Adding fog lights and unable to find the correct fuse

[jsean]

Thanks everyone for chiming in, I’m all set.
For those who might be looking for switched fuses on their US MK2 Focus, the areas in the red circles have several of them. The fuse slots outside of them seem to be all constant 12V.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

This method is very sound; however, the OP does not identify in what state he resides. You will not pass a state safety inspection in certain states that prohibit running fog/driving lights with only the parking lights. This is the case in Virginia where the auxiliary fog/driving lights can only be legally activated when the headlight (low or high) beams are illuminated. In my experience, any DOT certified OEM fog/driving lights installed at the factory for vehicles sold in the U.S., they will be wired this way to comply with all 50 states.

I know you brought that up in the past. I have never experienced that, I'm not sure what NY does for that but we have yearly inspections and I have this many vehicles and my parents for about 45 years. One option is to leave the switch off that day. 2nd option while wiring is to run the tap power lead from the low beams. You can either run that to a 3 way switch OR just swap that trigger wire that day.

Mine are rarely on without headlights except in those really low visibility scenarios which I definitely want my parking lights on. They do help fill side for deer etc with highbeams on.

I actually have a high beam lead tapped with a covered female spade connector in my Accord and my sons Forte. I do a club low speed TSD rally 3-4 times per year at night. I have extra driving lights aimed to side of road for that purpose. I can only use them when no one is front of me so when I turn on high beams, they come on also and turn off when not.

The only issue my sister had once was that her fog light lenses were broken and bulbs burnt out. Dealer said they had to work since they were factory. They were actually aftermarket in factory spot, she showed where she bought them from Honda dealer as accessory so they let it go. I think they just wanted to charge her for a new full set.

 

[Nukeman7]

I know you brought that up in the past. I have never experienced that, I'm not sure what NY does for that but we have yearly inspections and I have this many vehicles and my parents for about 45 years. One option is to leave the switch off that day. 2nd option while wiring is to run the tap power lead from the low beams. You can either run that to a 3 way switch OR just swap that trigger wire that day.

Mine are rarely on without headlights except in those really low visibility scenarios which I definitely want my parking lights on. They do help fill side for deer etc with highbeams on.

I actually have a high beam lead tapped with a covered female spade connector in my Accord and my sons Forte. I do a club low speed TSD rally 3-4 times per year at night. I have extra driving lights aimed to side of road for that purpose. I can only use them when no one is front of me so when I turn on high beams, they come on also and turn off when not.

The only issue my sister had once was that her fog light lenses were broken and bulbs burnt out. Dealer said they had to work since they were factory. They were actually aftermarket in factory spot, she showed where she bought them from Honda dealer as accessory so they let it go. I think they just wanted to charge her for a new full set.

The vehicle state inspection criteria for auxiliary lights are much simpler for NY vs. VA. I copied the following motor vehicle inspection criteria for fog lights from the NY DMV.gov site:

5. Supplementary Lighting - Any exterior headlamps, spotlights, fog lights, etc., added to those originally placed on the vehicle by the manufacturer, must operate on a switch or switches separate from the headlamp switch.

Reject if add-on exterior lights are not on a switch separate from the headlamp switch.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

The vehicle state inspection criteria for auxiliary lights are much simpler for NY vs. VA. I copied the following motor vehicle inspection criteria for fog lights from the NY DMV.gov site:

5. Supplementary Lighting - Any exterior headlamps, spotlights, fog lights, etc., added to those originally placed on the vehicle by the manufacturer, must operate on a switch or switches separate from the headlamp switch.

Reject if add-on exterior lights are not on a switch separate from the headlamp switch.

And what does VA have?

 

[Nukeman7]

And what does VA have?

For fog lights, VA even discriminates on whether the vehicle has 2 or 4 headlight beams

Inspect for and reject if:

a. A vehicle may be equipped with more than two fog lamps; however, not more than two lamps can be illuminated at any time.
b. Lamps are not of an approved type (SAE or DOT-F or F2) or a lamp has been altered.
c. The lens is other than clear or amber. (Fog lamps may have black end bulbs or small metal caps over the end of the bulb.)
d. The lens has a piece broken from it or is rotated away from its proper position.The lens may have one or more cracks provided an off-color light does not project through the crack or cracks.
e. Wiring or electrical connections are defective or filaments do not burn.
f. Any fog lamp is mounted above the level of the regular headlamps, or is not mounted firmly.
g. Lamps are not wired and aimed according to the following instructions:
1) Fog lamps are general illumination lamps as covered in 19VAC30-70-160 D. They must burn through the tail light circuit even if on a separate switch. If installed on a vehicle with a four-headlamp system or a vehicle equipped with driving lamps, they must be wired into the low beam circuit.
2) Fog lamps must be aimed so that the top edge of the high intensity zone is set at the horizontal centerline and the left edge of the high intensity zone is set atthe vertical centerline. (Same as low beam headlights.) NOTE: Fog lamps must be aimed using the optical headlight aimer.
3) A tolerance of four inches in 25 feet is allowed in both the horizontal and the vertical adjustment.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

How do you set left edge of high intensity at vertical centerline? All my factory fogs allow height adjustment not left/right.

Also they have to work or you fail according to that. How many vehicles do they actually fail or charge hundreds of $$ to replace bulbs that people can’t afford?

This is factory LED ‘19 Pilot

 

[Nukeman7]

How do you set left edge of high intensity at vertical centerline? All my factory fogs allow height adjustment not left/right.

Also they have to work or you fail according to that. How many vehicles do they actually fail or charge hundreds of $$ to replace bulbs that people can’t afford?

This is factory LED ‘19 Pilot

That section of the VA State Police Vehicle Inspection manual only applies to aftermarket supplemental lights. A different section addresses OEM factory installed fog/driving lights. Six pages of inspection criteria just for auxiliary lights, in addition to eight pages of criteria pertaining to headlights/taillights!

VA State Police Vehicle Inspection Manual

 

[Sequoiasoon]

The VA things I read but of course probably my selective reading, list fog lights, driving lights, cornering lights, back up lights as general lighting. All forward versions do require correct aim (me too). I read below that I can use the two fog lights by themselves, with low beams, and high beams if the hi and low are in same housing which 99% of newer vehicles have. I just can’t have more than 4 on at one time. (Except for as many reverse lights as I want)

Technically if I had 2 six inch light bars with 1/2 the bar fog and 1/2 spot distance for extra high beams they could all be on but that would blind people. Diode Dynamics has 3” pods that are a combination lens of driving and fog(maybe flood).