The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

I've mounted my rear fog lights and I need to wire them in. Being a 1980 car mine would have had fogs from new but the new wiring loom I forgot to add wiring for the fogs. I also disposed of my manky loom so I can't remember how they were wired, all I know is they didn't have a relay.

My query really relates to how I should wire them in. I guess I could use a relay but is this really necessary? Am I right in thinking I'd have to connect part of it to the battery with a fuse if I used a relay? I've already connected the electric fan this way so I'd be keen to keep things neat. I was figuring it might be easier to run the wiring without a relay, mainly on the grounds that the fog lights will only be there for the MOT, I think it unlikely I'll ever use them. If I ran without a relay then presumably I could tap into the dipped lighting live wire, run it to my switch and then run the other end to the lights at the back, running a ground from the switch and the lights.

Wiring the fan in seemed quite easy but I've not done any wiring mods before. It's my punishment for not sorting the loom out in the first place!

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Mark

1961 Chevrolet Corvair Greenbrier Sportswagon
1980 Dolomite Sprint project using brand new shell
2009 Mazda MX5 2.0 Sport
2018 Infiniti Q30

My dolly has the live taken from the dipped headlight live, then a fuse, then to an illumenated switch, then to the fog lights where the earth is taken from the mounting bracket
No need for a relay.
Does this make sense
Cheers, Tony.

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NOW A CLUB MEMBER 2017057

I recently purchased a Sprint loom from Autosparks which I assume is also where you got yours. I asked them to add the wiring for the rear fogs. The reply was that the were not aware that the very late Sprints had rear fogs and did not know that details of how they were wired.

So I got a loom without the rear fog wiring. Triumph did not fit a relay and wired the lights directly into the switch under the dash. I had a rummage under the dash of my car to work out how they did it. They did add the wires to the rear harness. The connector on the passenger side which connects the main and rear harnesses was already fully occupied, Triumph style, they did not use a large connector but just added an extra single connector in parallel to existing.

if wiring from the dipped h/lamp feed, will the fog work when main beam is switched on?

Tony

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Membership 2014047

Thanks for the replies. I think there's several options to do it neatly and functionally. It's still a pain though as I only just need fog lights at all! If I didn't need them I wouldn't bother to fit them at all. I'll double check the loft store too, I may have some loom parts left but I'm sure I binned it when I moved house.

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Mark

1961 Chevrolet Corvair Greenbrier Sportswagon
1980 Dolomite Sprint project using brand new shell
2009 Mazda MX5 2.0 Sport
2018 Infiniti Q30

If anyone does have a workshop manual with the wiring for the rear fog-lights shown I'd be interested in a description to add to my Dolomite electrical circuit diagram, please.
Thanks All,
Tony.

Just as a bit of a thought, could the reverse lens be removed and coated red, and or a coloured lamp be fitted to tidy this up.
The rear fog always look like an afterthought.
Obviously it would still need the required wiring to switch it on.
Most moderns only have one reverse and one fog even though the cluster may look to have a pair of each.

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Trevor

75 Sprint in Magenta called GunGaDiN GGD944N
2017 Jaguar XE R-sport

Yes that could be done, you could even paint the bulb red and leave it clear
The ones fitted to most BL cars are on ebay no 182757066627. these are the ones fitted to my car, and dont look to bad
My car is an early model and were fitted by the previous owner and they dont go out on mainbeam not that you would use main beam in fog.
I can send you pic with them on if you like
Cheers, Tony.

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NOW A CLUB MEMBER 2017057

I've fitted some Raydyot ones, suitably period. Came as a pair, exactly as I had before. They are a bit of an after thought but I prefer cars to have 2 reverse lights and 2 fogs, just the OCD in me. They're fitted with brackets on the bumper irons. Actually I'm quite pleased with them, I struggled to find any decent brackets but found some in Wickes which I cut down, primed and sprayed.

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Mark

1961 Chevrolet Corvair Greenbrier Sportswagon
1980 Dolomite Sprint project using brand new shell
2009 Mazda MX5 2.0 Sport
2018 Infiniti Q30

Ive been looking out for a twin LED lamp red/white,not found what im after yet,may look in to the colour changing LEDs

Dave

Most moderns have the rear fog wired from dipped beam, which means they automatically go out on main beam as stated above. But as far as I know, there is no regulation saying it MUST be done this way, just that there must be a working warning light to tell the driver the rear fogs are on! With my home built loom, I have elected to feed the rear fogs from the sidelights then via a separate fuse to the switch and on to the lights. With a total load of 45 watts (2 x 21w and a 3w warning light in the switch) no relay is necessary. In foggy conditions I can then run with sidelights, rear fogs and front fogs which give less reflected dazzle than dip beams in really bad fog conditions, these being the ONLY conditions in which one REALLY needs rear fogs anyway!

Steve

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'73 2 door Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine (The Dolomega)
'72 Triumph 1500FWD in Slate Grey, Now with RWD and Carledo powertrain!

Maverick Triumph, Servicing, Repairs, Electrical, Recomissioning, MOT prep, Trackerjack brake fitting service.
Apprentice served Triumph Specialist for 50 years. PM for more info or quotes.

Fog lights (back or front) can only be used in conjunction with dipped beam.






Ian.

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They must have changed the rules then as all my Cavaliers (88-95) are wired so that both front and rear (factory fit) foglights can be operated with only sidelights on. A manufacturer would not do this if it was illegal to use in such a configuration! I often drive with only sidelights and front fogs in street lit areas - and virtually NEVER use rear fogs at all! We don't seem to get the real pea soup fogs we used to get when I was young any more!

Steve

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'73 2 door Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine (The Dolomega)
'72 Triumph 1500FWD in Slate Grey, Now with RWD and Carledo powertrain!

Maverick Triumph, Servicing, Repairs, Electrical, Recomissioning, MOT prep, Trackerjack brake fitting service.
Apprentice served Triumph Specialist for 50 years. PM for more info or quotes.

I disagree, (there are more than a few foreign car that come with fog lights that can be used in conjunction with sidelights).
As long as the fog lights work in conjunction with dipped headlights and extinguish on main beam they meet the requirement for type approval.
To the manufacturers it would be therefore an unnecessary expense to rework an existing wiring loom just for the UK?

The offence is to use the lights illegally.
If you follow your argument about manufacturers, then no car would be capable of any more than 70mph?
It is up to the driver to comply with the law.




Ian.

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TDC Forum moderator
PLEASE help us to maintain a friendly forum,
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I know there's 'IVA Kits' available now as rules have changed but as far as I was aware you could just wire the switch into the fag lighter if you wanted provided the switch had a tell tail there was actually no stipulation as to whether the lights were on. I'll have to consult our in-house MOT tester.

Of course come 2019 no one will bother to MOT my car anyway so I could just not bother to wire them in at all on the grounds that PC Plod is unlikely to look.

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Mark

1961 Chevrolet Corvair Greenbrier Sportswagon
1980 Dolomite Sprint project using brand new shell
2009 Mazda MX5 2.0 Sport
2018 Infiniti Q30