highs. same idea basically. maybe we could use the same relay/box thing? anyone got any ideas? i sure would love my saleen HIDs on high beams with my yellow forgs on at the same time when im going 150+ at 3 am

 

I'm not sure it is illegal...At least in Ga....Ive got the Roush front end with their fogs ( same bulb as factory fogs) and I cut the Roush harness ( they were supposed to go off when I hit high beam, like the factory fogs do) now the factory fogs and the roush fogs ( both have silverstars in them) are on at the same time and when I hit high beam ( I rarely even have to with the silverstars) the factory still goes off but the roush stay on. When I'm on low they all are lit ( all three pairs) and their bright and never had a problem from the law. I guess Ga doesnt care...or I've been lucky

 

Just hold it in 'flash to pass' the entire time :P

 

cmon someones gotta know which wire to jump to get them to stay on!

 

It seems to be controlled by the Smart Junction Box but I think I figured out a way around it and keep the computer happy. When the switch is activated, it sends Ground to the SJB which in turns sends ground to the relay under the hood. I think that if we were jump over the Smart Junction Box and fix it to that when the switch is activated that it simply gournds the wire going to the relay, hence the fog lights come on. The Smart Junction will never know that the fog lights are on. I think. Don't go by me though, take a look at the wiring diagrams and see what you all think. I might try it this weekend.

Don't try it if you are not sure! I don't want a bunch of hate mail for somebody else making a mistake.

Mike


I'll try to get more specific (wire colors, pins, etc.) this afternoon or tonight.

 

Here's a link on how to do it in the previous Stangs. I did this to my 96 Cobra and it worked great. I could turn my fogs on/off using any lighting combo (nothing, dusk lights, low or high beams) The best of all, they turned off with the car.

I know the wiring has changed, but the idea should be the same. (?)

http://www.mustangworld.com/ourpics/fcar/fog2.htm

 

The grounded output wire from the switch for fog lights is Pin6, wire OG/LG, and goes to the Smart Junction Box on Connector C2280b Pin 34. The output is on Connector C2280c Pin 2, wire DB/WH, then goes to the Bussed Electrical Center under the hood to activate the Fog Lamp Relay. I'm going to try to remove the wires with their pins and try to do it so that I could reverse it if need be. The connectors don't look easy to get to though!

I think if I can just connect the input wire, OG/LG to the output wire DB/WH then the lamps will come on. I'll try it tonight if I get the time but may have to wait until this weekend.

I got this information from the Service Manual DVD under the wiring diagrams, Fog Lamps 86-1.

Mike

 

I'd like to do this as well.

 

I looked at the schematic. There are some considerations doing it this way.

1) You will be able to turn on the fogs with the engine off. That may be OK, but be aware.

2) The diagram shows a simple switch inside the SJB. It may be, but it may not. Disconnecting the fog switch and relay wires and making the connections without the SJB involved will solve this problem. But, if were thinking about plugging them back in and just using a jumper, there is a small but real chance you could fry the SJB. Without taking the SJB apart, there is no way to know.

3) The headlight switch on the new Mustangs has very wimpy contacts. It only needs to allow a few milliamps to flow for the SJB to see the input. You are attempting to energize the relay with this little switch. Might be OK, but if the fogs use a heavy duty relay, it might put excess loading on the switch contacts, and make it fail sooner than designed.

It will be a little extra work and cost, but adding a relay will solve all these issues. You can either use a small relay to energize the fog relay as you planned (use a SPDT so when it's energized, it disconnects the SJB from the circuit) or you can use a large relay and supply +12V directly to the fogs.

In either case, you will supply the new relay from an IGN wire, so it cannot be energized without the IGN on.

I don't mean to second guess you, but these are some potential problems.

-L

 

In either case, you will supply the new relay from an IGN wire, so it cannot be energized without the IGN on.

I don't mean to second guess you, but these are some potential problems.

-L
[/quote]

WebElectric,
This is exactly why we need you to build a kit for us to buy. We all know that if you make it, there will be no problems.

There is no way I would tear into this unless there was some sort of kit you have built and worked the bugs out of. Your sequential turn signals I bought worked exactly as claimed and your pony grill insert for the GT fit my car perfectly. So you wouldn't put this out unless it worked.

As to the legality of it--a strong disclaimer and advising to check your own state laws should suffice. That way the buyer is ultimately responsible. I mean who's installing it anyway?

I know I would buy one for my Vert and one for my F150. So the question is, how long will it take you to come up with a fog-light bypass kit?????????

 

Don't worry about second guessing me, heck, I need it.

I don't see a problem with turning on the fog lights with the engine off or even with the key out. The headlight switch is already wired this way, except the SJB does turn off the fog lights when the key is out. I personally don't see the point of that but I guess it uses less energy then leaving the headlights and the foglights on. Either way, the buzzer will sound if you attempt to leave the car with the lights on and the key out. It will just make the fog lights behave the same way it treats the headlights. Unless the SJB jumps in and can turn off the headlights in the event you leave them on for an extended period of time with the key out which I have not tested yet.

I thought about the jumper wire too but like you, I was worried that the ground fed back into the output, when the SJB is expecting that to be off, might cause a huge problem with its electronics.

I think the switch can handle it but I'll put my car in harms way before suggesting some one else do it.

I guess you could add something along the lines of a relay and get as sophisticated as the headlights that allows the fogs to only work when the ign. is on AND the headlights are on. That way, if the SJB does decide to turn the headlights off after an hour or whatever, the fogs turn off too.

I'm going to go give it a try. Wish me luck.

Mike

 

Done.

Took one cut, two splices, a scratched elbow, cramp in lower right rib cage, and some tape. Will clean up later with solder and heat shrink tubing but here's the pics. I know they suck. (1.jpg) with low beam and fog, the other (2.jpg)with high beam and fog.


pretty easy acutally.

 

Wow! Your mod even makes the front license plate light up!

Good job. Keep an eye on your headlight switch. It will certainly work for a while. If the load is too great, it will eventually fail, but there is no way to tell until it does.

Good luck!

-L

 

Yeah, I figured why share everything!

The two wires were exactly the same gauge so I think they are both very low current. That part of the SJB where the plug in is listed in the wiring diagram as "low current board" so i bet it's safe. I'll put an amp meter on it tomorrow when I clean it all up to see how much current is "low".

I also called a buddy that owns one of the local wrecking yards to hold on to and smart junction boxes that come through long enough for me to take a closer look at them and maybe see what's so smart about it.

I did learn, probably in a careless way, that when you disconnect the blue plug that goes into the SJB with the Fog Light Switch input, the headlights come on. Go figure.

Mike