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2010 Prius Fog Light Install [Retrofit]

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by spiderman, Nov 11, 2009.

  1. treet007

    treet007 Member

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    Congrats on getting the install finished! I'm too chicken so I'm hiring an experienced audio installer to do the work...

    I noticed in the photo that there are holes around the insert where the fog lamp was installed. Would you want to seal these holes (and the opening around the lamp) with silicone or some sealer? This would prevent water from entering the back side of the fog lamp.
     
  2. Creaky

    Creaky Still motorin...

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  3. Dark_matter_doesn't

    Dark_matter_doesn't Prius Tinkerer

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    You can search this forum and/or PriusChat for the alignment instructions.

    The bottom of the adjustor has a recessed phillips screwhead that's a little larger than a #2 Phillips. There are holes in the bottom covers of the fenders (that you had to move to install the fog lights) that allow a long-ish Phillips screwdriver to reach up to the light adjustors.

    The adjustment screw moves the reflector behind the bulb up and down - the movement is small so it isn't obvious. I'd recommend that you look into the light (with it off of course!), note the reflector opening around the bulb, and check that the reflector opening is symmetric and adjust as necessary. That should get them basically pointing straight ahead. I've tried the published procedure for alignment without much success - the pattern gets too diffuse at the distances the procedure specifies (unless you're in a really dark place!)
     
  4. mhadden

    mhadden Precision driver!

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    Quick question to the pioneers of the mod:

    Has anyone checked to see if the Prius is already pre-wired? I looked through the posts but didn't see a definitive answer. So I'm either blind or its not there.

    The reason I ask is after owning several Toyota's, mostly trucks, I've found that even the "plain jane" Toyota's are prewired for various other things. At ToyotaNation I found that cruise was pre-wired in a base Tacoma and that the fogs were pre-wired in a Tundra. I'd much rather plug the fogs into a pre-wired configuration, add the OEM fuse and install the new stalk with the fog light switch on it (similar to the Tundra) than have to go the route of creating a harness and all that jazz...

    Just curious.
     
  5. jayvee

    jayvee Member

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    The only thing that is pre-wired is the fog light relay and fuse. There is no wiring for the fog switch (on the stalk on the "V"), and no wiring to the lamps themselves. If you want to use the factory relay and fuse, it can be done - and that is covered in this thread.

    Other circuits are prewired, such as the auto headlights, with the exception of one wire from the light sensor on top of the dash (and the "auto" stalk switch, which isn't available on US models - but a Canada stalk has both fogs and auto, which is what I got for this mod.) But no other pre-wiring for fogs - sorry!
     
  6. hythere

    hythere HyThere

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    I finally installed the fog lights and I am one happy camper!! I want to send a BIG thanks for all that contributed to the .pdf file. It is like a cookbook, follow he steps and you have some cool fog lights installed!

    I want to jot own some note for those who decided to take on this project after me. I'm sure all of these are around the forum somewhere but I figured it would be good to have them all in one post. I got the Yaris light kit off ebay and the fog light mounts(to replace the blanks) from one of the toyota parts suppliers mentioned elsewhere in the forums.

    #1 My G3 trim level II had absolutely no pre-wiring.

    #2. On initial install, the lights didn't work. I put the red wire two slots below the brown wire behind the dash when it really should have been T-tapped INTO the brown wire. I got some t-tap connectors at pep-boys and that did the trick. I guess I was confused by the photo in the pdf.

    #3 The light on the switch/button only illuminates when depressed. It does not illuminate when the headlights/parking lamps are on.

    #4 The 12v source in the fuse box is always live. I can turn on the headlights/parking lamps and the fogs without turning the car on "Ready".

    #5 The self healing rubber gasket through the fire wall proved tricky for me. It was easy to poke through with a sharp object but the nature of the rubber made it hard to pull the wire through.

    #6 Getting my hand in the engine compartment to pull the wires mentioned in #5 was another tricky task. My hand/forearm is just to damn big(or fat).

    #7 The run of the wires from engine to switch BARELY reached. I think I just used one less zip tie under the dash to leave enough slack but it worked out okay.

    Again, couldn't have done it without those who went before. And now, off to my next mod!!

    Thanks!!
     
  7. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    Glad the mod was successful for you! I will likely update the document and add your comments sometime soon.
     
  8. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    I completed my Fog Light installation today with the kit from Danny and the Prius Shop. Thanks to all that have done this before and posted their issues and successes, they were all a big help before doing it yourself. I have some comments that I would like to add that may help others. Pictures, too.

    Great kit and instructions, easy to use and install.

    • I decided to start with Step 4.0 and do the wiring first. It just made sense to me to do the work inside the car and complete the wiring outside before putting the car on the ramps and working under the car and getting dirty and sweaty. I was also able to lay the fog lights on the engine and test the wiring before installing the lights.
    • I have read where others have had issues with the bridge connector that connects the red wire to the brown wire from the ECU. The trick to me is to be sure to use a set of pliers to press the connection together before folding over the top catch. Of course you do not want to press too hard to cut through the wires but hard enough to be sure to cut through the top insulation. I do not think using only your fingers can exert enough force to cut through the insulation, especially in the tight quarters.
    • I probably spent more time and cut up my hands trying to get my fat hands around the inside and outside wiring in order to route the cables neatly with adequate tie wraps to hold in place. You will need extra tie wraps beyond what is provided in the kit to do this.
    • I used dishwashing liquid on the cable and tape before pulling through the rubber grommet. A little of this goes a long way, especially on the first knuckle that passes through the grommet, and it cleans up easily. I also attached the hook from the clothes hanger to the outer insulation and not directly to the connector bullet on the end of the wire to keep from putting too much force on the connector. Then taped everything together well. Slid right through with no problem.
    • Total time right at 3 hours.
    They look great and now the car looks "finished". I am so glad to get rid of those rubber covers !!

    We have a lot of low lying wetlands around here and we tend to have a lot of fog in the spring and fall when you have high temperature differential between night and day. It will be nice to check these out and see how functional they are. I have read where others were critical of their functionality but I will hold my opinion until I try them for myself.
     

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  9. gwells44

    gwells44 New Member

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    I just got done with the fog light install on my 2010 Prius IV. I painted them prior to installing with the factory black 202 paint.

    Looks much better then the stock plastic grey covers.
     

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  10. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    Nice touch! Where did you get the factory paint?
     
  11. rudiger

    rudiger Active Member

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    That's a good tip.
     
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  12. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    Looks interesting. Has anyone used the stuff and can vouch for the quality/matching? Thanks for the links. I might have to paint the entire front bumper before long... the road rash is getting bad.:mad:
     
  13. Weathernut

    Weathernut chase safe but get real close!

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    got my lights installed this weekend. Good instructions and no issues. Can't wait to try them out in a "real world" environment vs my garage!
     
  14. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

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    Bumper skins require special paint because they are flexible and regular paint will easily flake off.
     
  15. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    Yeah, my 97 Camry was the same way. I even see some GM products where huge flakes of paint have come off. Still such though. Like the term "bumper skins".
     
  16. Barnardf

    Barnardf Sail into the Mystic

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    I ordered the OEM kit from the Priuschat Shop. Great kit...everything fit perfectly. Followed step by step posted earlier in this thread. Everything went well.....almost. After finishing the install, I attempted to adjust the power mirrors. The verticle adjustment on the driver's side didn't work! :( The passenger side mirror and the horizontal adjustment on the driver's side worked fine. Soooo, I took the interior apart again to get to the power mirror connector next to the newly installed fog light swithch and connector. I discovered that one of the seven pins in the male side of the mirror connector had been bent over instead of inserting into the femal side. I very gingerly straightened the pin and reconnected the plug. As I can learn from my mistakes, I tried the miorror adjustment BEFORE reassembling the interior. All is well! Love the feeling of accomplishment that comes with doing it myself!
     
  17. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    Wow, great job figuring out what the problem was!
     
  18. kumatae

    kumatae Member

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    I'm just a prospective prius buyer been reading through all the mods and saw this interesting post and wanted to throw my two cents in with regards to lens cracking. Oh and before I forget, nice instructions OP! I've replaced many fog lights on my 05 accord coupe and jerry rigged many plastic like products on top of the lens but none worked. I just couldn't figure out why manufactures wouldn't use stronger glass since it's only matter of time before you hit a rock and there goes the lens. So what I ended up doing was, I used a pair of fog light housing that were no good and removed all of the glass. I then took the housing to a glass shop and had the guy cut out a set of lens but using MUCH thicker glass (I would guess 3X). Paid him $10. He also gave me an option to use the glass that they use in fireplaces, but it was more than what I wanted to spend, although he said it would be 100X more stronger. I then bought clear glass glue used to fix leaks in aquariums. I glued my new lens on to the housing. It wasn't a perfect fit because the housing had a slight convex but using enough of the glue solved it and plus, there is a black shroud that goes around it the lens so you wouldn't see any of that glue. If you have a dremel, you can sand it so it gives a perfect fit, but make sure you wear protection! I also installed a HID kit so it gives off a lot of heat in that tiny space and the glue hasn't melted or anything like that. Since then, I've driven last 4 years without a single crack. I see small dimples of where rocks have hit but it's still going strong. I have a write up of it but I think it got deleted because it has been so long.

    I plan to buy a prius for my wife soon and definitely plan to do this mod since I rarely see any prius with fog lights and it just makes the car look complete. Hope this helps someone out there...
     
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  19. c64rbr

    c64rbr Junior Member

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    Hi Jayvee,
    Looks like you took advantage of the existing factory fuse, relay and stalk switch to run your fog lights. I just ordered my kit and want to install it the way you did. I want to avoid running wires thru the firewall if possible. Looking at the attached images from the service manual, if I can find factory connector 2C and "FR Fog" relay and either of them is in the engine compartment (under the hood), that means I can simplify my installation by:
    1. Modifying my fog kit wiring to tap the lamp wires directly to pin 8 of connector 2C or switched-output of the "FR Fog" relay.
    2. Replace my Prius II stalk switch with the one with fog light knob.
    3. Leave the fuse, switch and other wires that came with the fog kit unused.

    Do you know where is connector 2C and "FR Fog" relay located?
    (See attached photos.)

    BTW, Thanks to Spiderman providing tons of help and information in this thread.
     

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