I've installed a set of low power fog lights under the REAR bumper of my 2003 4Runner for added light when backing up and primarily to use when I need extra light when launching/retreiving my boat at night. I'm powering direct to the positive side of the battery and using the on/off switch that came with the kit. I've double checked all the connections, etc. but as soon as I attach the power lead the in-line 15A fuse blows. The switch is grounded to the ground strap nut that runs from the negative battery post to the fender. The lights are grounded to a bolt on the factory hitch. I also tried to tap into the backup lights but then the fuse blew that controls the a/c switches and the multi-display (mileage, etc but the clock still worked.)

Question: Any idea on the best way to ground the lights and switch? I think that is my problem but open to any other suggestons/insights.

I've done this setup on other vehicles with no problems so I'm perplexed.

Thanks!

 

Check how the switch is wired internally. Some are built to switch power to the load, others are set up to work on the ground side of the load.

 

not quite sure why your grounding the switch. does it have a light in it? does the fuse blow when you put it in or when you turn the switch? do the lights work if you connect right to the battery with no switch?

 

rupren,

what kind of BU lights did you buy?

if hellas, take a look at the diagram in my writeup. is it similar to this?

http://www.4runners.org/articles/hella500

i would venture to guess that the problem lies with the connections to the switch itself. are you using a relay? if not, you should. do you have each of the relay pins correctly attached? also, see how i grounded my connections. also, are you sure that your grounds are properly done? make sure you are grounding to a surface that has the paint scraped off of them.

bob

 

Thanks for your replies!

In answer to several questions.

The switch is being grounded per the instructions. There was no relay with the kit. The fuse blows when I attach the hot wire to the positive battery post. That what makes me wonder if I don't have the fuse or lights grounded correctly but I'm no expert on diagnosing electrical problems.

Still stumped. Thanks.

 

Sounds to me you've gotten a ground before the load since you are blowing the fuse. Just make sure you have the power wire going directly to the lights THEN the ground. Either that or you have a open in the wire before the lights and is grounding also causing the fuse to blow.

 

Save yourself a lot work. Get your power and ground from the trailer hitch wiring harness. Just open it up and pick the two correct wires. They're actually marked on the face of the harness cover. No switch needed. They'll turn on and off with your back-up lights. Remember the KISS principle?

 

Some of the trailor lights don't have a back up wiring in them. Mine didn't so I had to run a relay and tap into the factory backup wires.

 

http://www.kchilites.com/faq.aspx#InstallGuides

Check out the appropriate diagram and compare.

Here is the back-up light one.

http://www.kchilites.com/faq/instruc...517_backup.pdf