Thread: Electrical Gurus... a quick question

I can give you a hand this weekend...but it better not get in the way of the korean bbq. lol

I just tapped into the grey wire, didn't cut anything. I'm always afraid to cut things.. :dunno:

Originally Posted by Specimen

I bet if you hook it back up how you had it, your parking lights will be on whenever your keys are in the ignition. Regardless if your fog light switch is on or off.

That is correct

Originally Posted by Specimen

If this is the case all you probably have to do is cut that grey wire just before you made that tap. This will force the +12V from the defroster to only travel through the fog switch (purple plug) then to your fog lights and not through the grey wire in the opposite direction towards the parking lights. Also remember to cover than grey wire after you cut it to prevent it from touching ground. If you don’t then when you turn on your parking lights, you’ll blow fuses.

Oh, I see what you're saying.. good idea. I didn't think about the current also flowing back towards the parking lights. Hmm. Thanks for the tip, I just may have to try that tomorrow. Thanks again!

Originally Posted by DK888

I can give you a hand this weekend...but it better not get in the way of the korean bbq. lol

Don't worry, there is nothing that could possibly get in the way of that tasty BBQ goodness!

i haven't really got a good visual in my head of what is goin on, but you can use a diode to prevent the current flow back into the parking lamp circut. I have a manual switch to 'fake' the ACC lead on my M2ATX, which is also connected to the radio fuse. whenever the manual switch was on, the radio and other power accessories would stay on. I fixed this by putting a diode in line with the power line coming from the radio fuse in the fusebox, to allow current to flow only to the M2ATX and not backwards back into the Power accessories

Thanks for the diode suggestion kamikaze, will report back how everything works out.

That works too. But if you are going to place a diode in there, your going to have to cut the wire anyways, so why reconnect it if you don't need the 12v coming from the parking lights anyways. You'll have the 12v coming from the defroster so you really don't need it to be connected at all.

The only thing the diode will allow you to do is turn on your fog lights when you turn on your Parking/Headlights with your keys NOT in the ignition. Since the 12v from the defroster won't provide the 12v when your car is off, the diode line will provide the power to your fog lights when you turn on your lights and your car is off.

Now if you place a diode in there, this raises another problem you will have. You'll need to place ANOTHER diode across the wire you used to tap into the defroster 12v and the gray wire. If you don't place this second diode, you will have the same problem like you did with the current running backwards through the gray wire. Since that line you tapped into the defroster is an accessory on line you will be providing current to everything connected to the accessory on wires when you turn on your lights. Not a problem when your keys are in the ignition, but It would be quite funny to turn on your lights without your keys in the car and turn on your fuel pump, radio, carputer, AC power windows, or anything else that turns on when the ACC ON line goes hot.

So I would save the trouble and just cut the gray line and not add the 2 diodes.

oh and remember, what ever you cut you can always solder it back together if you really need it connected again.

Ok, well not only am I adventurous, but I also have trouble sleeping when there's something on my mind. And so, I have to say..

Specimen, you nailed it!

Cut the grey wire, capped & taped up the live wire, and jumped the plug end back to the defroster power.

Thanks again!



Here are some pics, because they always make threads more fun..

Fog Lamp plug:



Defroster Plug:



Fog power wire cut, connected to defroster power:



Just fogs!



Fogs & parking lights



Fogs, parking, and headlights:


And yes, those are HIDs that DK888 helped me install the other day (although it's more like I helped him.. Thanks again!!)

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There was just fogs..then fogs and parking lights...then stupid bright.

Anytime!