Fog light mod

mvp1222 · Post by **mvp1222** » Thu Aug 30, 2012 8:25 pm

Having some fog light issues due to some melting wires/plugs. Got the repair kit but considered doing the relay mod below:

http://www.corral.net/tech/maintenance/foglights.html

Question is this: For rare night driving (once a month), and probably never for over an hour, is this really a concern?

Took me a while to figure out which wire was which in the melted mess I found. Has EVERYONE done this mod?

Thanks,
Mark

buddha · Post by **buddha** » Thu Aug 30, 2012 8:32 pm

I've been too lazy to do the mod, even on a GT vert I had. It generally never took more than about 30 mintues before the lights would start flashing and I'd have to flip the fog lights off.

I never drive my Cobras at night (bugs), so it's not a big concern of mine.

Phistry810 · Post by **Phistry810** » Thu Aug 30, 2012 8:44 pm

So if you just leave the fog lights off all of the time, this problem would never arise?

93Cobra#2771 · Post by **93Cobra#2771** » Fri Aug 31, 2012 9:33 am

Correct. The combo headlight/foglight switch pulls too much current when both are on. It was upgraded the last couple years of fox production, IIRC.

vinchez78 · Post by **vinchez78** » Fri Aug 31, 2012 9:41 am

Ya before I knew of this problem I went to pick up my Cobra in Tx and drove to Ga with the fog lights on

, guess I lucked out on some fried wires my fogs still work, now I don't turn them on for shit!

Phistry810 · Post by **Phistry810** » Fri Aug 31, 2012 9:47 am

I wish Ford would have had a recall for this since they knew about the issue.

mvp1222 · Post by **mvp1222** » Fri Aug 31, 2012 9:51 am

93Cobra#2771 wrote:Correct. The combo headlight/foglight switch pulls too much current when both are on. It was upgraded the last couple years of fox production, IIRC.

So was it fixed by 93? I suspect my problem was due to a previous owner splicing the circuit so that fogs could be run independent of normal headlights. If I have an upgraded circuit, I'll just return everything back to OEM. But don't want to have to worry abt it again now that I've done the research and taken the dash apart.

93Cobra#2771 · Post by **93Cobra#2771** » Fri Aug 31, 2012 9:53 am

There was an upgraded switch assembly, IIRC. Mine is bone stock and never had any issues.

Those that did the fog light mod were sometimes done incorrectly and caused issue.

Working from memory, someone correct me if I'm wrong...

93Cobra#2771 · Post by **93Cobra#2771** » Fri Aug 31, 2012 9:54 am

BTW, it is very easy to pop the switch out of the pod. Flat blade screwdriver for the win.

buddha · Post by **buddha** » Fri Aug 31, 2012 12:59 pm

I don't know that there was a fix Richard, unless it was really late in the production year. At least not that I recall....lol!

And yes, it's just when both sets of lights are running. Properly done, the fix will work.

93Cobra#2771 · Post by **93Cobra#2771** » Fri Aug 31, 2012 1:14 pm

I'm checking one of my sources even as we speak. He will know for sure and I'll report the results.

mvp1222 · Post by **mvp1222** » Fri Aug 31, 2012 2:23 pm

93Cobra#2771 wrote:I'm checking one of my sources even as we speak. He will know for sure and I'll report the results.

Very interested in what you find. According to the DIY article I linked above, the problem was the 18gauge wire they used for the mains and fogs...not the switch itself. At some point, someone had wired the fogs directly into the Blk/Org main headlight power as a cheap hack allowing fogs to be run anytime. When I took everything out, that lead had completely melted away.

I am considering just wiring straight from the battery with an inline fuse through the OEM fog switch and back to the fog lights (with 12 awg obviously). This would allow me to run the fogs regardless of main switch position.

Or I may actually install the relay with an actuation loop powered off the parking light circuit. Which would allow me to run fogs with the parking lights on and retain the "idiot chime" if I ever left them on.

Anyone have any thoughts on either plan?

Thanks in advance,
Mark

buddha · Post by **buddha** » Fri Aug 31, 2012 2:47 pm

DON"T wire it up directly. Always use a relay. This is the proper way to wire anything up in the car.

93Cobra#2771 · Post by **93Cobra#2771** » Fri Aug 31, 2012 9:00 pm

Memory failed me, apparently. No changes.