mhenne4 Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 Oh wizards of crazy cool mods, how can I make those "fog lamps" led strips on the front bumper stay on all the time as daytime running lights? Is it even possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbulldog Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 Maybe this will help.... [ATTACH]587[/ATTACH] You need a standard auto relay either in SPST (Single-Pole-Single-Throw) or a SPDT (Pictured / Single-Pole-Double-Throw)....12 volt 20 or 30 Amp. Basically, you will cut the VT/WH (Hot) wires and connect them to the NO (Normally Open) side of the relay. As shown in my half a$$ schematic (I could not print the document direct from the site or I would have CAD drawn it), the "ACC" pushbutton on the dash will energize the relay coil causing it to switch 'ON' and 'OFF' the lamps. If you are basic electronic handy, this should be pretty easy. If you need a ACC point to go to for power, let me know, and I'll look it up. Good luck! Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhenne4 Posted May 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 Thanks for the quick reply. I'm nowhere near handy with electric things. Got shocked too many times as a kid. I do however have a buddy that used to install car audio and can be paid in beer for his services. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpd1151 Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 Thanks for the quick reply. I'm nowhere near handy with electric things. I do however have a buddy that used to install car audio and can be paid in beer for his services. That's one of THE BEST forms of payment for services renedered that I can think of..... Been many a times I've arrived at a shop with several cases of beer in hand, and while preliminary work is beginning on my car (any of my mods apply here) I start stocking the refridgerators and then dive in and start help'n out with w/e applicable install may be occurring at said time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelC Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 I'm surprise that in this day and age of DRL, Ford did not put one on the SHO. In fact I don't think they have them on their other vehicles either. Brian - Having more experience with solid state semiconductors, how do auto relays hold up to having the coils energized all the time? Thanks, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHO Rod Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 Brian - Having more experience with solid state semiconductors, how do auto relays hold up to having the coils energized all the time? Thanks, I suppose you could ask your fuel pump. How often does the fuel pump relay fail? Generally less often than the pump itself, and the fuel pump relay is energized at all times while the car is running. But, given that, with the small amount of current these LED lights likely draw, they would be a candidate for a simple FET switch or possibly no relay/FET at all. That being stated, I must say I've not measured the current draw of these lights yet to know how little current they really do draw. -Rod Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tss Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 I'm surprise that in this day and age of DRL, Ford did not put one on the SHO. In fact I don't think they have them on their other vehicles either. Not on the MKS either - I too was shocked. Must be a reason...though I know Canada cars DO have DRL (SHO and MKS). I also seem to recall reading it may be something the dealer can activate for you (but regular headlights, not the cool SHO strips that you all have) . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Got5onIt Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 This would be a cool mod. I'd be very interested in doing this... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbulldog Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 I do however have a buddy that used to install car audio and can be paid in beer for his services. Have beer will install...... Brian - Having more experience with solid state semiconductors, how do auto relays hold up to having the coils energized all the time? It's all based on 'duty cycle' (On/Off). A standard 30A relay from Radio Shack will probably survive 10 years at least. Being an Electronics Engineer allows the fun to begin with projects like these. Too bad I don't have the 2013 LED rear lamps. I would love to make them 'dance' (i.e. Mustang's rear turn signal strobe):becky: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Got5onIt Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 Thanks DB for the PDF schematic. Question for you, are you 100% sure the sidemarker lamp is that lower LED lamp on the bumper? When I hear sidemarker, I think of lights inside the headlamp. I'm definitely thinking hard about doing thsi after seeing a few MB's running around town with their LED's lit up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbulldog Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 are you 100% sure the sidemarker lamp is that lower LED lamp on the bumper? Nope... Just going off the schematic from Ford. I do believe these are called 'Side Marker Lamps' though. I personally have not looked, so I would just first verify the color of the wires to the connector before doing anything. There should be only two, hot and ground. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jojomofo21 Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 Mine was easy. I just turned the round knob on the left side of the steering wheel to the first on position! Lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Got5onIt Posted May 24, 2012 Report Share Posted May 24, 2012 Mine was easy. I just turned the round knob on the left side of the steering wheel to the first on position! Lol. LOL!! I guess I should read the damn manual! That's definitely easy enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhenne4 Posted May 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2012 JoJo not to sound dumb but leaving the knob in the ON position would turn on the headlights and leave them on and drain the battery. I only want the "fog lights" LED strips to stay on. I'm going to show my buddy that schematic and hope to hell he knows what to do. I have plenty of beer to pay him but not enough knowledge on my part to get this done =P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Got5onIt Posted May 24, 2012 Report Share Posted May 24, 2012 JoJo not to sound dumb but leaving the knob in the ON position would turn on the headlights and leave them on and drain the battery. I only want the "fog lights" LED strips to stay on. I'm going to show my buddy that schematic and hope to hell he knows what to do. I have plenty of beer to pay him but not enough knowledge on my part to get this done =P To make it even simpler, just run the side marker lamps (in parallel) to a 12V switched supply to the fuse box. Use an add-a-circuit fuse tap and you'll be well protected. This is probably what I'll end up doing as I want the LED light strips to come on & stay on whenever I turn the car on. LED lights have very little resistance, so they wont pull much current. Very simple and safe to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhenne4 Posted May 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2012 That sounds way easier to do.....looks like im going to autozone/o'riely for those parts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Got5onIt Posted May 24, 2012 Report Share Posted May 24, 2012 That sounds way easier to do.....looks like im going to autozone/o'riely for those parts They should definitely have the nice bussman add-a-circuit part. Run power from one of the fuses in the fuse box in the engine bay. If you don't have a tester/meter, Crash will probably be able to tell you which one to use since I think that's where he tapped to get +12v for his custom gauge pod (I used the fuse box under the dash for my pillar pod). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhenne4 Posted May 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 25, 2012 Here is an issue, I've done more research and it seems the smart junction box will block the a DRL attempt if it's not reprogrammed to allow for it. Also I was told by ford that DRLs are not available for this car. Will this cause issues? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EcoBoostSHO Posted May 25, 2012 Report Share Posted May 25, 2012 If you are wiring straight to the light I find it almost impossible it can prevent that...it is probably referring to the headlight circuit not the LEDs anyway? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Got5onIt Posted May 25, 2012 Report Share Posted May 25, 2012 Here is an issue, I've done more research and it seems the smart junction box will block the a DRL attempt if it's not reprogrammed to allow for it. Also I was told by ford that DRLs are not available for this car. Will this cause issues? Hmmm, that's interesting. I'm curious to know the answer to that as well. I don't see how removing the LED strip lights from the circuit will affect anything. Here's a test worth trying: I'm sure the LED lights have a connector. Unplug them and drive around for a couple of days and see what happens. I'd be surprised you'd get any error from having a blown LED light, much less one thats unplugged. You'd be essentially removing the LED light from the circuit anyway if you run separate power to the fuse box. So I think the aforementioned would be a valid test. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhenne4 Posted May 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 25, 2012 Ah ok, well I was just making sure. Im kinda anal retentive, especially before I go cutting wires and what not Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Got5onIt Posted May 25, 2012 Report Share Posted May 25, 2012 Ah ok' date=' well I was just making sure. Im kinda anal retentive, especially before I go cutting wires and what not[/quote'] No worries, I'm the same with my cars. For piece of mind, before you cut into anything, unplug the LED lights and drive around with it like that. I'd bet my paycheck you wont have any issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhenne4 Posted May 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 25, 2012 Alright I'll look into to and check it out and report how it goes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Got5onIt Posted May 25, 2012 Report Share Posted May 25, 2012 Alright I'll look into to and check it out and report how it goes. Pics would be nice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhenne4 Posted May 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 25, 2012 Where in the world would these wires to unplug be located? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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