Because we haven't talked about fog lights enough....

[SimonRage]

Don't hit me! Please! I really just have a few questions.... and they haven't been answered before.

I really like the look of these and am wondering a few things that seem to have been glossed over in the other threads...

I have the blulogic bluetooth add-on, so there is no where to stick the switch on the dash by my leg (since the other spot on the 2011's has the traction control button). In one of those threads, someone mentioned that there is a stalk that can be purchased to replace the existing switch on the column...

1. What is the part number or location to buy that stalk for 2011? I've come to find that a ton of stuff that fits pre 2010 doesn't fit 2011 cars and since I've only had this thing two weeks, I don't know who the best suppliers are.
2. If I get the stalk, how does that change the way things will be wired? I assume that there will be pins on the stalk that connect to existing wiring... which would mean I would have to be pre-wired for fog lights. That doesn't seem right to me - am I off base?
3. Do folks even do that, or should I just splice the wire feeding the low-beam relay to feed both fog and low-beam relays? Where is that relay anyhow?

[SimonRage]

Answered some of my own questions by doing some deep digging in the manuals and looking at the car itself.... things I know now:

1. 2011 LE is definitely not pre-wired for fog... hooray - more work for me.
2. Adding a stalk would "attach" the stalk to the fuse block near the e-brake. Still no idea on part number (84140-06390 is confirmed for earlier years)
3. I have no idea what wires go from the fuse block in the passenger compartment through the firewall - installing a fuse there may just connect it into an empty hole on the main fuse block inside the engine bay. (there is no fuse in the fr fog spot in that main fuse block)

Next step is to test continuity between those two points to be sure there's something there... then I'll have to find out if there is anything that leads off of the main fuse block heading over the fog lights.

[sky03]

post pics when u get them, are u gettin HID or just using regular bulbs on them?

[eyezack87]

Erm, use the place by the TC button. To wire it up so you can control it independently, pull the power from the cig lighter in that cubbyhole inside the dash. That way you wont have to piggyback the wires from the lowbeam or anything.

If you don't mind waiting a bit for me to sell my ES300 retrofit into my Gen6.5, I'm gonna pick these up to play with for fun. Wiring is easy but you'll need to extend 4 wires to go into the car.

[SimonRage]

Originally Posted by sky03

post pics when u get them, are u gettin HID or just using regular bulbs on them?

They come with regular bulbs so that's what I'll use for now at least. We'll see how the mood hits me. I still have to tint the windows and tails before tackling the lighting.

Originally Posted by eyezack87

Erm, use the place by the TC button. To wire it up so you can control it independently, pull the power from the cig lighter in that cubbyhole inside the dash. That way you wont have to piggyback the wires from the lowbeam or anything.

If you don't mind waiting a bit for me to sell my ES300 retrofit into my Gen6.5, I'm gonna pick these up to play with for fun. Wiring is easy but you'll need to extend 4 wires to go into the car.

The spot by the TC button has the bluetooth module in it - that's why I'm trying to figure out another way to control them. What I'm confused about is the fact that this thing has two separate lights each - one CFL and one fog yet there is only one switch included. Seems like they don't want you to control them separately.

I'm going to do a little stewing on this for a bit to be sure I come up with the best solution - I'll let you know what I come up with but would love to hear your story when you do the same.

[eyezack87]

You could make it so the angel eyes are wired up to the other cig lighter, or even your ignition ring but that'll make it constantly on. When I buy mine and install it, I'm going to remove the angel eyes. I'll use them for some other project in the future.

Another option you can do is place the switch inside the cubbyhole by our right leg. I never really got the point of those so I wired one up for a Gen10 Corolla not too long ago there. Be imaginative with your placement if you don't get the stalk. All it requires is a bit of cutting and extension of wires anyway

[SimonRage]

Not sure if anyone digs these as much as I do, but I just noticed a set for quite a bit less. Being the cheap-ass I am, I ordered them up.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...K%3AMEWNX%3AIT

For my eyes, these seem to be exact same as the set I put in my first post. We'll see about quality once they arrive - I'll report back soon.

[eyezack87]

Most likely I'll be getting mine after I go to SEMA. Best of luck to you though

[Ava_Cam]

WOW what a difference, im also interested in these bbut im afraid of them looking too ricey... i want to see how your look and then ill make my move, keep us posted!

[chlpzahoy]

any update with these fogs......

[SimonRage]

Not yet, mate. They haven't arrived since I only ordered them on Saturday. I'll definitely post pics when they come in.

[SimonRage]

Well, they are in now. I think they look great - especially because they are projectors and match the headlights really well. My only complaint is that the halo LED's are pretty weak.

Here are some pics. Warning, the files at the link are humongous.


http://stitch.simonrage.com/hosted/Car/Camry_Fogs/


As a light walk through, here is what I did:

1. Add a black/red (14 ga) wire running along with the supplies to the same area as the fogs (see first few pics). I split them at the same locations the wires run out to the fogs. This is to supply power to the halos (since there was no wiring for this included).
2. Get the car in the air (drivers side was better to jack up).
3. Remove the four bolts holding the under-car shield in place and wrestle it out of the way. There are three right in front of the wheel and a fourth on the bumper cover. You can just flex the cover back so it is loose and you can reach in.
4. Run the wires to both sides being mindful of the radiator and hoses. I made sure everything went UNDER all that stuff.
5. Zip tie the shit out of everything to keep it in place. There aren't many options for attaching, but you'll find stuff.
6. Wrestle (seriously) with the existing fog covers to get them out. You need to pop one clip out at a time, but hold it out while working on the others.
7. Feed the wires through the holes and connect/install the fogs. The kit came with six screws - on the 2011, there is only one screw hole that does anything to hold the fogs in place.
8. Install the surrounds around the fogs - the easiest part of the whole job.
9. Wire the hot supply line to the bolt in the fuse block (WARNING: a member here said that would be hot only when the key was in ACC... they were wrong - it's always hot.) Since it's always hot, either be *really* careful or disconnect the battery.
10. From under the car on drivers side, loosen the ground and install the connector/tighten up... we now have power/ground for the relay. You can only reach this from under the car going up. Not too terrible to get to.
11. Head into the passenger compartment and use a pair of screw drivers to move the rubber boot out of the way (see images) to feed wires through the firewall.
12. Bring in two wires (will function as power and signal to the relay)
13. Pull the dash under the wheel forward until it pops open - install switch. Also pretty easy to do.
14. What I did was connected the wires that came with the switch via quick-connects to the wires coming in from the engine bay. Attach ground coming off of switch harness to bolt on the e-brake.
15. Push it all back together.

This all works out perfectly except one thing. The switch is powered ALL the time since it's fed from the battery. This does not please me, so it's been disconnected for now until I figure out a better approach. The kit includes a quick-splice terminal for the switch power. I think the designers intended the 'hot' for the switch to be fed by the low-beams.

P.S.
Ignore the pics of the generic switches. I bought two so I could control the halo and the fogs separately, but just didn't like how one looked without the other on.


EDIT
I'll try to get some night pics, too once I figure out what I want to do about the switch. Luckily I wired everything up with quick connectors so it's not a chore to hook it back up.

[eyezack87]

Nice. I meant to get them but got into longboard skating again so thats been taking up my funds lol

Anyway, wire it up to your cigarette lighter. That way it'll only turn on when your key is in the "on" position in the ignition. With that set up you can also use them independent of your lowbeams. I sometimes put them on with my DRLs during the day

[sky03]

looks good... cant wait to see the night pics, try to get some cutoff pics please

are the bulbs are easily switchable to h3 HID?

[JSM1284]

Thumbs up for a local guy!