Installing Fog Lights on a MC LX

[yojabbajabba]

Hey all,

I'd like to know whether the wiring for the foglights is already there for when install a set of aftermarket foglights. I picked up a set from AliExpress and wanted to know if it would be a matter of plug-and-play or whether I'd need to create my own sub-loom (my 2015 MC LX has the fog light switch assy in the cabin already).

Cheers
A

[bundybear75]

Following......

[russellw]

Where the switch is installed then so is the fog lamp loom so you should find the two connectors somewhere!

Cheers
Russ

[cobrin]

its been my experience that there are some parts missing, you can fill those items and it'd be functional as expected.

switch - even though you have one it may not be operational for fog lights
wiring loom harness to bumper fog lights - both sides
Fog lights (perhaps a mounting bracket)

that's about it

[Mondaveo]

Originally Posted by yojabbajabba

my 2015 MC LX has the fog light switch assy in the cabin already

How many fog lamp buttons in your LX?

In the Titanium there are two. Front and rear.

The rear fog lamps are integral with the taillights and present across all grades. Fronts are only fitted on Zetec and Titanium.

I'd be very surprised if you have both front and rear fog lamp buttons with the front button unconnected. Usually manufacturers use a blank in place of a working switch. If you only have one fog lamp switch, you'll probably find that it's for the rear lamps.

(The front fog lamp button is to the left of the headlight switch and the lamp icon points left. Rear button is on the right side and the icon faces right.)

[yojabbajabba]

Originally Posted by Mondaveo

How many fog lamp buttons in your LX?



In the Titanium there are two. Front and rear.



The rear fog lamps are integral with the taillights and present across all grades. Fronts are only fitted on Zetec and Titanium.



I'd be very surprised if you have both front and rear fog lamp buttons with the front button unconnected. Usually manufacturers use a blank in place of a working switch. If you only have one fog lamp switch, you'll probably find that it's for the rear lamps.



(The front fog lamp button is to the left of the headlight switch and the lamp icon points left. Rear button is on the right side and the icon faces right.)

So it turns out I have the REAR fog lights with a blank switch for where the front ones should be. Thanks for the tip!

What should I do next? Is it easy to find the switch for the front and a harness for the front? Would I be able to wire in the front fog lights using the same control as the rear ones?



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[cobrin]

for my foglights to work i press the button on the headlight light level knob, its a rotary knob with inner button. Which i see in your pic, is the right side for the rears? (dash brightness)

[Mondaveo]

Originally Posted by cobrin

for my foglights to work i press the button on the headlight light level knob, its a rotary knob with inner button. is yours like that?

Yes, the other way I could have described it is the front fog lamps are controlled by the inner button of the rotary headlight level knob, and the rear fog lamps are the inner button in the rotary dashboard brightness knob.

Cobrin, your MB has front fog lamps only?

Originally Posted by yojabbajabba

What should I do next? Is it easy to find the switch for the front and a harness for the front? Would I be able to wire in the front fog lights using the same control as the rear ones?

At a pinch, I'd guess you could hook it up to the existing button to have front fog lamps instead of/in addition to the rears, but I have no idea about wiring.

Personally, I'd look on ebay or find a wrecker with a whole vehicle to see if you can get the parts cheap. Also sites like partsplus.com.au. The switchgear shouldn't be too hard but I think the wiring might be problematic if it requires anything special (hard to extract from a complete vehicle and harnesses tend to be expensive to buy new...).

Here's a listing I found for the switches on ebay, but I'd hold off buying until you know what you need for wiring the lights up too: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/252827965123

[yojabbajabba]

Yep the switch on the right is for the REAR fog lights, the blank switch on the left (which has the rotary selector for the headlight dip) is supposedly for the FRONT fog lights.

[yojabbajabba]

Thanks for the advice - will go and see if the wreckers nearby have a full Mondeo lying around. I think I'll go find which relay is controlling the rear fog-lights and piggy-back that signal to my new front fog lights - that way only one button controls both F+R and I won't have to purchase that second-hand switch.

When you turn on the front and rear fog lights are there two separate indicator lights on the instrument panel that light up?

[Mondaveo]

Originally Posted by yojabbajabba

When you turn on the front and rear fog lights are there two separate indicator lights on the instrument panel that light up?

Yes there are; pg79-80 of the manual.
From memory the indicator for the front fog lights is green and for the rear is amber, but be mindful my cluster is a totally different layout to yours!

[whitelion65]

At a pinch, I'd guess you could hook it up to the existing button to have front fog lamps instead of/in addition to the rears, but I have no idea about wiring.

Please don't wire them both on the same switch. Front fog lamps can be annoying, especially when used in the wrong conditions.
Rear fog lamps are diabolical in the wrong conditions. Only to be used in heavy fog, or on tail-gaiters ;-)

[yojabbajabba]

Originally Posted by whitelion65

Please don't wire them both on the same switch. Front fog lamps can be annoying, especially when used in the wrong conditions.
Rear fog lamps are diabolical in the wrong conditions. Only to be used in heavy fog, or on tail-gaiters ;-)

Haha.... I won't be using the fog-lights unless it's actually foggy outside. Would it not make sense that when the front fog-lights are utilised the rear ones are on as standard? It doesn't make any sense why you'd only have the REAR or FRONT fog lights on only.

To be clear, I am also installing the LED DRLs that will be auto-on during ignition and auto-dim when the low/high beams are on. The fog lights are being installed for two reasons; for foggy days going up the Macedon Ranges (VIC), and to fill in those ugly black plastic panels in the LX's bumper.

[Mondaveo]

Originally Posted by yojabbajabba

Would it not make sense that when the front fog-lights are utilised the rear ones are on as standard? It doesn't make any sense why you'd only have the REAR or FRONT fog lights on only.

Front fog lights are to help you see.
Rear fog lights are to help you be seen.

Different purposes are probably the justification for manufacturers providing independent operation, or conditions may make one less suitable over the other.
Earlier this year I drove through a torrential downpour with visibility down to the taillights of the vehicle in front. I put my rear foggies on to make my vehicle more conspicuous against being rear-ended, but left the front ones off while they gave me no benefit.

Most cases though, if used sensibly, front+rear should be just as acceptable as independent front/rear?

[cobrin]

Originally Posted by Mondaveo

Cobrin, your MB has front fog lamps only?

both, fronts level knob, rears dash brightness knob as you described. I guess that's the Zetec trim for ya.

[NZ XR6]

I expect that the wiring to the switch is standard across all models, so you probably just need to change the switch. But you may need to add a fuse and relay to the assembly under the glovebox.

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[bundybear75]

Originally Posted by yojabbajabba

Hey all,

I'd like to know whether the wiring for the foglights is already there for when install a set of aftermarket foglights. I picked up a set from AliExpress and wanted to know if it would be a matter of plug-and-play or whether I'd need to create my own sub-loom (my 2015 MC LX has the fog light switch assy in the cabin already).

Cheers
A

You wouldn't be able to share a link to the lights you brought would you? I'm interested in attempting this myself.