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Installing aftermarket rear fog light

Discussion in 'Prius v Accessories and Modifications' started by Offline, Feb 14, 2016.

  1. Offline

    Offline Active Member

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    I'm about to install a rear fog light on our 2012 Prius v and am looking for a fog light switch that is verified to fit in the 4-switch panel on the lower left of the dashboard. The attached photo shows a switch blank in the location where I want to install it.

    I prefer the indicator light in the switch to be amber or yellow when the switch is on but red or green would be OK.

    Does anyone know of an OEM Toyota fog light switch that would fit? Preferably with a connector and pigtail if the switch contacts are buried inside the switch - not necessary if the contacts are external. An aftermarket switch would be fine too - just need it to fit the empty switch slot. The faces of the existing switches in the panel are about 23mm by 34mm.

    I'm finding plenty of appropriate switches in fog light kits for the Prius v but haven't found a switch sold separately that is designated to work on the Prius v.

    I installed an identical rear fog light on our Sienna but drilled a hole in a switch panel for an round amber Hella switch since all the switch slots were in use. I can find a way to use the Hella switch in the Prius if absolutely necessary. The LED rear fog light I used is very compact and powerful and has an E-code - purchased on eBay Germany. Here is a photo of it on the Sienna - barely noticeable when not in use and it should fit nicely on our Prius.

    OK, I haven't created a thread in a long time - can't seem to upload images.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    This switch fits perfectly, I've mounted it in my dashboard for my DRL project. The indicator light is green, and of course, it is labelled DRL not for foglights. The other consideration is the switch is very light in operation, and in the lower position, it would be very easy to accidentally activate it by bumping it with your knee:

    http://pages.ebay.com/motors/link/?nav=item.view&id=321194133874&alt=web
     
  3. Offline

    Offline Active Member

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    Thanks! I searched the seller's eBay store hoping to find a similar switch not labeled "DRL" but didn't find one. I suppose I could spray paint over the "DRL" lettering on the switch. For now I'm holding out for a fog light switch. Thanks again. The DRL switch is a "definite maybe".
     
  4. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    OEM Toyota fog light switch (20mm x 30mm push switch, with the fog light emblem, with LED indicator - believed to be green, fitting a 17mm x 27mm cut-out). OEM interior switch/wiring harness included. Trying to upload image files...
     
    #4 Air_Boss, Feb 14, 2016
    Last edited: Feb 14, 2016
  5. Offline

    Offline Active Member

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    Thanks. I didn't see a link if you meant to include one but the automatic eBay link added to your reply by "Skimwords" happened to show a Yaris fog light kit that I think includes the switch I'm looking for: Toyota Yaris 09 11 2 4DR Hatchback Front Bumper Clear Fog Lights Lamps w Switch | eBay

    Now to find just the Yaris switch.

    Edit: I've read that the Yaris switch should work but it doesn't look as "short, squat" as the switches in the Prius v.
     
  6. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    Site absolutely frustrates file uploads. Pigtail includes green connector that attaches to switch body.
     
    #6 Air_Boss, Feb 14, 2016
    Last edited: Feb 14, 2016
  7. Offline

    Offline Active Member

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    Air_Boss is providing the fog light switch and harness I need - left over from one of his projects.

    Thank you, Air_Boss!
     
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  8. Offline

    Offline Active Member

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    Not a very good photo in the shadows of late afternoon but it shows the rear fog light that I installed on our 2012 Prius v. It was purchased on Ebay Germany from seller "Lights for Bikes" for around 36 Euros including shipping. I attached its ground wire to a left tail light bolt and ran its power wire along the driver side forward to the rear seat area. Next steps are to run the fog light's power wire under the driver side door sill covers to the switch I got from Air_Boss which I will install in the lower left switch panel and then to run a wire from the switch to the left front fog light positive wire. I'll attach the switch's ground wire to a common ground behind the driver side kick panel.

    The lower left rear interior trim panel was pretty easy to remove - very obvious on how to do it. I had to remove all the floor trim behind the rear seat and expose the hybrid battery in order to run the rear fog light's positive wire forward - again obvious and easy.

    At first I thought I would have preferred an aftermarket rear fog light with a red lens like most I have installed but I have to say that the clear lens of this one makes it less noticeable.

    Oh, I ran the rear fog light wires into the interior through a small existing hole underneath on the left rear that was exposed when I removed a small grommet. I sliced the grommet so that the wires would fit within it and forced the grommet back into the hole.
     

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    #8 Offline, Feb 27, 2016
    Last edited: Feb 28, 2016
  9. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Hmm, it might have been better to use a relay and tap power from the auxiliary battery in the trunk, since it's back there already and close by. That way, your long runs of wire to the switch in the dashboard, running under the floorboard trim pieces, could have been thin gauge wire carrying milliamps for your relay coil.
     
  10. Offline

    Offline Active Member

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    I bought a "5-pack" of relays on Amazon for this project (and others) but found that they were not necessary due to the extremely low current draw of these LED rear fog lights. The wires exiting from these rear LED fog lights are small - only 20 gauge - and I am using only 18 gauge wires forward to the dash switch and then to the front fog light. I've used 10 or 12 gauge wire and relays when installing rear fog lights that use 21W incandescent bulbs.

    This particular LED rear fog light is marketed on eBay Germany for use on U.S. spec cars imported into Europe where rear fog lights are required.
     
  11. Offline

    Offline Active Member

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    I finished the installation this afternoon. It was easy to push a straightened wire coat hanger through the grommet above the gas pedal from the engine compartment, tape the power wire to it and then to pull the power wire into the engine compartment.

    I T-tapped the rear fog light wire to the left front fog light positive wire which required removing the front under body panel as would be done if front fog lights were being installed. I think the positive wire was "greenish" - I confirmed it with a test light.

    I put an in-line weather-proof fuse holder on the rear fog light's power wire and zip tied it just aft of the engine compartment fuse box.

    I installed the fog light switch "upside down" in the lower left switch panel so that at least it would look somewhat similar to a rear fog light symbol (i.e. facing to the right) even if the LED is green instead of the correct amber.

    Rear lights don't usually show up well in photos but, for what it's worth, here is a photo of the rear fog light on from about 30 feet back while the Prius is parked in the garage.
     

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    #11 Offline, Feb 28, 2016
    Last edited: Feb 28, 2016
    jzchen, Air_Boss and xliderider like this.
  12. Offline

    Offline Active Member

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    Here is a photo of the fog light switch I got from Air_Boss and installed in the switch panel. I thought about opening the switch and seeing if I could change the green LED's to amber - the standard color for a rear fog light switch and symbol - but I decided the risk of breaking the switch was too great. I did turn the switch 180 degrees so that the light symbol would point to the right since that is the standard for rear fog light symbols.
     

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  13. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

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    Hello! Thanks for the heads up at the candlepower forums!!!

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  14. MagnusAG99

    MagnusAG99 Senior Member

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    But im just wondering, instead of buying that LED light (its LED isnt it?) but yea.. why didnt u just buy the left taillight from the EU version? Did u just want to keep the second reverse light?
    mine had a fog light in the rear but yea... i dont got it anymore since i changed to valenti`s. Ive been thinking about installing a fog light ulike u got by using this thread. But of course in Norway (even tho any sort of fog lights isnt mandatory) the lights gotta be certified for all sorts of BS... So its hard to find anything i can legally use...
     
  15. Offline

    Offline Active Member

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    The wiring for the rear fog light in the left tail light unit of the EU Prius+ is integrated into the factory wiring harness. The US market Prius v does not have this wiring for the OEM EU Prius+ fog light in its wiring harness nor does the US Prius v have a rear fog light switch on the turn signal lever. Also, an EU Prius+ left tail light unit cost far more than the rear fog light I bought on eBay Germany.

    When I checked a few weeks ago, seller "lightsforbikes" was still selling the rear fog light I bought on eBay Germany at around 30 Euros. If I remember correctly, this rear fog light has an E7 (Netherlands) approval code - it should be acceptable for use in Norway.
     
  16. MagnusAG99

    MagnusAG99 Senior Member

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    ahh i see... yea i do got the rear fog light switch so that makes sense... i just thought it would look more OEM lol, but yea, that little light didnt really scream "HERE I AM", it does look very clean really.

    Aslong as it says an "E" or "e" on them they r legal, the code after the E doesnt matter for us users in EU. (or well, Norway arent even in the EU, lol) The number only shows which country the light has been certified by.

    And when i read the regulations for rear fog lights on Hella.com it looks like (from what it says here) that putting it in the middle of the car is in fact legal.. mhmm, Maybe it would be possible to do some F1/Toyota GT86 placing for the fog light. Says that it doesnt have regualtions from where it can sit except that it gotta be max 1000mm and minimum 250mm from the ground.
    [​IMG]
    It says in Norwegian so yea, lol. Dont really expect anyone to understand it, what is confusing tho is that on the states road authority website and literally every other wbesite for light rules in norway it says "cars CAN have fog lights" but here it says its mandatory? this must be directly translated from German since its mandatory there.
     
  17. Alex PHV

    Alex PHV Junior Member

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    Dannng guys, i'm super Happy to find that post.
    from a Long story I bought my Californian Prius in Europe..... and now I am having hard time get things dones ( Also probably because i'm in France so it make everything harder ahahah) Anyway, I was praying/hoping very hard that one of you would be kind enought to have any wire scheme or any indication to how to do add the REAR fog light, as in europe this need to be only availaible if the front light are ON.
    I alredy found the perfect button and i was sad not finding the correct Harness.
    for the light itlself 2 choice,
    i buy a local rear light and mix them up to replace the right rear light by the new europen rear fog
    OR
    i make a hole in a bumper and put an universal ugly one.

    Anyway, any help would be more than appreciate.
    Might the god of low gas millage bless you :)
     
  18. Offline

    Offline Active Member

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    If you do a google search for "rear fog light wiring diagram", you should find a number of relevant wiring diagrams. Use a common 4-terminal automotive relay and power it from the 12V battery per what xliderider said in post #9. There should be plenty of room to put the relay near the 12V battery.

    You will need to find a non-CANBUS power source to power your rear fog light switch that is "hot" only when the front lights are illuminated. If local regulations allow, I suggest using a positive wire to one of the parking lights. Doing this allows the rear fog to illuminate and draw the least amount of current when the engine is off. Otherwise, power your fog light switch from a front headlight low beam or front fog light positive wire as long as it's not CANBUS.

    The power wire "exiting" your rear fog light switch should be connected to the trigger terminal on your new rear fog light relay - terminal 86.
    The power wire from the 12V battery positive cable clamp will be connected through an in-line fuse to relay terminal 30.
    Connect the positive wire from your new rear fog light to relay terminal 87.
    Relay terminal 85 and the ground wire from your new rear fog light can be connected to any convenient ground on the vehicle body or if necessary they can be connected to the 12V battery negative cable clamp.

    Here is one of the diagrams I found by searching with google.

    Four terminal automotive relay wiring diagram.jpg

    Universal rear log lights are not necessarily "ugly". The low profile rear fog lights I installed on our vehicles are barely noticeable when not in use. Rear fog lights have a relatively narrow beam and must be aimed correctly in order to be useful and pass inspection.
     
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  19. Alex PHV

    Alex PHV Junior Member

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    Dear offline, I greatly appreciate the help here.
    I might indeed look for a solution universal, just because I really need this to pass the inspection and that it should not be that ugly
    anyway I will add to this post when I complete it ( probably before)

    hope everyone has a great week!
     
  20. Offline

    Offline Active Member

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    I suggest that you check to see if there are additional requirements on how your rear fog light switch functions. There may be a requirement that the rear fog light must be reactivated each time it is used even when its switch remains in the ON position. Here is a link to a seller of a component that allows meeting this requirement: Cartek IVA Fog Light Switch Control from Merlin Motorsport