Custom Lightbar for 05 Rene front bumper
Factory Hella lights
Factory wiring harness
Factory harness lengthed, wired to center of front grill
Lightbar with factory lights center, new PIAA lights each end
Installed
Close-up
The center lights (original factory fog lights - 6" Hella) are wired to the factory wiring harness which is operated from the steering wheel light switch. The same one you use to turn on the headlights. I simply cut and lengthened the existing wiring harness to reach to the center of the bumper. In one of my posted photos look closly and see the factory wiring harness directly below the headlights. The new lights, PIAA came with their own wiring harness and switch for the dashboard.
Operationing scenarios---
1: Headlights only
2: Center factory fogs only
3: Headlights and center fogs
4: PIAA only white (driving)
5: PIAA only yellow (fog)
6: PIAA (white or yellow) plus headlights
7: PIAA (white or yellow) plus center factory fogs
8: PIAA (white or yellow) plus center factory fogs plus headlights.
Fuse issues: none. The factory fogs operate off their own factory fuse. The PIAA light harness contains two fuses (on for each light). I did have to wire the 'switch' power to a live electric wire in the dash. I simply picked one that turned off when the keys were off and was live when the key was turned to accessory or ignition. I wanted to be able to use the PIAA lights w/o the car running. Note: the PIAA lights operate directly off the battery, except for the wire that provides power to the switch itself (the switch has a red and green light on it). I wired the lights to the engine compartment power distribution module. The two bolts on the thick wires entering the box are hot directly from the battery. For the ground, I used the factory grounding bolt. Just follow the other wires till you see the common ground bolt, unscrew clip on PIAA ground wire, rescrew on bolt.
If you want photos of the wiring, let me know. Also, reference the tech section (lostkjs.com) for article on penetrating the firewall. The instructions are for an 03 (I think) but I found they are exact for the 05 Rene as well. Without these, the wiring through the firewall would be very difficult.
John
L.O.S.T. #000573
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/838929
05 Liberty Renegade, MOPAR offroad package, MOPAR roof rack
mods:
GRACO baby seat
, PIAA driving/fog lights; custom front bumper lightbar, mag light seat mount, Superflow air compressor (under rear seat), BAUER rear tire bike rack