Installing aftermarket lights on my ARB

[SINCITY100]

Well, here it is folks, my first "how to" for all IH8 readers to enjoy !..(and if you dont like it...well....tough !

I recently installed an ARB bull-bar on my 100 and was VERY happy with the results...The look, the function, and of course...the WOW factor from my fellow wheelers (and the general public !)...

Well...even with my complete satisfaction...something was missing...was it the old bumper that I missed so much?....no...was it the "factory" look that was gone?.....no.....

Oh yeah, it was the FOG LIGHTS (that I drove around with lit unneccesarily) that I missed so much !! ..

Well I knew that the ARB had a pair of real nice tabs for some lights, but what a pain to mount and wire up... NOT to mention drill and install a switch in the dash !!

I happened to be reading some junk E-mail, and I noticed that 4wheelparts.com was running some on-line specials (including free shipping), so I went to the lighting section of the site...and there they were...MY DREAM LIGHTS !!

To be cont`d....

(I love keeping you guys in suspense !!)...

 

[SINCITY100]

Cont`d...

I finally found a set of lights to use that would give the "look" that I was going after with my 100...Hella BlackMagic driving lamps..The lens appears black when off, then turns bright as day when on ! What a trick set of lights !!

A Heavy duty, Expedition, "blacked out" (maybe even a bit of a "Military") look !

Then I remembered that I had unplugged the factory Fogs, leaving the wiring, relay, and most importantly, the switch on my headlight stalk !!, But the fogs only worked on LOW beam..not HIGH !!

Well, after a bit of thought and asking some opinions (including IH8MUD readers)..I decided to try installing these BadBoys, using the factory wiring

I mounted the lights on the ARB bumper .. real simple, and they looked great !
Aand here`s the rest of the install...

First I located the factory plugs behind the bumper that I had rendered "useless"

Insted of cutting off the plugs( I hate cutting off factory connectors !) I decided to use ScotchLocks to attach a pair of 18ga wires (which was about the same as the factory wiring) to run to the new lights..I only needed about 2 feet each of red and black wire per lamp... I cut back about 2 inches of the plastic protector around the 100`s wires (right behind the plug) so I could tap in with the Scotchlocks..and I was ready to go !

The positive (+) leads on the 100`s harness were Red/black..the negative (-) leads were White/Black.. Then I Scotchlocked the new wires with the originals .

I then ran the new wires up to each lamp, and did a quick check that they lit up when I turned on the Fog-Switch on the headlight switch (with the low beams on)
..PERFECT !!

I slipped the NEW wires into some corrugated harness protector, tightly wrapped the Scotchlocks and (original) wires with electrical tape..

And I was done !! (well for the most part !!)

Here are a few shots of the final install of the lights on the ARB

 

[cabron]

Looks good man, hows the lighting pattern? What did you pay for them?

 

[SINCITY100]

Cont`d..

Now for the hard part !!

I loved the lights. !..They looked awesome and were VERY, VERY bright...even with the 55W bulbs that were included !! (did I mention that the light even came with a COMPLETE wiring harness, relay and switch..ALL of which I didnt have to install !!? ) ...But one problemo...

They only lit when the low beams were on..they shut off when the highs were engaged due to the original factory design of the fog-lamps..

Well here`s what I did to get around this little "problem"....

I removed both halves` of the "clamshell" surrounding the steering column..

One gold phillips scew (aimed at an angle towards the driver underneath the steering wheel)..and then I turned the wheel left and right to reveal two more black phillips screws ( also facing the driver)..Then I "pulled" apart at the halves, separating them... NOTE: It might be easier to do this by first removing the dash panel (below the guages and behind the column)

Then I located the connector that plugs into Comb-switch, it is the 17 pin white plug on the left side of the steering wheel facing UP..

I then REMOVED pin #17 from the harness connector with a very small flat head screwdriver...pin#17 is attached to a Red/light Blue wire and is in the VERY BOTTOM RIGHT of the connector as you are looking AT THE CONNECTOR/ PINS, WITH THE RELEASE TAB ON TOP ...

Then I simply cut off the pin on the end of the wire, and ran it to a good ground.

BTW..The wire is JUST long enough (after you cut the pin off) to crimp on a small eyelet and attach it to the metal tab that hangs down from the column that the GOLD phillips screw (you removed earlier) screws into..

HOW FRIGGIN` EASY IS THAT ?!... to Toyota !!

Now my AUX light work..With the factory wiring, with the factory relay AND with
the factory switch... on both low AND high beam !!

Sorry about the overly descriptive story and instructions...but I think even an electrically "challanged" person like myself can NOW do this mod !!

 

[SINCITY100]

Looks good man, hows the lighting pattern? What did you pay for them?

They produce a VERY focused beam..WAY down the road (if adjusted so)..

They were only $215 for the pair, and look AWESOME !

I also purchased 100W bulbs for them, but the 55`s are more than bright enough for my intended use..(besides, I dont know if the relay/wiring/fuse can take that much of a draw!)

 

[SINCITY100]

And here are pics of the lights off/on...

 

[macneill]

Looks good Sin, yet another hot mod. Like the location of your hi-lift too!

Mine too are wired to the factory fog switch. Unfotunately, like your earlier post, I can't get high beam and "fog" to work simultaneously either.

 

[Campfire]

Nice lights! The dark look off is just right on your rig. I'm stuck at work for 72 hours, and this week I plan on attacking the "fog lamp on low or high" problem. I was searching thru the Electrical manual and have an idea on how to modify the input to the fog lamp relay from just the parking lamp signal. I'' post what I find out.

 

[Greg B]

Thanks Sin! I'm doing this mod to my Hella's tonight. Thanks for taking the time to write this up. You can never give too many details on stuff like this.

 

[SINCITY100]

Nice lights! The dark look off is just right on your rig. I'm stuck at work for 72 hours, and this week I plan on attacking the "fog lamp on low or high" problem. I was searching thru the Electrical manual and have an idea on how to modify the input to the fog lamp relay from just the parking lamp signal. I'' post what I find out.

Is your 98`s wiring that much different from my 2000 ?
You should be able to do the same mod that I described In the final (Cont`d) post by simply grounding pin#17 on the Combo-switch harness...(?)

As mentioned, my Aux lights now work perfectly with both my lows and high beams on

 

[SINCITY100]

...Or are you trying to enable the fogs WITHOUT the headlamps on at all ?

 

[Jim_Chow]

On my 4runner, I have H4 PIAA lamps on the ARB. The lows are mounted to a fog switch in the dash while the highs are connected to the factory high beams. So if I run in "hi" and turn on the fog switch, I have 2 pr of high beams on (normal e-code headlamps plus the PIAA hi's), 1 pr of low beams, and 1 pr of fogs. Now that I live in AZ, the fogs are absolutely useless, but highs are critical. On my new LX, I'll just get highs and rely on the probably feeble IPF fogs from the arb light kit.

Has anyone found a substitute light for the ARB light kit? I haven't seen those little round IPF's sold separately anywhere, so not sure about the size, mounting, etc.

 

[SINCITY100]

Thanks Sin! I'm doing this mod to my Hella's tonight. Thanks for taking the time to write this up. You can never give too many details on stuff like this.

Right on Greg !!

If you have ANY questions regarding the pin mod, feel free to PM me.

Good luck !

 

[Campfire]

Is your 98`s wiring that much different from my 2000 ?
You should be able to do the same mod that I described In the final (Cont`d) post by simply grounding pin#17 on the Combo-switch harness...(?)

As mentioned, my Aux lights now work perfectly with both my lows and high beams on

Sorry Sin, I didn't read the entire post and it was getting late at work. Those 72 hour shifts suck, and I'm getting a cold. I'm home now and on my way to the garage for a little Cruiser Mod time. Thanks for the info and I'll post how it goes...

 

[Campfire]

98's the same!

Sin, your wonderful write up saved me some time. My wiring diagram showed a "loop" wire from 17 to 10. I didn't see that in your post, but I saw it as soon as I pulled the wire for 17. Awesome write up on great information. Thanks again. Simple really too, it only took about 20 minutes.

I'm having some problems with ImageShack, so if the thumbnails don't work, don't blame me.

 

[SINCITY100]

Sin, your wonderful write up saved me some time. My wiring diagram showed a "loop" wire from 17 to 10. I didn't see that in your post, but I saw it as soon as I pulled the wire for 17. Awesome write up on great information. Thanks again. Simple really too, it only took about 20 minutes.

Glad it worked out for Ya` Camp !

Yeah, I guess I shoulda mentioned the "loop" from 10 to 17, But I tried to keep it as simple as possible. I will add this info to the (much shorter) version I will send to our moderator to include in the FAQ section...

lets see...what ELSE can I start poking and prodding on in the wire harness ??

 

[SINCITY100]

OK...I made a new thread for E9999 to include in the 100 FAQ section

I made it as short and sweet as possible, with the addition of the "pin# 17-10 loop" and a few other tid-bits that I remembered about the install...

I hope it helps others in the future that would like to do this mod !

NO APPLAUSE, PLEASE..!!

 

[spressomon]

OK...I made a new thread for E9999 to include in the 100 FAQ section

I made it as short and sweet as possible, with the addition of the "pin# 17-10 loop" and a few other tid-bits that I remembered about the install...

I hope it helps others in the future that would like to do this mod !

NO APPLAUSE, PLEASE..!!

I already applaused...didn't you hear me








By the way...thanks Sin for taking the time to write this great tip up for the rest of us!

 

[SINCITY100]

I already applaused...didn't you hear me

I guess the wife is right..I DO have selective hearing !

By the way...thanks Sin for taking the time to write this great tip up for the rest of us!

I appreciate that Spress ! ..

Honestly..

It`s the LEAST that I can do for all the info I have learned from this forum..!

 

[ff347]

Thanks for the write up! On the list for morning. The truck looks great.

Scott