Rewritten with pictures by Bryan Breaux (breaux124@yahoo.com)
All Information taken from the Maxima FAQs
Pictures taken by Bryan Breaux
Tools:
- Flathead screwdrivers- small and medium.
- Large Philips screwdriver.
- Rachet- 10mm sockets.
- Voltmeter, Voltage light, or Multimeter.
- Electrical Tape
- Approx. 3 feet of wire.
- Wire Taps
Info:
This modification is a very easy process that allows the fog lights to be on
with the parking lights. It also allows the fog lights to remain on with the
high beams. This process was done on my 1997 Nissan Maxima SE, automatic.
*Click on thumbnails for a larger picture.*
Let's Begin:
The relay box is located on the passenger side of the engine bay, right next to
the coolant reservoir. Close up of the relay box. Notice the Fog Light relay is marked.
In front of the relay box is the coolant reservoir. Remove the coolant reservoir
by removing the two hex head screws. You can use a large Philips head
screwdriver or a 10mm socket. Place the reservoir out of the way. I put it in
between the engine and the radiator, it's sits there without disconnection the
hose.
Remove the top of the relay box. This is easy, there are only a few clips to
undo. Put the top on the side. >
Now you can see the relays.
The three relays highlighted in yellow need to be remove in order to remove the
relay box. I believe if you have a manual transmission that there is a forth
relay that needs to be removed (it would be in the upper right of the relay box)
**These relays should all be the same, but just in case make sure you remember
where they originally were.**
This is what the box looks like with the relays removed.
Turn the lights on and test the relay with the voltmeter (or other electrical
device). The marked terminal should give around a +12V reading. You can use the
terminal across from it as the ground.
The two hex head screws need to be removed. You can use a large Philips head
screwdriver or a 10mm socket.
^^FENDER WALL SIDE^^
^^ENGINE SIDE^^
Once the relay box is remove from the frame, it need to be taken apart. There is
an upper and lower piece. In order to take it apart there are three clips on the
side that faces the engine and two of the same clips on the fender wall side.
But on the fender wall side there are also two additional clips. I used a small
screwdriver to unlatch all the clips, be careful not to break anything. All the
clips are marked in the two pictures above.
Here is a picture of the two pieces of the relay box apart.
With the relay box open, you want to locate the +12V terminal of the Fog light
relay. It's the green/yellow wire. I've marked it with an arrow and outlined it
in yellow.
You want to cut this wire, make sure to leave yourself enough wire on the relay
side of the wire to splice into. Once the wire is cut, tape off the +12V wire
with electrical tape (this is the half of the wire that isn't attached to the
relay)
^^WIRE TAP^^ (Radio Shack).
Splice into the green/yellow wire with a long wire, around three feet. I used a
wire tap to do this, but it can be done in other ways. Make sure to wrap it with
enough electrical tape.
The new long wire needs to be run out of the relay box. So I cut a small hole in
the bottom to run the wire out of. You can also see in the picture the original
+12V wire that is cut and wrapped in black electrical tape.
Put the relay box back together.
Reattach the box to the car with the two hex head screws.
**To test the lights: Turn on the parking lights, then touch the new wire to the
positive terminal (RED) of the battery. The fog lights should turn on when the
wire touches the battery. They should also remain on with the high beams.***
Remove the corner light with a screwdriver (wrap with a cloth to protect the
lenses), it should pop right out. Run the wire through the fender wall to the
corner light.
Splice the new relay wire into the red/blue wire. Again, I used a wire tap and
then wrapped the entire thing with lots of electrical tape. Push the lenses back
into the bumper.
YOUR DONE!!!
Turn the parking lights on and make sure the fog light switch is on too. Now
your fogs will also be on. Turn on your headlights with your high beams on, your
fog lights will remain on.
This is what it should look like
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