I'm not all that well versed in all things electric so I thought I'd post this here before tempting fate and destroying the car's leccy system ;)

 

As I now HID's in my Z I was wondering if the JDM fog lights can be wired up to flash rather than the high beams. The easy way is of course to just press the fog light button on the console but I'd like it to flash when pulling on the indicator stalk. This would leave the high beam to come on only when pushing the indicator stalk forward.

 

So in summary:

 

Turn light on: HID's in dip beam

Pull on indicator stalk: flash fog lights

Push on indicator stalk: HID's in high beam

 

I'm sure someone could come up with the appropriate switch, diagram for this set up.

 

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

Regards,

 

Dan

I am an electrician although not a auto electrician, your theory is sound. have you got a wiring diagramme for the lighting on the Z, if so send it over to me, i'm assuming the same wiring connects both the flash and the main beam to the headlights!?!?

if this is the case case it's a bit more complicated (1 2way relay), you would need to chage the relay to 2 1way relays, if its seperate wiring (2 1way relays) the then it's just a case of re-routing the flash wiring to the fog lights.

 

If the relay(s) are built into the stalk, then try and trace the wiring from the pull side of the stalk and see where it goes, it might be that the after the stalk the wring goes staight to the lights if thats the case then once again just re route the wiring to the fog lights. however there might be a fuse inbetween the stalk and the lights you'll have to check and make sure that it's the same size of the fog light fuse, if it's smaller then it'll keep blowing, this is the best i can advise with out seeing the wiring diagramme

HTH

Neil

I am an electrician although not a auto electrician, your theory is sound. have you got a wiring diagramme for the lighting on the Z, if so send it over to me, i'm assuming the same wiring connects both the flash and the main beam to the headlights!?!?

if this is the case case it's a bit more complicated (1 2way relay), you would need to chage the relay to 2 1way relays, if its seperate wiring (2 1way relays) the then it's just a case of re-routing the flash wiring to the fog lights.

 

If the relay(s) are built into the stalk, then try and trace the wiring from the pull side of the stalk and see where it goes, it might be that the after the stalk the wring goes staight to the lights if thats the case then once again just re route the wiring to the fog lights. however there might be a fuse inbetween the stalk and the lights you'll have to check and make sure that it's the same size of the fog light fuse, if it's smaller then it'll keep blowing, this is the best i can advise with out seeing the wiring diagramme

HTH

Neil

 

Hi Neil!

 

Thanks so much for that explanation - much appreciated. I will have a look at the service manual for a wiring diagram and see if I can make any heads or tails of it. If not I'll e-mail it over to you for a look-see.

 

I'm glad my thought's weren't as off-the-wall as I had thought! ;)

 

Regards,

 

Dan

Danny,i have the on line version of the sevice manual, but it has about 3 different diagrammes fo rthe headlights, something about dim dip and day light lights :confused:

 

my advise would to have a look at the stalk and try and trace the wires, but to me it looks as if you can just re-route the wires from the stalk, if you can discoenct them with out cutting them, all the better, that will allow you to test the system before commiting to it, if that makes sence. other wise leave as much coming out of the stalk as you can which will allow you to reconnect the system should thing not work out as planned i.e. head lights stop working.

 

this is the diagramme i have been looking at

 

click me

 

have to let me know if it's the right one.

 

HTH

 

Neil

Danny,i have the on line version of the sevice manual, but it has about 3 different diagrammes fo rthe headlights, something about dim dip and day light lights :confused:

 

my advise would to have a look at the stalk and try and trace the wires, but to me it looks as if you can just re-route the wires from the stalk, if you can discoenct them with out cutting them, all the better, that will allow you to test the system before commiting to it, if that makes sence. other wise leave as much coming out of the stalk as you can which will allow you to reconnect the system should thing not work out as planned i.e. head lights stop working.

 

this is the diagramme i have been looking at

 

click me

 

have to let me know if it's the right one.

 

HTH

 

Neil

 

Hi Neil,

 

That's the same diagram I've been trying to decifer! As my car is JDM I don't have the dip/dim unit nor does it have day light running lights (I think the diagram refers to US/Canadian spec 300's). It also doesn't make any reference to the fog lights which I don't think the US/Can cars had anyway. I may get a chance at the weekend to have a look at the actual wiring in the car and see what goes where ... will keep you informed.

 

Thanks again for your help.

 

Dan

best thing to do mate is to get a multimeter, flash the lights and see which wire you get a reading off in the engine bay, obviously disconnect the ballast from the hid's, then disconnect the wires and see if the lights still work, it might be that the flash and the main beam wires are the same, which will mean rerunning a new set of wires through the engine bay to the fog lights from the stalk, which WILL be a major pain in the ass. but doable, as i havent gota zed i cant have a look, but the zed i'm looking at has HID's so it will be a mod i'll be doing. looking at the said Zed next weekend, so will be after that,if you wanna wait till then!?!?!? upto you. maybe arrangeaday and do both the Zed's at once?

best thing to do mate is to get a multimeter, flash the lights and see which wire you get a reading off in the engine bay, obviously disconnect the ballast from the hid's, then disconnect the wires and see if the lights still work, it might be that the flash and the main beam wires are the same, which will mean rerunning a new set of wires through the engine bay to the fog lights from the stalk, which WILL be a major pain in the ass. but doable, as i havent gota zed i cant have a look, but the zed i'm looking at has HID's so it will be a mod i'll be doing. looking at the said Zed next weekend, so will be after that,if you wanna wait till then!?!?!? upto you. maybe arrangeaday and do both the Zed's at once?

 

 

Hi Neil,

 

I'll definitely have a go with my trusty multimeter this weekend. I would definitely like to take you up on your suggestion of doing both our Zeds at the same time. I'm in no hurry at all.

 

I've noticed that when the lights are not in use, pulling on the stalk only activates the main beam - so day time "flashing" is not a problem. However, as soon as the lights are on, flashing the main beam turns the dip beam (=HIDs) temporarily off. So, there must be a switch inline somewhere which will need to be by-passed. If I'm not mistaken it'll mean running a new wire to the fogs in any case. Perhaps I'm making it too difficult by over analysing ... think I'll give this a rest until the weekend.

 

Thanks again for your help/thoughts on this.

 

Regards,

 

Dan

Sound like a relay is activating when the lights r switched on, i'll have to see if i can find a diagramme with these on, there might be a away dis-abling the relay when the lights are on, meaning you keep the function of flashing the main beam while the lights are off and flashing the fogs when they are on, altenativley just swapping the flashing to the fogs if the lights are on or off. depend what you goal is.

ok had a look at the relays and looks like it's a mixed type relay, one circuit is powerd untill the swich is made then the power goes through the other circuit, to clarify....

 

flashing with light off power the main lights through the relay, with the lights on the relay activates the other circuit the for cutting power to the dipped beams, all you need to do is listen for the relay activating when the lights are flashed and then multimeter the wires coming out of the relay to find the one that goes to the dipped beam when flashing and re-route that to the fog lights. :nana2: :nana2:

 

Although not sure how this will affect the fog lights working normally, but with HID' you'll prob never use them as fog lights anyway. :confused:

 

HTH ;)

 

Neil

I'm sure someone posted how to wire it so the dip beam HID's stay on with the full beam too?

If you're having problems with the HID's not coming on to flash properly then surely there's something wrong with em?

what Dannys after is changing the flash function to the Foglights as turn the HID's onand off quickly i.e. flashing damages the ballast in the lights. Although finding that diagramme would be good.

flashing damages the ballast in the lights.

 

So what do all new cars that come with HID's do? :confused:

found the link if anyones interested.

 

http://www.aus300zx.com/tech/H-light_conversion.doc

 

Neil

So what do all new cars that come with HID's do? :confused:

 

Thoughs are factory fit and as an after market kit that the car wasnt supposed to have, i dont think the electrical system was designed to take.

 

i think.....

 

no doubt someone will correct me if im wrong.

 

Neil

I saw a post recently about a quick solution-

 

Only connect the bulb/HID+ to the connector socket that goes +12V. Wire the 2nd bulb spade/HID- to ground permanently.

 

The only potential downside is drawing too much current when both lamps are on- the solution linked above is a bit more elegant, but also more complicated. I'm going to try the quick version soon, unless anyone posts up with any problems they had! :)

 

Mark

 

PS the basic problem comes from the fact that in the Z either bulb is on, so when you flash your lights the HIDS do some quick power cycles, which is damaging to them, not so much that the electical load is too great.

What effect will this mod have come MOT time?

:confused:

 

wouldnt of thought that it would affect it at all, the lightsstill work via an independant switch, dont think the MOTers would even notice to tell you the truth, unless they mot zed's all the time, it's a real tight engine bay to start with.

 

Neil

I was just wondering if the fact that pulling the stalk back didn`t flash the main beam would cause problems thats all.

I was just wondering if the fact that pulling the stalk back didn`t flash the main beam would cause problems thats all.

 

I don't think it will be an issue but I suppose the ultimate solution would be:

 

Lights off: flash = main beam

Lights on: flash = fog lights

 

This is now getting way over my head - best leave it to the experts ... ;)

 

Dan

Danny,

 

Just been re reading the install guide (link i posted up) This is prob the best way to go, it looks like it factory fitted and shouldnt take too long to do, prob an hour at the most :duffer: , which save on all the testing that i spoke about, another reason is the bumper i'm looking at doesnt have fog lights ( :D )

 

shouldn't cost too much either, also it means that i can make one up for me, then using the that as a template and make one up for you, with (simple :x: ) fitting instructions or stick to the origonal plan and come to you and do them both at the same time.

 

If you read the link and then re read it you should understand it, it not that hard really, hardest thing is getting the diode on the right wire and the right way round. :headvswal

 

Let me know what you think

 

:D

 

Neil