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Fog Light question- is my car plug and play?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by bmparent, Aug 2, 2019.

  1. bmparent

    bmparent Member

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    Hi All,
    So I recently had the thought of installing fog lights on my 2007, I don't really need them but I live in the sticks and some of the roads are pretty dark, and we're at a lower elevation so they're especially bad when they're foggy. After investigating I found I have a fog-light switch on my steering wheel stick (behind the head light switches) and at least on the driver's side under the bumper/headlight there is a plug that branches off of another cable that seem to go nowhere but is the perfect length to plug into the fog lights. I'm hoping that this means with the right set of lights that they'll be plug-in able and that's it. What you think? I've been searching the threads but haven't really found an answer.I can't remember if the previous owner had the FL's or not. thanks y'all.
     
  2. 69shovlhed

    69shovlhed Surly tree hugger

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    get some oem fog lights and install them. worst case scenario you have to add some wiring. sounds like you really do need them; perhaps even some driving lights that stay on even with high beams.
     
  3. bmparent

    bmparent Member

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    Thanks 69shovlhed, but all the choices on amazon are pretty overwhelming and as far as I can see lots of different wiring configurations. I definitely like to do some DIY stuff (even rebuilt by HV battery) but installing wiring feels out of my reach. Any advice on how to choose the right set of lights? And what is meant by "driving lights" I don't think I've heard that term before. Are those different than "fog lights" ?
     
  4. 69shovlhed

    69shovlhed Surly tree hugger

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    you've seen cars with an extra set of lights that are annoyingly bright before. that's what I mean. they will piss other drivers off, but out in the sticks they're great for spotting deer before the stupid critters jump in front of your car. may not be a problem where you live, but here there are way more white tails than there should be, and they will jump in front of your car.
     
  5. 69shovlhed

    69shovlhed Surly tree hugger

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    look for oem style lights, not universal mount lights. the universal lights don't really fit, but the oem lights will mount to your bumper correctly. I bought used fogs from ebay because both my fogs were cracked. if you pop out the grill end pieces, you will see the recesses for the factory fog lights. if you don't get actual Toyota fog lights, make sure they are sae (it will have sae cast into the lens). I did buy some non-sae lights and they didn't fit correctly and were floppy. you don't want the lights bouncing around every time you go over a small bump in the road.
     
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  6. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Fog lights cast light low, short, and extending way out to the sides, so they can (among other things) help you see the edge of the road when you're making your way slowly in fog.

    Driving lights are another sort of accessory light, with similar mounting positions, casting light straight ahead. They're for when you're driving at high speeds and you're afraid oncoming drivers aren't blinded enough by your regular high beams (or, less cynically, when there isn't any oncoming traffic).

    You can usually kind of tell what sort of light is intended by looking at the mounting location in the bumper. The Prius bumper is clearly designed for fogs, as the light is set back in a recess at the end of the bumper, that opens well out to the side.
     
  7. bmparent

    bmparent Member

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    Oh, yes, it's a problem here, hit a porcupine last week and got a crack in the bumper and lost the front plastic grille. This is all how it started, with me having to cut away part of the mud flap that ripped off, finding the wiring for the lamps, thinking maybe I should just install them while I'm making the repairs...maybe I'll look into driving lights. No, definitely.