LED Fog Lights

[Ccmano]

So I decided to take the plunge and upgrade (hopefully) the fog lights on my 90’ to LED’s. I know it’s been discussed before and Paul recently did an excellent series of articles in HOTB on the whole LED upgrade thing. The standard fog lights are so pitiful by today’s standards and popping in a set of LEDs is simple compared to the whole HID thing. The set I got came from a recommendation over on CF and seemed a nice improvement. Bought them off Amazon for $24.99 with free shipping. Probably could have gotten them cheaper on EBay. The brand is JDMastar #X000Q0Y6PZ and are supposedly 50w equivalent.

JDM ASTAR Extremely Bright Max 50W High Power 880 LED Fog Light Bulbs for DRL or Fog Lights, Xenon White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NJ903MY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_lf-QCbA4F0BE6

They replace the standard 880 bulbs perfectly. The 881 version for 91 and later is also available. I have to say I’m impressed. The light output is, at least to my eye, double the old 880 halogens. Removal and installation was a snap assuming you’ve done this before. Attached are some pix of the before and after. Now I may just have to convert the rest of the car. Lol down the rabbit hole.
H
:cheers:

http://a67.tinypic.com/2568y2s.jpg
http://a67.tinypic.com/2qiz94w.jpg
http://a68.tinypic.com/s4rww0.jpg
http://a65.tinypic.com/of39fb.jpg
http://a65.tinypic.com/10wjrs8.jpg

[Paul Workman]

Hans,

are those fogs "pre-loaded",
or did you end up cutting & adding a ground,
or did you add load resistors in parallel with the LEDs?

[Ccmano]

Paul, none of the above. These were plug and play with all headlight functionality high beams included. To my knowledge they are not pre-loaded (I could be wrong). However my regular headlights have not been converted to LED yet.
H
:cheers:

[-=Jeff=-]

Yeah, that swap works, it is adding the LED headlights that causes the issues

[GOLDCYLON]

Yeah, that swap works, it is adding the LED headlights that causes the issues

Correct! :handshak:

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Nice!!! Thanks for taking time to share.


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[efnfast]

Hans, did the factory extender fit the new bulbs? I had to make one to get my bulbs installed. Unlike later years, the 90's don't have the little door underneath for access.

[Paul Workman]

Paul, none of the above. These were plug and play with all headlight functionality high beams included. To my knowledge they are not pre-loaded (I could be wrong). However my regular headlights have not been converted to LED yet.
H
:cheers:

Ah! Gotcha!

[Ccmano]

Hans, did the factory extender fit the new bulbs? I had to make one to get my bulbs installed. Unlike later years, the 90's don't have the little door underneath for access.

It was plug and play. No mods required. Easiest thing I’ve done on the car in ages.
H
:cheers:

[-=Jeff=-]

Soooo, how do you like the LED fogs.. I need to swap mine now, I just did LED Headlights, so those are next

[Paul Workman]

I drove home last night w/ the LED headlights on. (Just friggin luxurious to be able to see so well now!!). But, with the low beams on, the headlights are so overwhelming I could not see any difference (at all!) in illumination w/ or w/o the LED fogs on.

I realize they're not intended to be substitutes for headlights, but I was surprised that with the low beams ON, switching the FOG LIGHTS on or off made no appreciable difference! The headlights just overwhelm the light put out by the FOGs, apparently.

Anyway...I really love me LED headlights. Huge difference = friggin "night and day" difference between them and the stock incandescent headlights. HUGE!

[Ccmano]

Haven’t actually driven with them at night yet. Worked great for 8hrs as DRLs driving down to SoCal yesterday. I expect I’ll be out at night while I’m down here. Will let you know.
H
:cheers:

[XfireZ51]

With the street lights here in Chicagoland, I nearly ever use headlamps, just the HID fogs.

[-=Jeff=-]

Haven’t actually driven with them at night yet. Worked great for 8hrs as DRLs driving down to SoCal yesterday. I expect I’ll be out at night while I’m down here. Will let you know.
H
:cheers:

Do you manually turn them on to Be your DRLs? OR?

With the street lights here in Chicagoland, I nearly ever use headlamps, just the HID fogs.

What HID Kit? I will probably do the LED Fogs, though, just to keep wattage/current low

[Ccmano]

Do you manually turn them on to Be your DRLs? OR?


I just run them manually. Haven’t bothered to figure out the wiring to make them permanent. That’s on the list.
H
:cheers:

[-=Jeff=-]

So for auto DRLs what do you want?

Parking and fog lights or just fog lights?

I have some ideas

to add:

Questions..

If Fog as DRL, do you want the switch to control if DRLs are on or off?

If Parking lights and Fogs, do you want to be able shut fogs off (while in DRL mode?)

Either will turn on while car is running.

[Ccmano]

Really, just want the fogs to be on all the time without having to run the parking lights and hitting the button.
H
:cheers:

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Do you manually turn them on to Be your DRLs? OR?







What HID Kit? I will probably do the LED Fogs, though, just to keep wattage/current low



Hey Jeff,
I have a set of new HIDs for our cars. My friend here gave them to me and same are installed on his Z. They are yours if you want them. Like Hans, I installed LED fogs.

Having said that, I want to also have some DRLs and almost considered webeletrics kit that I had on my 90. For this 95, I’m afraid to try that kit since my front turn signals are already spliced into for my LED side markers. The shop that got my car to pass Japan inspection did some voodoo wiring and it works well now with LEDs. Some kind of relay tapped in there too. I’m afraid the webelectrics will mess it up.

I also would like to use fogs as DRL.

I see you were involved with this CF post 15 years ago for this topic.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c4-tech-performance/742891-daytime-running-lights-on-a-c4-how-difficult.html


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[-=Jeff=-]

Craig, Hans,

Let me work out the details for the Fog only DRL kit. With LEDs then your load is quite low.

Craig, I might be interested in the HIDs, they would be great for a comparison, but I do have a set of the LED fogs coming.. if they interfere with my radio (same brand did with tail lights) I might be interested in the HID kit..

Give me a few days to look over what can be done and the easiest way to do that..

[-=Jeff=-]

Well that was easy. I will get details but the easiest way will be to add one relay.

Along with this there will be an added ground and switched power. Based off of the 1990 I know the wire color we need to move. I will be at my son’s swim meet all afternoon, so I should have time to detail out the info


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[-=Jeff=-]

Here you go.. I was wrong.. you need 3 wires added





****DISCLAIMER**** OEM wring reference is based off of my 1990 manual



DRL Fog lights only (always on)

Remove PPL wire from factory fog relay (87)



86 - coil power - power source when parking lights are on.

85 - coil ground - ground

30 - com switch - PPL wire from OEM Fog relay

87 - NO contact - connect to (87) on Fog relay

87a - NC contact - power source to handle fog lights



You should be able to find the OEM style relay socket and pins.

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Craig, Hans,



Let me work out the details for the Fog only DRL kit. With LEDs then your load is quite low.



Craig, I might be interested in the HIDs, they would be great for a comparison, but I do have a set of the LED fogs coming.. if they interfere with my radio (same brand did with tail lights) I might be interested in the HID kit..



Give me a few days to look over what can be done and the easiest way to do that..


OK Jeff, thanks. Email me your address and I’ll send them to you either way. I can’t imagine that LEDs can put out more light than HIDs?



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[Ccmano]

Here you go.. I was wrong.. you need 3 wires added

****DISCLAIMER**** OEM wring reference is based off of my 1990 manual

DRL Fog lights only (always on)

Remove PPL wire from factory fog relay (87)

86 - coil power - power source when parking lights are on.

85 - coil ground - ground

30 - com switch - PPL wire from OEM Fog relay

87 - NO contact - connect to (87) on Fog relay

87a - NC contact - power source to handle fog lights

You should be able to find the OEM style relay socket and pins.

Jeff, last time I was in there I had a tough enough time just getting the relay in and out. How are you accessing the wires (PPL wire) in the relay socket?
H
:cheers:

[-=Jeff=-]

Oh yeah, I cut the carpeted piece off the passenger side. I use a 94-96 lower panel now, makes access to all of that much easier.. I will find my pictures of the mod

[-=Jeff=-]

9480

9481

9482

9483

9484


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[Ccmano]

Oh yeah, I cut the carpeted piece off the passenger side. I use a 94-96 lower panel now, makes access to all of that much easier.. I will find my pictures of the mod

Lol... I’ll bet that makes a difference! That wiring is basically behind the lower dash. Should have done that while I had the dash out.

I wonder if I can get to if I take the glovebox out? Nope, no access that way.
Hmmm
http://a67.tinypic.com/33ddsat.jpg



H
:cheers: