Fog Lights, Always On, Setup Question

Cheers everyone, I was searching through other threads and sites and have a desire to basically enable my fog lights to work anytime. (even with brights). The reason is that I road cruise for Snakes (photograph and collect "rarely"). I saw a quick video and pic description where a person basically bent out a relay pin, taped a wire to it and then to a power source. The apparently fogs work anytime and its easy to undo for dealership visits. Relay's are only like 10 to 20 bucks at most if it gets damaged. Can anyone chime in to provide feedback if this works on our 2016-17 Tacoma's please?

Small Print - I'm not worried about light laws or blinding other drivers because where I look for snakes very few if any other people are out. If I do run across others I always drive courteously and dim lights so no issues. Thanks!

 

Oh yea! The "always on Fog Light" bro-mod!

I know this is for 2nd gen https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/cheap-free-mods.4838/#post-45430

 

Nothing yet that I've seen for the 3 Gens... I wish there was.....

The "bend a pin" Mod for my 2006 worked very nice... Took 10 minutes to do...!!

I wish someone would figure this one out too.... What I do is turn on the parking lights...then you can turn on the fogs during the day, also when Low beams are on... no sweat ...

Would be nice to be able to control your own freakin' vehicle's lights... and lose those "nanny controls"..!!

 

Same here, I turn on the parking lights, to increase the visibility of my truck to the other drivers.. Correct me if I'm wrong, I don't think fog lights in the daytime annoys oncoming traffic

 

With ya ... all the way...man..!!

 

Hey guys, to clarify has anyone completed this on a 2016 or 17 Taco? If so can you please chime in and let me know which prong on the relay you had to wire to power? I'm about to go buy a new relay just to have one to try this with. We have ZERO room in the compartment as the Fog light relay (if standing by Driver tire) is the Back Left most relay. If its the back left prong on the relay that has to be bent in a U to fit in the bracket. I just want to confirm this if possible. Thanks!

 

I don't think the fix for the 2nd gens will work on the 3rd gens....!! That's what I've read..

 

The bent prong method will not work for our 3rd GENS. Fog light relay is controlled by ECU signal.. so it's a little funky to bypass. @Nitori is hookin me up some FSB schematics so we can figure this out.
But It is looking like an external switch will be needed to activate the fog lights anytime. Until I can find a better way/.../

 

Simple...just tap into the wire that powers the LED driving lights.

 

Go ahead and do that, let us know how it works.

 

Need more bright!

 

I'm in for whatever "fix" comes out, but I'm not into electrical stuff that deep that I could do it on my own.... Have to rely on you smart folks here on TW.

The 2nd gen fix was so damn simple, it should have been illegal..!! HeHe Took me almost 10 minutes to do..!!

 

Thanks everyone. I did try. Relay is only 5 bucks at autozone. So I bent it in a U and ran power. It works same as normal but not always on. Thanks MesoJDM as you are confirmed correct. One strange thing though, the middle pin which is horizontal, if you touch it, even with a screwdriver the lights power on completely. No switch needed. So is that something we could work with perhaps?

 

^ sure. Just hire a trunk money with a screwdriver. He will have to be diligent in activating the fog lights every time though, and might steal all your bananas.

For real though, the factory fog relay(which you are referring to) is activated via a negative tigger from the ECU. So the easiest(hypothetical) way would be to drop the lower dash panel, intercept the fog trigger wire (brown) and throw it on a toggle switch.
What I am trying to do is 1 step further integration. Tracing the fog light switch wire and jumping it directly over to fog activation. Thus bypassing the ECU which is currently limiting Thur function right now.

 

I'd just run my own relay, and bypass the factory switch plug, wire in a new plug and keep the factory switch. Might take a few hours to keep it clean, but then you don't have to worry about messing up the ECU or anything, and can return it to stock.

 

I plan on running switch-pro (aka running my own dedicated circuit anyway)so I might not even get around to doing this mod. But for people that want as OEM as possible(utilizing stock wiring, stock fog fuse, stock switch,etc) the method I mentioned might be the only way. Obviously running your own wire/relay is the best, but some people can barely install a battery correctly.

 

OK I've gotten some real sleep and I'm no longer a zombie flapping at the keyboard in semi coherent response to @mesojdm ...

Alright, so practically speaking this is what your fog light setup looks like on the 3rd gen:


The ECU takes the signal from your stock switch and decides when it wants to ground the coil on the relay, hence the ECU Magic box.

This is why none of the suggested "simple, duuuuh!" fixes work. At all.

So then, wouldn't the simplest solution be to do this:


Just override that sunofagun with your own SPST switch to ground?

Well, yes, that will work, but there's a big problem. The FOG fuse is not ignition switched. It's live, 24/7 baby! So if you accidentally leave your fogs on? They stay on, you flatten your battery, and tears- many tears.

SO here's the way it has to be done:


You find a keyed 12V source, and hook up another relay to it so the override relay coil switches the original relay to ground. I forgot to draw the switch on the keyed 12V source, but that is what would be your override switch.

It's possible to do this without a relay and use transistors instead to create a latch, buuuut... that's more complicated and requires you to make your own PCB or breadboard and whatnot...

 

@Nitori - Thanks so much for the Diag. So to clarify the SPST switch needs to be wired between the ECU and the relay? I can only assume where you tap in the SPST makes a difference. Again, super appreciated!!!

 

check out my thread, it is a very simple mod. i will have a diy next week.. all you will need is to jumper 2 wires at the body control module.

 

Here's the edited image of where you put the SPST switch.