You are here: Forums SUVs Mitsubishi Outlander Rear Fog Light: A tricky subject

Rear Fog Light: A tricky subject

22 messages,  Last post on Oct 01, 2009 at 11:53 AM

You are in the Mitsubishi Outlander Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & tidester

What is this discussion about? Mitsubishi Outlander, Exterior, SUV

Messages Page 3 of 3 1 2 3 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

#19 of 22 Re: Rear fog light in USA Outlander [comem47] by batman47 Sep 02, 2009 (12:36 pm)
Replying to: comem47 (Sep 01, 2009 1:44 pm) It is up to you to choose what method to use. As I said the button switch approach is the simplest. This method doesn’t need to the ETACS-ECU to be re-programmed, there is no need to buy the European/UK stalk switch and indeed there is no need to buy the option front fog light kit ($300). The disadvantage is that this option (button switch) needs a long wire to be run under the vehicle’s carpet floor to reach the switch button and relay near the instrumentation cluster. Certainly the switch button must fix neatly into one of the dummy switch buttons in this area. This has the inconvenience that some floor carpet fasteners may be damaged or worse that the wire touches the metal structure and produces unwanted rattle. The relay dimension is about 1” x 1” x 1” and it needs to be fixed properly under the instrument cluster otherwise you will have rattles. Some wires under the instrumentation cluster have to be soldered or detached from the factory standard wire harness and it is usually never put back again as it was before.   If you buy the front fog light option from a dealership usually the dealer does the reprogramming for free as you found out. However if this is not the case it is most probable that some cost is involved to do the reprogramming.   The European/UK stalk switch well implemented will render you’re a car with European standard, i.e. stalk switch front and rear fog functionality in addition to stable side-marker lights to comply with the country regulations. Rattles are unlikely to occur. All the work will happen in the rear bumper wiring harness. The rear fog relay will be housed in the standard relay box in the engine compartment. Mitsubishi dealers most probably will charge you for this service.   It is new for us who are usually plain owners of a Mitsubishi car to keep with the advance in electronic and networking in vehicles. In the same way you are able to access and transmit your messages in Edmunds.com using a giant worldwide network the automobile industry is implementing its own controlled area network (CAN) to be used exclusively by car manufacturers. This approach has allowed car manufacturers to reduce and simplify considerably the amount of wiring (and weight) to operate all the devices in the car from electrical windows to ABS. The ETACS-ECU is the brain of this network and directs signals usually using the same wire to instruct different devices to take action. This is the main reason for reprogramming the ECU as this is the way to access this brain to tell it that a new device has been incorporated or a new functionality is required. Although this may appear bizarre, it is what our kids are going to deal with and confront in the near future. Replies to this message: batman47 (Oct 01, 2009 12:28 am)
#20 of 22 Re: Rear fog light in USA Outlander [batman47] by batman47 Oct 01, 2009 (12:28 am)
Replying to: batman47 (Sep 02, 2009 12:36 pm) The rear fog relay will be housed in the standard relay box in the engine compartment   This is not true!. Checking the electrical circuit of the US Outlander the rear fog light relay is already in the ETACS-ECU box which is below the driver instrument dash (left wall).
#21 of 22 rear fog by rcpax Oct 01, 2009 (7:38 am)
So, you're doing this mod? Replies to this message: batman47 (Oct 01, 2009 11:53 am)
#22 of 22 Re: rear fog [rcpax] by batman47 Oct 01, 2009 (11:53 am)
Replying to: rcpax (Oct 01, 2009 7:38 am) Hi rcpax,   Please visit: Rear fog light progress (no soldering, no cutting, and no drilling) at:   http://www.mitsubishiforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25038&highlight=batman&pag- e=4   I spent some time reading the electrical circuit of the ETACS-ECU of the European Outlander and the ETACS-ECU of the US Outlander as well as the Tailgate Control Circuit. I found out that that there are better ways to add rear fog light and side marker functionality to the US Outlander. The solution that I will explain fully with diagram rests in plugging and unplugging connectors into the “rear bumper harness” and “rear end wiring harness”. This approach is clever. This solution came about after studying carefully the electrical circuits that control the functionally of these lights in both models (European and US).   Waiting at the moment for some part# to arrive.   I would like to have your appreciation about this contribution.

Messages Page 3 of 3 1 2 3 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

You are here: Forums SUVs Mitsubishi Outlander Rear Fog Light: A tricky subject