Wiring Fog Lights

[jfa.series1]

While my dash is out and all the other wiring is fully exposed, I am trying to follow EScanlon's tech post on adding fog lights to a early Z - link below. I want to have this in place should I later decide to hang a set of fog or driving lights on the front.

http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?23465-Wiring-Fog-Lights-on-the-Early-Z

I found the red and black pairs at the front of the car. I also found the green and black/white fuel pump pair and connector he referenced in the dash harness. That is the end of the "finds"! There is no sign of a red and green/white pair with a connector. All of my dash wiring is fully accounted for, no orphans in sight.

My FSM says they are a red and red/green pair at the switch connector, no joy there either. The FSM diagram for the various dash connectors has the fuel pump connector but nothing for fog lights.

Does anyone know what connector and wire colors carry the front red and black pair on the main harness thru the firewall? I suspect they have changed colors at this point and are mixed into a multi-prong connector. If I can pick them up at the firewall connector, there should be no problem with tracing them further along.

Thanks,

Jim

[EScanlon]

Jim:

The green and black ARE for the fuel pump fuse connection in that picture. What I was referencing in the picture is that in the background of that picture you see another connector, which is pictured in the second picture. THAT connector is the one that finishes the circuit for the Fog Lamps. All that is needed there is a switch to jumper those two wires the Red and the Green/White. If you could have had the Fog Lamps mounted at the Dealer (Back in the day), they would have mounted the fog lamps on the bumper and inside the console you'd have had a switch connected to that connector. The Fog Lamps are powered off the Parking Light Circuit and are only on when the quarter lamps are on.

At the front of the car, you may want to use individual relays or just one to receive the power from the harness' wiring rather than power the fog lamps directly. You'll have to run a power source, but this way if you have any doubts/concerns as to your wiring harness, you'll be safe.

FWIW

E

PS: The Red wire that is part of the connector is the direct connection to the Fog Lamps up front. The Black wire up front connects directly to the ground screw up front.

Edited May 31, 2011 by EScanlon
Addendum

[Zs-ondabrain]

Not totally sure what has been covered but here's an addendum to it.

On the earlier models (70-71') the 2 wires in question should be located above the Hazard switch on the dash, not the center console. It's roughly near the Oil Pressure gauge, above it and towards the tach, on the dash harness. It's a bitch to reach if the dash is still in, but reachable.

When you turn on your parking lights, you should find a positive signal at that green/white wire (the one coupled with the red wire)

Connect the G/W and Red to a toggle switch. As per E's instructions, ADD a Relay out at the red wire in the front of the car.

on any standard 4 or 5 pin 12vdc automotive relay.

Red wire to pin 85

Ground wire to pin 86 (an 18 guage, short wire, grounded to the frame)

A fused power wire from the battery or Starter bolt, same thing, to Pin 30. (I suggest a decent 12 guage wire with a 15 amp fuse, depends on the fog/driving lights)

Connect both Positive wires from the New lights to pin 87 and Ground the fog/driving lights to a good known ground.

This set-up will allow the lights to only work if the parking lights are on. The switch you hook up will allow you to operate the lights when the parking lights are on and when the parking lights are shut off, the added lights will also shut off, irregardless of the new switch position.

DO NOT POWER THE NEW LIGHTS WITHOUT A RELAY!!!. You will melt the wiring and posibly damage the circuit, switch or fusebox.

Dave

Edited May 31, 2011 by Zs-ondabrain
Adding info for the OP

[jfa.series1]

Enrique and Dave,

Thanks for the feedback. This morning I remembered I have the 1971 FSM Supplement PDF on my PC and gave it a check.

Dave - just as you said, the supplement graphic for the dash connectors shows the "provision" for the fog light switch in one of the main bundles running across the top of the dash, the pointer shows it at the junction for the hazard switch set. I will get into the wiring later today and post my findings, with any luck I can get a pic or two.

As to the relay caution and guidance, that was my plan all along and I appreciate the reminder.

Thanks,

Jim

[jfa.series1]

Problem solved! The Nissan blue tape clearly marked the location of the fog light "provision" wiring. In the first picture, look just to the right of the blue tape and see a female spade connector peeking out like a tiny snake head. After I cut the blue tape and pulled the wiring pair free, here is what I found - the red and green/white pair Enrique wrote about. The wires are long enough to reach a toggle switch installed in the dash above the hazard switch.

Dave - thanks again for the guidance on where to look.

Jim

[Travel'n Man]

Great write up on this wiring schedule guys! I had a set of driving lights back in the '70's and have been thinking of it again! Be sure to post some pictures of your Z once you get the lights mounted. Are you going to use the under bumper mounting holes? What kind of lights are you going with?

[jfa.series1]

Hi Mitchell,

Yes, I will use the holes under the bumper near the license plate mounts. No firm plans for what lights I will eventually use but I have always liked the Cibie' 35's. The rectangular shape compliments the grill and they are consistent with the age of the car.

Jim

[Travel'n Man]

Jim-

I just looked in your garage - she is going to be a beauty - your being a great steward of your Z - excellent job!!

[jfa.series1]

I thought I would wrap up this post with some shots of the completed switch install. The toggle switch is one I have had for many years - a leftover from a boat project, and a far better switch than you can buy today. Just try to find one with a chrome center to compliment the hazard switch.

After opening up the dash, the hole is decidedly "old school" from when switches had a larger diameter mounting shaft. It is about 5/8" to 11/16" with a flat on one side to prevent a switch from rotating. Today's toggle switches are typically 15/32" for a 1/2" hole, as is my switch.

To provide a finished look AND keep the switch centered in the oversized hole, I made a bezel from a 3/8" SS washer. It was nice and thin and it filled the bottom of the molded hole in the dash. I bored the washer to a slip fit over the switch, then polished the surface. The first pic is the parts set with a stock washer out to the right, then the dash opening, and finally the completed install.

All in all, a very satisfying project.

Jim

[Zs-ondabrain]

Very Nice Jim. Compliments it very well.

Glad the info helped you out and that the wires were where they should be.

Dave

[240dkw]

Jim: another way to go is if you have an extra hazard switch you can lightly sand off the hazard marking and hand carve a fog light into the handle. Remove the connector from the switch and put the bullet connectors on the two wires you need. I think I saw this on esprist's web site a while ago.