Installing new lights this weekend and wondering if anyone knows how to wire Piaa's to the factory switch AND have them work without the headlights on. Thanks

 

here's the link from the tech tips... unless you want to do a special wiring job you can have the fog lights on when you turn on the parking lights. this will not turn on the headlights.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti...=130&TopicID=1

 

:iagree: :thumbs:
Bob

 

Email me at Dave@efiunlimited.com and I'll send you my write up....should be all you need! :cheers:

 

I had read that tech tip, but was not sure when the lights would be on. with/without headlights, or high/low beams.

 

Lights are installed and work great! Was actually easy! They only come on with the low beams though, anyone know if there is a way to keep them from switching with the high/lows. Thanks

 

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=672365

 

Since my Tech Tip has been deleted from the C5 section (I don't know why, WTF moderators?), here is a link to my original test post that shows how to wire the fog/driving lights to STAY on with the BRIGHTS.
:cheers:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=676301

 

Thanks Mark thats exactly what I was looking for :thumbs:

 

Mark, thanks for the excellent directions for wiring the high beams to work with the PIAAs. I would like to ask you two questions about controlling the PIAAs after the setup.

1. Can the stock fog switch turn the PIAAs off when the high beams are on, and

2. Can the fogs be turned on without the high beams coming on?

Thanks
Dennis
:chevy

 

NO, the stock fog on/off switch is just a momentary switch that tells the BCM to "change the status of the fog lights". It isn't a normal on=closed/off=open type of switch, that would have made it too easy. That's why I installed the switch under the dash, so I can 'undo' the mod from inside the car if I want to. It would be just as easy (almost definitely easier) to put a switch under the hood, but you'd have to plan ahead if you want the mod to work or not.

:confused: I assume you didn't have the stock fogs, just the aftermarket PIAA's, otherwise you can operate the fogs like normal. But then that makes my answer to your first question wrong since you aren't using the stock on/off switch to begin with. :rolleyes:
If you have the stock fogs operate them normally, but install the wiring mod with the switch to have the best of both worlds.
If you just have the aftermarket PIAA's you can wire them up any way you please, use the stock wiring diagrams on my instructions to figure out how to wire them up once you know how you want them to function.

If you have any more questions ask away, but please include a brief description of your current setup and what your desired outcome would be.
:cheers:

 

Thanks Mark. Right now I have coupe with the stock fogs and stock dash switch. I plan to install the PIAA 1100s following the instructions in the tech tips so they are turned on and off by the stock switch.

Then, if I do the wiring mod so the PIAAs stay on with the high beams, can I:

1. Turn on the PIAAs using the stock fog switch without the high beams coming on, and,

2. If I do have the high beams on, can I turn off the PIAAs using the stock fog switch and just run the high beams?

Thanks for any further explanation.

Dennis Roberts
:chevy

 

This should clear it all up for you....

When you are NOT using the high beams they will function just like they do now, before any mods are made.

NO, the stock fog switch doesn't do anything while you have the brights on (just like now), but the BCM will remember to turn them off when you go back to the low beams (just like now). However, you can still control the fog lights if you install an in-line switch with the wiring mod.

FYI, in most states it is illegal to run the brights with the fogs still on, the stock fog switch just sends a momentary signal to the BCM to tell it that you want to change the status of the fog lights, then the BCM decides when they should come on, that's why they aren't on with the brights normally.

If you install the wiring mod as I typed it up then the fogs are powered by the BCM just like now (with the parking lights or low beams on), but when the brights are on then they get their power straight from the battery (with underhood instructions) or from the aux power wires in the passenger footwell (with under dash instructions), the BCM has NO control of the fogs when the brights are on (other than not sending power from the normal supply). If you don't install an on/off switch in-line with the wiring mod (or if you have one and turn it ON) then the fogs will ALWAYS come on with the brights. If you install the switch and have it turned OFF then the fogs will not come on with the brights and operate just like they were completely stock.

Are you :confused: or :crazy: yet?

:seeya

 

Very nice explanation Mark, that is just what I needed to know. However, there are people that would say I am :crazy: anyway. Thanks for taking the time to post the info. I am going to do the PIAAs only at first to see how I like them. Then, If I want some more high beam visibility, I will do the very cool high beam mod.

Thanks Again
Dennis