Ford Escape Fog Lights
We have a 2006 Ford Escape that did not come with fog lights. The vehicle appears to have all of the wiring necessary to just plug into the factory components, ie. Switch, relay and lights. After installing the Ford factory lights, switch and relay, the lights still do not come on. I know they only work when the headlights are on, so we do have the headlights on when trying to turn on the fog lights. Does anyone know if we are still missing something. The local ford dealer says we have everything needed. I can jump the relay and the fog lights come on. The problem appears to be between the switch and the relay. Thanks.
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tidester, host
from '01 to '06 for lighting overrides or not. I know in other vehicles the fog-lamps can operate separately from
the headlamps. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me why Ford set it up this way. I'm not complaining too much, it's been a pretty vehicle so far even w/o this amenity.
I'm no mechanic but I do sell Fords so just so you know the fogs only work when the headlights are on and set on dim. Ford sets it up that way so people aren't driving around with just their fog lights on, (You don't want that ticket) and so you don't blind people with your brights and fogs on at the same time.
Thanks
Jim
It would be a great help for me in the future if I or anyone else decided to install the fog lights by oneself.
The problem is not insurmountable but it is not quite as clean as just plugging the components in. The solution is to simply run new wires from the switch to the relay. Heh, for us purists it's not the best solution but it works. Good luck.
Funny thing is, I went into my local Ford dealer and they knew nothing, said the computer doesnt control those lights and told me it is "simple electronics 101"... I phoned two other dealers who both said its "plug & play" type additions, the 4th told me about the relay & fuses, and the 5th just brushed me off unless i wanted to make a service appointment.
There was a fuse in the inside and a fuse and relay in the engine compartment...mine have all the fuses and relay... I looked at the wiring diagram at the service department, and it IS controlled by the BCM. If you LED is coming on when you push the button, and off when you push it again, then I would check if the fuses are all there...
An update though, my service rep at the dealer I bought it from contacted me after doing some research, he confirmed that it is controlled by the computer and is a simple job, he said it is a simple job, cost me $47.50 for their labour. So Im going to make an appt for next week, I will let you all know the outcome.......
C/S: PROGRAM CUSTOMERS FOGLAMPS TO WORK
OWNER INSTALLED HIS OWN FACTORY FOGLAMPS
RE-PROGRAMMED 'SMART' JUNCTION BOX
52.50
Yahoo!
Please help me
regards
The Consultant
I lucked out and know a friend that works at my local ford dealer who programmed them for free for me. But if you dont take it to a ford dealer, make sure the place you goto is reputable and that you get a receipt for your service because I read in some posts that it is a touchy thing and if they mess up in the computer then there can be other malfunctions, so you will want proof you took it there so it can be fixed. I'd get it done though at a dealer to be safe....
Hope this helped, and if you need more advise for removing the front bumper then let me know....
-Chris
Mike
The next ones I removed are like plastic screws with a phillips head, unscrew them enough to get your fingers on it and pull them out, they are plastic. Once they are out you need to pull out the plastic tab that they push into. There are i believe two that are located in the opening just under the licence plate. Next ones are located in the wheel wells, i believe 3 on each side, you may have to remove a few of the screws around the top of the wheel well to get better access and also may have to turn the wheels to get your screw driver to them.
Now, for the tricky one. When you unscrewed the other screws above the wheel well, there is another one of those phillips head screw tab things you need to remove on the inner side of the bumper behind the three you just removed. I struggled with it, so be patient. You should be able to see the inside of the tab that the screw goes into, get a flathead screw driver and push out the screw from inside the tab, trying to unscrew it will get you very angry and consider smashing your headlights out, thats how frustrating those two are, (one on either side).
Finally you've got the bolts on top. Take off the bolts for the grill on top too, it comes off with the bumper. Make sure you have your towel or drop cloth down just incase you drop it. Find yourself a nice big space to put your bumper once its off, I have a nice large work bench in my garage. Put a towel or cloth there to while it sits.....
Sit it on your area with the front of the bumper facing you and whip out your dremmel (or "rotary tool") :-) and I used the cutting bit that has the sharp tapered point and proceeded to cut. Dont go too fast, want to be fairly accurate, but dont go too slow in one spot or your plastic will get very hot and may deform.
Keep handy a lighter/torch and a wire brush. As you cut away, the small bits of plastic melt around the bit and about every 2 inches you may have to take it out and get the bunched up melted plastic off, thats where the fire & wire brush come into play. Continue until you have a nice hole. Will be rough so you will want to smooth it out with one of the sanding bits or a file, whatever you have or want to use. Don't worry about the little pieces of melted plastic that are flying off and sticking to the bumper as they just flake off with your finger nail.
Next, the part you are waiting for, mount those lights, make sure they are in the correct way, yes it does make a difference, there should be markings, if not i believe the writing on the lens should be able to be read properly when all back together.
Get the bumper back to the truck, you may have to crouch down and rest it on your knees while you plug the lights in, mine didnt have enough wire to set it on the ground and plug them in. Get the bumper back in place and put a couple bolts back in the top and just go from there.
regards
Mike
PS what color is your escape
-Chris
I recommend setting one up at http://www.carspace.com
tidester, host
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2465718/1
Can you please elaborate how did you wire up the lights to the dash board. I managed to remove the bumper and I can see those factory installed wires to connect to. Where those wires appear in the cabin, where did you install a switch on the dashboard, does it require mounting off the dashboard, did you need to add any fuses or relays along the path?
I have 2002 Escape.
Best regards
George
Keep in mind, this is how it is on my 2006.....
Hope this helped.....
Looking to replace the OEM bulbs with something such as Silverstar's.
H16 is a special bulb made for GM trucks and SUV. But since 2008 Ford use it on his truck and the Escape was the first.
You can buy it from www.putco.com or make a search on yahoo or google.
I have a 2008 FEH with factory fog lights, and it uses a different switch than the ones described for the 2006 in this forum. My fog lights activate by the same rotating switch that works the headlights - you pull the switch out to turn on the fog lights.
I'm not sure if the stock switch has this capability, or if you can use a different switch, or if you would have to insert a new switch that is capable of fog light operations. But in any case it appears that the Ford dealer will need to program the SJB.
Thanks.