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1998.5 2500, Can I put Fog lights on their own switch?

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Old Nov 28, 2023 | 04:50 PM
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1998.5 2500, Can I put Fog lights on their own switch?

Hi, Right now the fog lights come on as soon as parking lights are turned on Position 1, Am I able to separate them so i can control when they come on? I believe they are factory set up.



Thanks
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Old Nov 30, 2023 | 09:24 AM
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Am surprised that nobody has replied to your question. Am not familiar with your year of truck, but will attempt a general answer that hopefully will help you.

Take a look at the 2 wires close to the fog lights and note the color codes. Then dive under the dash and open the wire loom close to the light switch and see if you can find wires with the same color codes. Am guessing that you will only find one wire because the other wire will be grounded somewhere else. Cut the wire and insulate the end going to the switch. Now extend the cut wire from the fog lights to a conveniently mounted switch. If that was my vehicle I would use a switch with a light in it so that I would know when the fog lights are on, or use a switch that is plainly marked ON or OFF. The switch with light in it will probably require and extra wire to a power source. Now find a suitable wire that has power on when the ignition switch is on and tap into that and run that wire to the other side of the switch. Alternatively, run a fused wire directly from the positive terminal of the closest battery to the switch.

Hope this helps. Let us all know what you ended up doing.
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Old Nov 30, 2023 | 10:15 PM
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From: NY
I will take a look at it once I get the truck back from the alignment shop, thanks for some ideas.
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Old Dec 1, 2023 | 04:27 PM
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That's an odd set up...is your truck a Canadian delivery version that had DLR? Somebody may have altered the set up to run the fogs instead of the headlights....
Another thought would be if it has a brite-box installed, but I don't remember if that was an option on mine.

Follow Mexstan's advice and let us know what you find out.

Kurt
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Old Dec 1, 2023 | 05:49 PM
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From: NY
I'll let you guys know once I am able to dive into it. Hopefully its nothing to confusing.
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Old Dec 2, 2023 | 07:36 AM
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From: NY
I purchased this,

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186159855935

My switch looks like this
https://www.ebay.com/itm/35406843961...Bk9SR5bG16uFYw
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Old Dec 2, 2023 | 10:52 AM
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That's the early 2nd gen switches set up before they went to the turn style headlight switch at the 98.5 transition era....the factory fog light button on my dad's 94 gave out so we ran a rocker switch and relay for an upgrade set of projector fogs, which are more driving lights than fogs and help spotting the Montana prairie rats that seem to always need to cross the highway in front of him...

My headlight switch gets pretty warm and includes the fog switch by pulling it out. The brite-box didn't help reduce that but carries the extra load thru it's relays...

Just a few thoughts, Kurt
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Old Dec 2, 2023 | 04:17 PM
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From: NY
I checked the build sheet fogs weren't listed.
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Old Dec 14, 2023 | 04:15 PM
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Not sure what level trim your truck has but mine had all the wiring in place for electric power mirrors and clearance lights. There is also an unattached connector near the ignition that I think may be for the illuminated key ring bezel that was standard thru 2000 IIRC...
Yours may have wiring tucked away near the front bumper for factory fogs...green w/gray tracer IIRC....the light switch would just be empty where the fog lead went in....

Good luck, Kurt
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Old Dec 15, 2023 | 06:32 AM
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From: NY
My tuck had clearance lights not sure if they were factory or not, I have the correct fog light switch set up, I will look for the wires , I may wait until I replace the dash to look for the the inside wires. Hopefully it is there, I am wondering how they tied them into the Factory headlight switch.
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Old Dec 15, 2023 | 08:41 AM
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My 01.5 didn't have fog lights, but all the wiring was there. All I had to do was change the headlight switch to the one that included the fog lights and add the lights. If you haven't put your lights on relays, you should.
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Old Dec 15, 2023 | 03:13 PM
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From: NY
I currently have the pull style switch, I don't believe the switch you rotate/turn and pull for fog lights plugs in without rewiring. What style switch did your truck have originally? I'll have to look and do some research to see if they were put on a relay or not by a prior owner.
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Old Dec 16, 2023 | 11:50 AM
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We put an illuminated rocker switch down on the knee panel on dad's 94 and powered it off the cigar lighter, it kicks a relay to the fogs which are powered off a fused lead to the + on the battery...it's not hard to see but is a bit low.

Kurt
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Old Dec 16, 2023 | 12:24 PM
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I get confused easily with wiring, Just not something I am proficient at, I think I make it out to be harder than it is.
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