Help with Anytime Foglight Mod for '13 - headlights on all the time

So I've searched around TW and asked questions on other threads but they all seemed to be dead.

So I have a brand new '13 and i'm like "MOD THIS BITCH" so I start with something easy. well the foglight mod works great but now my headlights are on all the time regardless of the light setting on the steering column arm. Anyone know why?

- Is it because I did a quick splice to the red/black wire under the fog relay?
- Would this NOT have happened if I had bent the relay tab and connected to that instead?

I'd try it out but I'd like to hear from some people before I go bending my relay tab and accidentally break it off which is part of the reason I went the splice route to begin with.



*****UPDATE: 10/3/12 - 11:20am*****
Thought I'd condense the info here so people don't have to read through all the back and forth posts.

First, thanks to every who contributed. I appreciate you taking a the time out of your day to help me out.

So user tdunc had a great point which was that since the natural operation of the fogs is to go off when the low beams go off, they must be tied together via the red/black wire feeding to the Fog Relay. Thus, since I used a quick splice, I'm reverse sending power back through that red/black wire and feeding the headlights constantly. But this is just a theory...

I'm going to test this out tonight after work and will update for all to read.



*****UPDATE: 10/3/12 - 6:25pm*****
IT WORKS! So I removed my quick splice and went the bent relay tab route (just so people know, the amount of insulation that is removed when using a quick splice is negligible...mine had a nick about a centimeter and was only nicked on one side of the wire; quickly patched up with a little electrical wire).

Our theory was correct. The quick splice was sending power back to the headlight relay thus forcing the headlights to be on all the time. Not sure how many models this applies to (probably any with foglights) but the quick splice route is not recommended for the anytime fog light mod.

Couple things to point out about this mod:
- be VERY careful bending the tab; make sure to bend it very slowly and no one will get hurt. More importantly, be even more careful attaching your blade connector to the relay as sometimes those blade connectors are very hard to slide on to the tab and if you apply too much force, you could cause the tab to bend back quickly which will very easily fatigue the bend point of the tab. These tabs can only handle so much bending before they snap right off. I'm sure relays are cheap but it's just a pain in the ass that I'm sure you'd rather not have to deal with.
-(only applies to 2012 and newer) When re-attaching the secondary panel cover that houses the fog relay, sometimes the blade connector will stick out at a weird angle making it tougher to put the lid on. It can be done and closed completely but you just can't try to attach the hinge points first and then close it like a clamshell as you normally would. you have to kinda put the left side in first then kinda jimmy it in place...you'll see what I mean if you're affected by this.

End Result:

 

i bent the relay switch on my 07 and ran it that way and it works great but idk how different the 13 models are.

 

Yeah, I might just have to try it and see.

Anyone else have any ideas? Come on peeps, don't be shy. help a ninja out.

 

In my 05 i bent the relay tab out but I dont remember pulling from a red/black wire. Mine was a green wire

 

First, thanks for responding.

That's prolly because in your model, the fog relay was already in the main panel so you didn't see the underside of it and the wires coming into the relay.

I am pulling from the light green wire for my power source but in the secondary panel that now holds the fog relay, the wire that comes from the relay that feeds power to the relay and, in turn, the fogs, is a red/black wire.

In the directions I followed, this was the wire to be spliced into. And it does work, I can turn on my fog lights anytime I want. But an unintended side-effect is that my headlights are now always on.

 

Bump to get more contributors.

 

have you seen this thread yet? Looks like the relay position may have changed from the earlier Gen2 Tacos
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/lighting/209145-foglights-anytime-2012-its-bit-different.html

 

Also, did you use a tap in to the black/red wire? Or did you cut the wire, and solder/wire nut the switched power to the relay feed?

 

Yeah, that's the one I followed...like I mentioned before, the mod works; so obviously I have the right relay. It's just that it's causing my headlights to stay on all the time.

Anyone else want a crack at it? Please, anyone else?

 

Again, as I mentioned before, I used a quick splice to connect to the black/red so the original connection remains intact.

I guess I'm just gonna have to try bending the relay and going that route. Here's hoping I don't break it.

 

My guess, by tapping in to the red/black wire, you're providing 12V backwards as well as into the relay. I'm not sure where that wire comes from, but have you tried removing the tap, and seeing if you're back to normal? Obviously, not preferred, b/c now you have a cut wire, but you may have to end up cutting and soldering to that point anyway.

and sorry, when I re-read the thread, I noticed you did follow that post I suggested

 

Yeah, when I disconnect the wire I added, it all goes back to normal. my guess is you're right, the splice I did is causing the power to be sent back through to the headlights. I guess I'm just bending that relay tab. After I test that out, I'll have to send info to the OP of that thread so he can update with my findings. Now there's TWO reasons to NOT do the splice method. I'm surprised no ones come across this before.

 

when thinking about it more, there's a relation to the headlight relay wiring, and the fog light wiring - whenever you flip the brights on, fogs go off. It may have something to do with that. Sorry again for the dumb first responses, but will be looking forward for the update!

 

Don't worry about it. Sorry if I seemed testy. it's not you, it's these damn HEADLIGHTS!!!

And you're right about the fog/headlight relationship. They're obviously wired together through that black/red wire.

Gonna try it tonight when I get off work and I'll update. Thanks for your input!

 

subd wanna know the best way to do the fog mod

 

Well then it looks like I'll really have to do my research and get some good info for you guys so as to not disappoint... I'd hate for someone to go through the same thing I went through (however minor of an issue it may be).

 

just for confirmation, the headlights were always on, when the truck was started, right? I'm about to tap in to the light green wire for a different ignition power source, and want to make sure it is an ignition source, not constant 12V.

 

Yes, the light green is an ignition source and not an "always hot" power source. Therefore, if you tap into that light green wire, whatever you're feeding will only be fed power once you turn the ignition to ACC.

 

For anyone who's following this, I've added an update to the problem and some info about performing this mod up in the first post.

To sum it up, we were right, the quick splice was causing power to be sent back to the headlights. I removed the quick splice and went the bent tab route and now look at it...

 

Great, glad it works!