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Rear Fog Light: A tricky subject

29 messages,  Last post on Feb 07, 2010 at 11:41 AM

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

Messages Page 2 of 4

#8 of 29 Re: Outlander 2008 LS (bought Canada with front fog lights installed by dea by batman47

May 02, 2008 (2:45 am)

Replying to: btsworld (Feb 27, 2008 10:41 am)
Hi btsworl:
 
A long time has passed since your post about the rear fog light when you was in the process of find out ways to activate the ‘rear’ fog light.
 
I have seen a post from a member from Poland here in this forum that took his 2007 Outlander XLS to Poland (this model has already front fog lights) and he said he took his car to a Mitsubishi dealership in Europe, and the technician got an instrument and he could see on the screen of this device a computer menu where it was asking to the technician what does he want to do i.e. activate or deactivate the front, rear or both?
 
As I said somewhere in this Forum all the harness is already in the vehicle electrical system and only it need a willing Mitsubishi technician to operate the instrument (it has a proper name) to activate the rear fog light. I have posted to ‘lukarzkur’ the polish member and I am still waiting for its reply.

#9 of 29 Re: Outlander 2008 LS (bought Canada with front fog lights installed by dealer) [btsworld] by random42

May 23, 2008 (9:47 am)

Replying to: btsworld (Feb 27, 2008 10:41 am)
How hard is it to replace the rear fog light? One of mine cracked and I would like to replace it myself but from a cursory look I couldn't figure out how to access it. Do I need to remove the rear bumper?
 
Thanks

#10 of 29 Re: Outlander 2008 LS (bought Canada with front fog lights installed by dea by btsworld

May 23, 2008 (3:45 pm)

Replying to: random42 (May 23, 2008 9:47 am)
It's pretty easy to replace, all you need to do is open the trunk, top and bottom, remove 4 plastic pins. After that there is a small plastic part to remove and one little screw. Then you're done. It takes about less than a minute.
 
EnjoY

#11 of 29 Re: Rear Fog Light: A tricky subject [batman47] by batman47

Sep 01, 2009 (3:15 am)

Replying to: batman47 (Jan 29, 2008 4:17 pm)
The only item you may buy in the USA is the rear fog light relay which is the same (part#: MR588567) like the front fog relay.
 
The rear fog light switch button (part#MR190952) can be only bought from Europe/UK. The European stalk switch (part#: 8614A061) can only be bought from Europe/UK. The rear bulb holder that includes connector wire and bulb can be bought from Europe/UK-Peugeot dealer (Bulb holder (part#621563) + bulb (part#6216F1)) or part#6350EN (rear fog light assy left) or part#6351EK (rear fog light assy right).
 
If you want to avoid the Peugeot dealer route then you can order the left and right rear fog light lamps assy (part#8337A014 for the right rear fog lamp assy. Make some enquires for the left rear fog light assy part#). USA side-marker lamp is sold with the rear fog cavity sealed that needs to be opened. When this hole is made the lamp will accept the rear fog bulb in addition to the side marker bulb which is already there.
 
All of these parts can be ordered using the services of any UK dealer. They will accept payment using your credit card. Go to:
 
http://www.mitsubishi-cars.co.uk/
 
To find dealers in the UK: Go to Dealers then Select -> SELECT COUNTY and then click any of the counties. Example: Lancashire or London. Give then a Call and give the part number. Otherwise do a Google search for internet sellers specializing in getting genuine Japanese car parts. Also you may enquire at your local Mitsubishi dealer to see if they will provide or request the part for you. My local dealer doesn’t do this service. You also can visit Mitsubishi Motor Web page in Australia

#12 of 29 rear fog light in USa Outlander by batman47

Sep 01, 2009 (3:23 am)

America isn’t a rear fog light devotee. Some people even hate the use of rear fog lights especially when some irresponsible drivers switch it on when there isn’t fog or the road weather condition are not terribly bad. Under this prospect auto electrician with work experience in rear fog light installation is in short supply.
 
Other countries like the UK or Australia has companies or individuals announcing their trade in Web pages and auto magazines for the installing of rear fog lights. The business has shown to be profitable. The majority of Japanese trade in their cars after 3-years for new ones and individuals buy cars in Japan for export at usually one-third their original price. Cars in Japan don’t have rear fog lights and therefore there is demand for this type of job in the UK or Australia. This is not the case in the USA.

#13 of 29 Rear fog light in USA Outlander by batman47

Sep 01, 2009 (3:31 am)

I have already adapted the two side-marker lamps (both edges) from a 2009 Outlander XLS 4WD to accept a rear fog bulb (12V-21W) socket and respective connector, in addition to the side-marker bulb (12V-5W) already there. What I did was to order from the UK from any Peugeot dealer (they sell the 4007 model that has the same rear structure as the Outlander and indeed is the same Outlander but with a different nose and has a diesel engine) a bulb holder (part# 621563) and a fog bulb from a Mitsubishi dealer (part# MS820026). Both items can be ordered from a Mitsubishi dealer but the price is almost double the price of Peugeot. If you want to pay more you may order both side markers from a Mitsubishi dealer (the side-marker lamp is called rear fog lamps in Europe) The UK will sell you the rear right fog lamp with only a bulb but you can order from the same dealer the rear left fog lamp with the fog bulb on the left side. In Europe is compulsory to have just one rear fog light although two one at each end is also acceptable. If you opt for this approach then you need to make holes in the side where the side-marker bulbs should go. The side-marker bulb holders can then be used from those of the American model.
 
I took both side-marker lamp assemblies from the 2009 Outlander XLS and by using a model hobby rotary tool kit I made a hole in each lamp carefully to plug the rear fog bulb holder on it. It fixes firmly just with a little click. The rear fog bulb holder comes also with its connector which is the same connector of the side-marker bulb holder connector. There are two ways of having rear fog lights + side-marker lights in an American model:
 
 (1)- Method 1: Run a proper graded wire from the adapted or modified rear side-marker lamp connector (rear fog bulb holder) to the instrumentation cluster; install a proper switch button (part# MR190952), a relay (part# MR588567) and fuse (10A) when required. The switch button will be operated by the driver independently. This job in addition to the items above named need to disassembly and assembly the rear bumper face to gain access to the rear bumper wiring harness. The end product of this approach is (a) - rear fog light in both ends in the rear bumper controlled by the driver and (b)- side-marker light controlled by the ETACS-ECU as was always the case. There is no need to reprogram the ETACS-ECU. Some fastener may be broken when doing the job with the rear bumper. Broken fastener must be replaced by new ones.
 
(2)- Method 2: This is more sophisticated method that needs more technical skill and knowledge.
 
(a)- First of all the rear side-marker connector which is connected to the ETACS-ECU connector must be disconnected (unplugged) and the new adapted rear fog light (already in the side-marker lamp (it will occupy the center area of the lamp)) connector will take its place. If the ETACS-ECU is not reprogrammed then the rear fog light will function as a side-marker light all the time and this is what we don’t want.
 
(b)- Secondly to prevent that the rear fog light from working like a side-marker light the ETACS-ECU must be reprogrammed using a European stalk switch (I have already bought one, part# 8614A061) instead of the original stalk switch (the original stalk switch may be with or without the front fog light functionality).. When this is done the rear fog bulb will light only when the driver manipulates the European stalk switch appropriately otherwise it will be always off. Under this situation the side-marker light connector is orphan. Before reprogramming a relay (part# MR588567) must be installed appropriately in the relay box and a fuse (10A) installed if required.
 
(c)- To make the side-marker operative it needs that the orphan connector be connected to a live wire harness like for example the license plate light wiring that is always on when the side-marker light is also on. This task implies to work with the wiring harness located to the left (corner) of the rear bumper that conducts current up to the license plate light in the tailgate. If this is done properly the side-marker light will be on when the license plate light is on and the rear fog light will be on when the driver deliberately requests this function by using the European stalk switch.
 
(d)- Method 2 requires to disassembly and assembly the left corner bumper and the rear bumper face to gain access to the wiring harness. Some fastener may be broken when doing this job. Broken fastener must be replaced by new ones.
 
Note:
(I)- I know part (1) above works because I did it few years ago in another vehicle. I used the services of an auto electrician to do the job. I provide him with all the parts and told him what I wanted. He used his skill of soldering and identifying live wires and also identifying appropriate relay terminals for the switch button and working under the instrumentation cluster to identify power sources for the switch and relay which need the skills of a contortionist.
 
(II)- I haven’t done part (2) yet but I am convinced that it will work at least theoretically. I have a 2009 Outlander CD that gives a lot of information about wiring harness, location of connectors, disassembly and assembly of the rear bumper, uses of the MUT-III to reprogram the ETACS-ECU, electrical diagram for the side-marker lights and license plate lights. At the moment I am getting in touch with a local Mitsubishi dealer service department people to see if this people would like to do the job. The ideal approach to this problem could be that the dealership has an auto electrician on his staff and also that the dealership has on its staff somebody that does auto body shop work but I very much doubt this. I think that the only thing that the dealer service department could do is to manipulate the MUT-III system to reprogram the ETACS-ECU so the rear fog light may be energized by using the new stalk switch. I think doing method-2 ($200-$300) is much more expensive than method-1 ($50-$100). In other words I do not expect to tackle part (1) or part (2) on my own. Photos or video may need to wait for a few months.
 
I think an auto body shop could do the wiring job and disassembly and assembly the rear bumper and make the electrical connection. They are experts on mending smashed cars (panels) with broken electrical wire harnesses. They usually return the crashed car in good working conditions. They know people with auto electrical expertise.

#14 of 29 Re: Rear fog light in USA Outlander [batman47] by comem47

Sep 01, 2009 (8:27 am)

Replying to: batman47 (Sep 01, 2009 3:31 am)
Are we getting a little complicated here?. First off, the side facing marker lights are US law and shouldn't be re purposed. If one wishes to add an additional rear fog light (rear facing only in the missing bulb location) you can tie into the existing front fog light circuit (adding an isolating relay for current) .It only makes sense that you have front fog lights to start with -that are actuated with the existing steering stalk that comes with the fog light package). The wiring is simple. The positive side of the relay coil goes to either of the positive supply leads of the fog lights and the other coil wire is grounded. Now run an appropriately fused wire from the battery positive to one side of the relay switch and the other side of the relay goes the length of the car to that missing bulb wire positive (wherever the missing bulb socket wire leads to ) with the other socket wire grounded. I have no idea if local state laws say if this is OK (YMMV) but personally I think it's more important that YOU have front fog lights to see where YOU are going than to make your rear more visible for someone who shouldn't be traveling that fast under these conditions. (it's a nice addition, but the onus is on the approaching car to travel within HIS visibility limits for both moving and non-moving objects).

#15 of 29 Re: Rear fog light in USA Outlander [comem47] by batman47

Sep 01, 2009 (10:02 am)

Replying to: comem47 (Sep 01, 2009 8:27 am)
The rear side-marker has 3-little compartments. The outer side of the right lamp and the left lamp is where the side-mark bulbs are positioned. The middle of the lamp has a specially designed lens that is used in Europe and the UK for the rear fog bulb. Our USA Outlander has this compartment cavity sealed. All the explanation in the previous contribution is to make operative this rear fog compartment (center) without cancelling the compulsory side marker light. As explained this situation can be solved by 2-methods. Both approaches will render the side-marker bulb illuminated as usual and the rear fog bulb illuminated at the discretion of the driver by using a European stalk switch (method-2) or using a switch button near the instrumentation cluster.

#16 of 29 Re: Rear fog light in USA Outlander [batman47] by comem47

Sep 01, 2009 (11:11 am)

Replying to: batman47 (Sep 01, 2009 10:02 am)
But why the European stalk? If you get the factory US fog light package you already have a fog light stalk. I suppose one could also add a switch in series to the rear to disable the rear bulb from coming on with the front fog lights for more flexibility. (I added the factory fog light kit to my LS that was not originally equipped with fogs) I purchased it from an internet Mitsubishi parts dealer and saved some $, albeit more work)

#17 of 29 Re: Rear fog light in USA Outlander [comem47] by batman47

Sep 01, 2009 (1:58 pm)

Replying to: comem47 (Sep 01, 2009 11:11 am)
The American stalk switch (stalk sold only with the front fog light options) has only the front fog light mechanism as well as the respective front fog light icon scribbled on it. As explained in my previous contribution the functionality of this front fog light is only possible when the ETACS-ECU is reprogrammed by a Mitsubishi dealership.
 
The rear fog light functionality needs either a European/UK stalk switch that will also need the ETACS-ECU reprogrammed or a button rear fog switch. The European stalk switch comes with the front fog and rear fog functionality and the front fog icon and the rear fog icon scribbled on it. The way how this stalk switch operates is usually one turn forward connects the front fog light only. Two turns forward connects the rear fog light. When this is done the vehicle has front fog and rear fog illuminated. The side-marker light will be in operation regardless of the drive’s manipulation of the fog stalk. This approach has been explained in a previous contribution. The approach is clean and doesn’t need a switch button near the instrumentation cluster.
 
The other approach is to use a switch button connected to a wire that will run from the rear fog socket to the instrument cluster. This switch will illuminate with the rear fog icon when operated by the driver. If the Outlander is a XLS with Xenon its switch stalk will not have the front fog light functionality and it will have only the DRL which will switch off when the xenon is activated on. This approach (switch button) will work regardless if the car has front fog or DRL.
 
Mitsubishi Motors has implemented since 2000 the CAN-bus network wiring that allows to transmite signal send by ETACS-ECU using the same wire to talk to different devices in the car. It is better to use the services of a Mitsubishi dealer when working with the ETACS-ECU to recognize devices.

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