Fog Light Install + Review

[TazRango]

Got this set of fog lights from AutomatCentral to replace my fugly stockers. The stock lenses were sandblasted and cracked, and the bulbs kept exploding from the water that got inside.

This is what comes in the package. The wiring harness looks good, it's all sleeved, so all you have to do is drop it in and ziptie it to the factory loom. Most other light sets come with a harness that isn't sleeved. Also includes a relay and a SPDT switch (I won't be using the switch, since I have factory fogs - I'll be tying it in to the stock wiring).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/TaZMaNiaK/Durango/CIMG1609.jpg

These are NOT stock replacements and will not use the stock mounting location. They come with their own brackets which have to be drilled for. If you mount them to the outer bumper braces, they will be positioned dead center in the valance hole. They are also a tad smaller than stock, but it's not that big of an issue.

Now, this would be a simple drill-and-mount install, except for the fact that with the valance installed, it is impossible to drill in the correct location without the bit walking all over the place becuse it is a really awkward angle (even centerpunching does not help). So basically I just marked where the brackets will go, and removed the corner braces to drill them off the truck (Four 18mm bolts for each brace, and you don't even have to take the bumper off). A 3/16" hole is perfect for the screws that come with the kit.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/TaZMaNiaK/Durango/CIMG1610.jpg

Then just screw down the brackets and re-install the braces. Snug the bracket screws down, but don't tighten them yet. You still have to aim them.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/TaZMaNiaK/Durango/CIMG1612.jpg

As you can see, the bracket looks a little cockeyed, but that's because of the way the brace is positioned relative to the valance. The slots in the brackets allow you to compensate for this.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/TaZMaNiaK/Durango/CIMG1613.jpg

The light housings themselves are nice. They are metal with a glass lens, so they won't cloud up like the stock plastics. They come with an H3 (55w) bulb, which is brighter than the stock 893 (37.5w). The larger gap between the housing and valance could be good here, because these will probably get hotter than the stockers. Less risk of melting the valance. The only design oversight I see is that it appears to be a PITA to change the bulbs once they are installed. The main bulb is held in by 4 screws. Three hold on the cover (which has an O-ring seal), then a fourth underneath holds the bulb into the housing.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/TaZMaNiaK/Durango/CIMG1611.jpg

All that's left to do is mount the housing to the bracket...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/TaZMaNiaK/Durango/CIMG1615.jpg

And connect the wires..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/TaZMaNiaK/Durango/CIMG1617.jpg

Both mounted..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/TaZMaNiaK/Durango/CIMG1621.jpg

The wiring harness is simple. Just find a spot to mount the relay and a bolt to ground it (I used existing bolts for both) and run a wire to the battery/PDC (I hooked it to the main fuse stud in the PDC). Would've been nice if the fuseholder had a mounting tab too, but w/e.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/TaZMaNiaK/Durango/CIMG1620.jpg

If you were to require the switch, you'd just run that harness through the firewall and cut out the hole for it. Plug it in and you're done.

Now, I did run into a snag while hooking this up to the factory fog circuit. The relay harness is wired for a positive trigger (meaning that the switch supplies the relay with battery voltage). The stock fogs use a ground trigger. So I will have to swap pins in the relay socket in order to make it work. I did not get to do this yet. Later on this week I will wire it in and get them aimed, and show some pics at night.

[Mystake]

woah you mounted yours WAY differently than I did mine!
I have the same set.

[jimthedman]

nice

[ThisOldDak]

I saw some like that at a local auto parts place. For some reason they looked much more cheap than yours(you could see the glue line in the lense and the reflector looked like sand was dumped in before chromed). They had halos and strobes... are these like that? I thought it might be interesting to replace the strobe bulb and make it an extra turn signal.

I just picked up some basic blue lense without the other fancy stuff. the bracket is a little different but might work similar in mounting.

[hskrRT]

Damn, why does everyone use photobucket to host pics. lol Photobucket is blacked here at work. Dropshots works fine for me though.

[Rebel13]

I saw some like that at a local auto parts place. For some reason they looked much more cheap than yours(you could see the glue line in the lense and the reflector looked like sand was dumped in before chromed). They had halos and strobes...

Same here, Autozone.

They don't look like they fit the hole good?

[hskrRT]

Now, I did run into a snag while hooking this up to the factory fog circuit. The relay harness is wired for a positive trigger (meaning that the switch supplies the relay with battery voltage). The stock fogs use a ground trigger. So I will have to swap pins in the relay socket in order to make it work. I did not get to do this yet. Later on this week I will wire it in and get them aimed, and show some pics at night.

Or you could do like I did and just tap into your parking light power wire for the relay trigger. That way the fogs come on with the parking lights, and stay on with the high beams. Plus no worries about the common problem with the fog light portion of the headlight switch failing.

[hskrRT]

I'd highly recommend buying some of the clear vinyl protective covers for the fogs or you WILL have them crack on you. I've been through three ssets on my '00 from not running them. On my '99, I broke one set without the protective film, and the second set I put it on. That lasted the rest of the time I drove the truck and even saved the fog lights from breaking during my wreck which had heavy front end damage. The film had a pretty good gouge in it but the fog light was just fine.

[TazRango]

I saw some like that at a local auto parts place. For some reason they looked much more cheap than yours(you could see the glue line in the lense and the reflector looked like sand was dumped in before chromed). They had halos and strobes... are these like that? I thought it might be interesting to replace the strobe bulb and make it an extra turn signal.

I just picked up some basic blue lense without the other fancy stuff. the bracket is a little different but might work similar in mounting.

These are very similar looking to the parts store brands. It is, after all, an aftermarket fog light. There's only so many different things you can do with a round light! :D

But these are definitely on the higher end as far as the quality. As I said, it is a cast housing with a glass lens. No plastic at all. These are not halos or strobes, but there is a blue 194 bulb in the reflector as a 'parking light'. I don't use them.

Damn, why does everyone use photobucket to host pics. lol Photobucket is blacked here at work. Dropshots works fine for me though.

I use it because it was the first one I didnt have problems with and they give you tons of bandwidth and storage for free. :D

Same here, Autozone.

They don't look like they fit the hole good?

They are 1/2" smaller diameter than stock. It's not bad at all.

[TazRango]

Or you could do like I did and just tap into your parking light power wire for the relay trigger. That way the fogs come on with the parking lights, and stay on with the high beams. Plus no worries about the common problem with the fog light portion of the headlight switch failing.

Meh, I like having them separate. Its also pretty ghetto to have the fogs flash when the alarm arms/disarms and the remote starter kicks on (yes I can diode it, but thats really just silly.) I tapped into the relay at the PDC.. As long as you use the right terminal on the relay socket, they don't turn off with the high beams.

I'd highly recommend buying some of the clear vinyl protective covers for the fogs or you WILL have them crack on you. I've been through three ssets on my '00 from not running them. On my '99, I broke one set without the protective film, and the second set I put it on. That lasted the rest of the time I drove the truck and even saved the fog lights from breaking during my wreck which had heavy front end damage. The film had a pretty good gouge in it but the fog light was just fine.

link?

[hskrRT]

You can find them lots of places. Most custom vinyl shops or any place that does window tinting will be able to make/install some for you.

You can buy some here
http://www.headlightarmor.com/

Or just get a general idea of what they are. there are much cheaper places to buy from. The thicker the material the better protection they offer.

[TazRango]

While responding to another thread (to recommend these lights!), I realized that I never posted my followup. So I've been using these for a few months now, and I have to say I'm happy with them. They have a good beam pattern, and they are definitely much brighter than stock. The only problem I had was with the mounting screws. The ultra-coarse screws started working their way loose after about a month. Tightening them back up stripped out the hole. So I would skip the included screws, and just install them with stainless machine screws and NyLok nuts.

This small problem aside, these are great lights!

[durangokid]

I'd highly recommend buying some of the clear vinyl protective covers for the fogs or you WILL have them crack on you. I've been through three ssets on my '00 from not running them. On my '99, I broke one set without the protective film, and the second set I put it on. That lasted the rest of the time I drove the truck and even saved the fog lights from breaking during my wreck which had heavy front end damage. The film had a pretty good gouge in it but the fog light was just fine.

Were did you find this "film? I cracked mine already from going off road!

[durangokid]

NVM found it hahah