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DIY:REAR Fog Light install with New harness for US spec 370Z + Radar hardwire w/pics
We all know that our US spec 370Z do not get the rear fog light. This fog light is standard in 370Zs ALL OVER the world! We had to settle with a false blacked out plate. In my opinion, it looks horrible and do not flow with the taillights at all. Ever since I bought the Z, I wanted to install the rear fog light. Due to my busy schedule and recent family emergencies, I had to hold off this install. Today the fog light was installed and in the next few paragraphs, I'll try to write down as much info possible about the install. Please feel free to ask me any question (or request high res version of any pictures below).
First of all, I'd like to thank The Z Store for providing me a functional rear fog light and [discounted priced] BRAND NEW harness for the fog light. My car is the FIRST CAR in the United States to have this harness installed. I'm basically the beta tester. I have been trying to find a good switch to install in the cabin so that it doesn't look out of place. I bought the Roadster conv. switch , took it apart and tried to figure out how to hack it. I wasn't so lucky :(. Then I also bought a set of seat heater switches but technically they are for seat heaters. Using it for fog light is okay as a last resort but I really wasn't too happy about it. When I was told about this brand new harness, I wanted to jump on it regardless of the price. I know many members(i.e. Mr. Robert Nash) spent hundreds of dollars having the fog light installed at the dealer and still had to settle for the seat heater switch. I also would like to thank MATT (bigaudiofanat) for doing the install and SIMOTA1 for writing the initial fog light DIY Fog Light: http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC02482.jpg http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC02484.jpg Fog Light Harness: http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC02489.jpg http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC02494.jpg http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC02495.jpg http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC02496.jpg This is basically the complete fog light installation idea. http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC02508.jpg Removal of Rear Fog Light: http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC02535.jpg In order to remove the rear fog light, first you have to take off a black backing plate. It's held by 3 small clips. Due to dirt and exhaust heat, these 3 pins were really stuck pretty well. Have patience and they will come right off. now, once you remove these, you will have access to the fog light bolts. It's held by two small bolts. PLEASE BE VERY VERY CAREFUL not to ruin the bolt by turning with the base since Nissan decided to put so much locktite. It'll def be a good idea to soak them with some sort of WD40 before you start the install. Matt couldn't open these bolts as they would turn with the base. So, he sprayed some of these http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC02540.jpg http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC02541.jpg and heated the bolt so that it expands and locktite melts. I mean we were this close ----> ll to simply giving up and take the WHOLE rear bumper off. That would have def add more hours to our install. Installation: First we took the front dash off to gain access to the accessory power (+) line. You can find plenty of step by step on how to take these off HERE and HERE . Connecting the fog light switch via accessory power will prevent you from accidentally keeping the fog light on when the car is off. Matt basically started putting everything in place just to get an idea how the fog light will be installed and where to feed the wires. We ran the wire under the armrest to the trunk area. We fasten the orange relay right below the switch inside the armrest area. Here are some pictures http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC02523.jpg http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC02526.jpg http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC02529.jpg Please NOTE we used the Driver side (LEFT sided) existing rubber grommet for this install. We previously ran the rear camera wire through it and it worked beautifully for this install as well. http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC02552.jpg Here Matt is installing the fog light. http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC02547.jpg Comparison picture. http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC02553.jpg It was a bad day out today. It drizzled during the first hour and half of the install. VERY light drizzle. We HAD to install it today since tomorrow both of us are busy. Here's a pic :( http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC02536.jpg As you can see in the following pictures, wires are routed very neatly (thanks to Matt) and followed through the inside of the armrest to the front. http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC02554.jpg http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC02556.jpg http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC02570.jpg http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC02572.jpg ALL THE WIRES were soldered and heat shrinked professionally. http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC02574.jpg We had the Install cat - TIGER look over everything and she gave us green light on the install. :icon17: I mean this cat is always watching over the install when my car comes in. Heck, I think I even stop paying attention sometimes but TIGER, not even a blink! So, if your install is NOT approved by "Tiger the Install cat", then you're pretty much on your own! Lol :bowrofl: http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC02579.jpg There are 4 ground bolts by the shifter. Feel free to use whichever one you like. We used the top right and rear right bolts. http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC02522.jpg Simply plug in the harness to the switch and you're all done! Push the beverage/switch holder in (it's not held by any bolt. Just pull up to remove and push down to install). http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC02565.jpg http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC02568.jpg Final pictures: http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC02584.jpg http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC02586.jpg http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC02587.jpg The awesome thing about this switch is that it has a illuminated fog light logo that lits up with THE SAME ORANGE OEM COLOR as the interior accent! http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC02595.jpg You can see it more clear here http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC02597.jpg Exterior http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC02625.jpg Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ociHEZLxgvg Another cool feature about the harness is that it automatically resets as soon as you turn the ignition off meaning you don't have to guess or physically turn off after each session. You turn the car off and fog light will not be on when you start the car (kind of like how VDC switch but opposite). If you need it, simply turn it on. :tup: Impression: I'm VERY happy with the way the fog light is installed. The quality of the harness is fantastic. I'm glad I didn't had to settle for cheap auto zone switch or the heater switch. Pricing and info thread for this harness should be released soon by The Z Store. Please keep your eyes open in the Sponsor Marketplace. If you have ANY question(s), do not hesitate to ask. Thank You. A. Kaiser |
Passport Escort Radar Detector Hardwiring:
Passport Escort Radar Detector Hardwiring:
Hardwire Kit: http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...r/DSC02153.jpg I Bought the hardwire kit from ebay for about $8 (shipped). Here's the LINK Installation: Install is very simply. Simply run the wire under the headliner and through the A Pillar weather strip. http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...r/DSC02559.jpg http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...r/DSC02560.jpg Then run it under the knee panel and feed it all the way to the power accessory line by the headunit. http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...r/DSC02562.jpg http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...r/DSC02564.jpg Connect the power and ground the black wire. Voila! You're all done. http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...r/DSC02630.jpg http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...r/DSC02632.jpg |
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Bolts, be very careful with them we got lucky with ours. After noticing that they where not getting lose I sprayed them down than heated them up and sprayed them again. Works like a charm. If I where to do it again I would do that first. WD40 might work but this oil has the ability to loosen tough bolts very well I have been using it for a few years now. My impression of the harness, I enjoyed being able to try it out. Everything seemed to have went week. Although some wires where to long and others to short "ground and power wire" I will say that I would recommend this product if it is reasonably priced. I would recommend this to anyone who wants the rear fog light to function how it should similar to Japanese 370zs. |
Hmm... who do I owe this rep to? :D
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LOL I know well she is my cat (^_^)
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Where is the wiring harness at the Z store, can not find it?
Does it come with the rear fog light now? |
Great write up and pix AK370Z. Thanks for doing the first install for us.
Michael |
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In stock next month. Michael |
can you please pm me a price
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do you guys think if I removed the blank plate at the back there would be room for a trailer hitch to come out of that hole instead of putting a fog light in?
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Total time for install?
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I don't see why not. I will take a took tomorrow and see if there's any chassis part close by for you to weld on the trailer hitch. Quote:
I was in Bridgeton all day Tuesday and hoping to get pulled over by you :icon17:. I even had the fog light on! I think the longest part is to remove the fog light. If you don't get any complication (though me and few others had complication taking off the cover due to extra locktite on the screw), then I would say 45 minutes to an hour? TODAY we had the most dense fog I have EVER seen. Visibility is like 15 feet maybe! I was using the fog light with a :) face. :hello: I do feel that this fog light is a GREAT addition to the Z. It significantly increases visibility on bad weather like snow, heavy fog and heavy rain. Now with this new harness, I don't see why everyone would not put this on. Another cool feature about the harness is that it automatically resets as soon as you turn the ignition off meaning you don't have to guess or physically turn off after each session. You turn the car off and fog light will not be on when you start the car (kind of like the VDC switch but opposite). If you need it, simply turn it on. :tup: |
I'm all over this once that harness is available. I was off on Tuesday. :driving:
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Should of stopped by, the install time was 4 hours but than again that included the radar hard wiring as well. I would say full time with no problems would be around 2 hours. One reason for this is the power wire on the harness is to short and have to be extended. Also for trailer hits all there is is a piece of aluminum frame back and above the cut out. In my non trailer hitch point of view I would not put one.
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