Fog lights?

Email sent @memario1214

 

I replaced the stock fogs on my sport with the DD sports in selective yellow. I really like them, they are a great improvement for me over the stock white ones, and sae/dot compliant, so i'm not blinding others.

 

This x2

 

Have you verified that your Taco has the BLUE wire on the light stalk connector?

 

XBs are a pretty old design. I’d suggest the Evo/Evo+ models or better yet, 4Bangers: https://www.theretrofitsource.com/TRS-Morimoto-4Banger-LED-Fog-Lights-Toyota-Tacoma-16-22?quantity=1. Both of the 4Bangers (NCS and HXB, which denote the LEDs used) are third party verified to be SAE compliant where others failed. In fact, here’s the report: https://www.morimotohid.com/docs/HXB Wide SAE F.pdf

 

Where is this located? Like up under the column?

 

I added the DD Elites in amber to my 2016 TRDOR earlier this year and they are great! Very bright, but aimable to avoid blinding other drivers. I use them quite a bit driving at night in areas where there are deer in the ditches, but where oncoming traffic means I can't use my high-beams. They are quite a bit brighter than my low-beams.

 

Steering column near steering wheel before & under clock spring.

 

here is what I did for comparison

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/diode-dynamics-ss3-pro-fogs.823781/

 

I recommend buying a good light. The cheap Amazon/China LEDs throw a fraction of the light of a Baja Designs or Rigid light.

 

I haven't, I want a simpler install.

 

I am, I'm just trying to find a decent harness with relay that will attach to the DD elites.

 

What could be simpler than having your fire wall penetration already done, a place in the main engine compartment fuse box for both your relay & fuse, plus a light on the dash that tells you when your fog lights are on. All that would be left is running one wire to the steering column and connecting to the simple switch of your choice and a ground.

Plus of course installing the fog lights and connecting to the wiring harness already present in the middle of the grill. That mysterious blue wire also appears at the Main Body ECM so you don't have to remove the shroud in front of the steering wheel. You could get access to the MB ECU instead.

So, tap that blue wire and connect to your switch and connect the other terminal of your switch to ground and all the interior work is done. What would be left is to mount and connect the fog lights.

Plus, the truck will turn your fog lights off when you exit the vehicle. Not something your "simple install" will do.

Now: If you wish to reconsider your approach don't yet look for that blue wire; first look in the engine compartment fuse box for 4 contacts in the location the Fog Relay and look for 2 contacts where the Fog Fuse should be, also look for the stock wiring harness in the center of the grill. If those conditions are present, there is a very good chance the blue wire is present too.

I understand simplicity, but in this case a minor amount of work can pay off. I don't believe you are going to find a wiring harness any better than the one that already exists on the truck.

See the first post here for the fog grill area wiring harness.
Anybody know what this connectors for on a 2016 | Tacoma World

 

You talked me into it lol.
What's the best device to use to tap into the blue wire?

So I will need a switch, add a fuse, fogs and fog brackets..

 

I thought a schematic was provided by someone in a previous post, but cannot find it now, so here is one attached. The schematic may appear at the bottom of this post.

What did you find in the fuse box relay and fuse positions? Did you locate the *stub harness in the grill center position? Were the two wire colors "Green" & "White with a Black stripe" as shown on page 3 of the schematic for connector "EN1"? Specifics please, we must be sure we are working from the same page.

Please also state your experience in small gauge "Electronic" wiring? I ask this because you are asking how to do a splice. However, with some of these trucks extremely small wiring that is probably a very good call.

*I am calling it a stub harness because the stock installation has an additional harness that plugs into that EN1 connector that extends out to each individual fog light. Of course, making your own is good too. You will have to at some point transition from the stock wiring to your own. Or perhaps one of the fog light suppliers have short adapter cables that change from the Toyota connectors to their connectors. You will have to address the outside elements in your final light install.

In post #16 a Posi-Tap was recommended for tapping; lots of people on this forum seem to like them, I have never used them myself. I do not remember the size of the "blue" wire to recommend a specific way to tap the Blue wire. If I were doing this mod I would look and decide then.

Posi-Tap- No Crimp Tap
The company's info says the tapped wire size is different than the tapping wire should be. Such as part number EX-100R, which would be my best guess to use without looking at the blue wire.

$14 Posi Tap Mini 24-26 ga. Pack of 6. Posi Taps The Best Line Tap Youll Ever Use!. (Choose Your Size and Amount) (6 taps, 24-26)

Amazon.com: Posi-Tap taps 20-22 ga. Pack of 6. Posi Taps The Best Line Tap Youll Ever Use! Posi Taps (Choose Your Size and Amount) (6, 20-22) : Industrial & Scientific

Have you decided on the fog lights you wish to use and are they under the 30Amps total current draw?

The switch is your choice and where you want to put it, no heavy-duty high amperage switch is needed with using the stock wiring. I can imagine your reason for not wanting to use the stock on-the-stalk switch is expense, but if not that, then why?

Whatever you decide the vehicle can be driven without the knee panel or the steering wheel shroud installed. So, if there are difficulties it is not imperative the vehicle gets put back together in one sitting. I've had both removed in the past and driven just fine.

If the blue wire is not found, please report back as there is another possible similar option.

Oh, when you find that blue wire there is a test to do to see if this is really going to work on your vehicle. Ground the blue wire while the low beams are on and see if the fog dash light lights up. Also, with the engine compartment fuse box Fog Relay and Fog Fuse installed have someone feel for a click on the Fog Relay while grounding the blue wire. You could also measure the voltage at the EN1 connector when grounding the blue wire, if you have a voltmeter.

 

I'm going with the Morimoto XB EVO+ Foglights.
I will report back on the Relay, fuse and wiring.

 

I got the Morimoto XB evo+ for $157.00 good deal?

It looks like I'm not wired...

 

Yes that’s a good deal!

 

That’s too bad. The wiring that is. The lights would seen to be a good deal. Good luck.