Fog light mod

I am wanting to change my turn signals to fog lights on my 2002 tacoma. I know there’s a lot of write ups on this but can someone walk me through step by step with pictures on how to do this?

 

just swap the positive wires. harness is behind the park lights themselves. cant remember colours but youl be able to see them anyways

i used some projector led bulbs in aftermarket clear housings

 

I have a good news and bad news for you
Good news: First you need to do blinkers (turn signal) relocation mod. Done successfully by many.
Bad news: Stock turn signal lamp (reflector) will not work as a fog light. The light pattern is different and really terrible to be used in foggy conditions. It will make things worse.

However stock turn signals can work as a DRL (the pattern is acceptable for DRL functionality). Just keep in mind: Day Time Running Lights (emphasis is on DAY), they will be blinding (and illegal) to run at night.

Finally the last resort for you will be dumping stock blinkers and find any Fog Light lamp (aftermarket or adopted from different vehicle) that will fit into holes (I have not see a perfect fit yet).
Or, forget the whole modification, but just get a decent aftermarket fog lights and install them on the bumper leaving all existing lighting as is. If you do decent job, the truck will not look like crap and will be 100% functional and legal.

 

Devinz - Will swapping the positive wires leave them on at all times? Or will that have them come on with the headlights or parking lights setting? Would they still blink when you use the indicators?

I am asking because I am interested in setting up my stock signals with LED white/amber switchback bulbs so they could operate as additional white DRLs/weak fog lights but also blink amber as a signal. I know the bulbs exist, but curious what I would need to change from a wiring perspective.

Thanks!

 

they come on as the park lights (first turn of the stalk). they dont blink since those positive wires are going to what were the park lights. you could run those wires to the switchbacks though

 

Thanks, that makes sense. I am guessing somewhere on here there is one of those fancy fold out colorful wiring diagrams.

 

be careful when doing switchbacks. Tacoma 01-04 uses a 3157/4157 CK style bulb that has different contacts than normal 3157. that's why there is usually only one + wire so no chance of messing it up. running switchbacks requires you to "wire" up that 3rd spot in the harness or buy new harnesses with all 3 wires present (I have these from fleabay)

You can either buy the CK version of the switchback, or get a replacement housing that has the 1157 style and use it instead (it's what I have)

 

let's see if this works

 

Thanks Frizzman, that worked and looks like exactly what I had in mind. Do you have a link for those other housings/harnesses?

Is it like these? https://www.ebay.com/itm/2pcs-1157-...t-Harness-Plug-Adapter-Connector/293156049567

Once swapped over to an 1157 set-up, still need to rewire it right?

 

I have not tried those. I got the Toyota plug ones similar to this but the ones I bought two years ago are not longer listed

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Gray-3-way...For-Toyota-Turn-Signal-Headlight/362992677031

I then just cut and soldered them in.

I have DEPO brand housings because I needed new ones anyway cause they all leaked from the connector and ruined the reflective chrome inside

 

Ahhh gotcha, I actually have a set of the DEPO replacements too (smoked) and they came with the 1157 twist in bulb holder pieces (harness?) and the connection on there is the 3 prong style like you sent so that makes sense.

Assuming you added your own resistors? I have never had any luck with that so I was looking at the "error-proof" (aka excuse to overcharge)/CANbus switch-backs.

 

no resistors, just bought the flasher module from SBL (www.superbrightleds.com) and no issues

 

also, the "sockets" already have 3 conductor spots, it's the plug that is missing the 3rd wire. not sure about 95-00 though

 

98-00 have 1156 sockets stock (just 2 pin connectors)
I modified my turn signal housings to accept 1157 sockets and wired the 3rd contact to the parking lamp ciruit.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tiffany-the-taco.374490/page-10#post-17562072

 

Why not mount a set of Rigid SR-M under the bumper?

https://www.rigidindustries.com/sr-m-series-sae-fog-light-pair-902533.html

 

Link to the "turn signal mod" thread?

 

sorry, should have quoted @kdxrider199 for the 01-04

 

This thread strikes me that the OP doesn't want "extra lighting" on his truck. But if done well, an extra set of lights isn't tacky nor overstated.
I say get a bullbar, a modest one like mine with ONE single bar and not a bushwhacker, and mount a pair on it. Way less work, no altering of stock wiring, no cutting, no overloading of electrical.
I did mine way back in '06 with zero ensuing problems. And my Hella 450s are subdued and in my opinion, quite fitting for the front end.

 

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-tacomas/81243-fog-light-mod-how-pics.html

 

This would be the best approach to additional lighting. If anyone wants to use switchback in blinker housing and act them as a DRL the power wire for the "white" LED must not come from corner marker circuit. It is actually opposite - that white LED must be turned off when corner marker comes on - i.e. DRL lights must be turned off at night time, otherwise they will be incredibly blinding to other drivers. With additional lamps (like Hella 450 Fog in the example quoted) you will get the correct functionality (correct light pattern) for fog and of course you will wire it to be powered by separate switch/circuit.

I don't care much for fog, but for my truck DRL is a must. In Europe blinker housing would not pass for DRL. It is not certified. So instead of messing with blinkers I just installed dedicated OSRAM LED DRL (certified and legal) under the headlights.