Novice- Need Help Wiring

Hello!

First time posting on this forum so I don’t really know how things work, so sorry if I’m posting this in the wrong place or something.

The reason for this post is because I want to wire these grille lights I recently bought to the puddle lights and to a switch.

These are the lights. (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0C531JD11?)
They have this cool start up animation, and I want it to come on when I unlock the car; that’s the reason for wanting to connect it to the puddle lights. The way I have installed now is through the INJ fuse, which means I can’t turn them off without turning off the car, thus my reasoning for wanting a switch.

I also pre-ordered the AJC fang lights, which I also want for it to come on when I unlock the car and be able to turn off without having to turn off the car. I would like to use their switch back function as well.

Just to clarify: if I have both lights connected to a switch, they’ll stay on no matter if I have my DLR, parking, headlights, or no lights on right?

So the problem I face is I don’t know how to do any of the things I want to do with the lights. I don’t know how to connect them to the puddle lights, to a switch at the same time, and be able to use the switch back function. Also, the AJC fang lights only start shipping late March, so would I be able to do all this to the light I already have and just kinda add the fang lights to the mix or will I have to wait?

Feel free to let me know if there’s a better way to accomplish what I want to do.

Thank you.

 

Grill lights to the puddle lights? So the grill lights turn on when the puddle lights turn on? I don't understand what you mean when you say grill lights to puddle lights. Tap power?

Why connect to puddle lights? What does that mean to you?

"Also use the switch back functions" what does this mean?

Or we could take a huge step back and give us an overview of what you want to accomplish and we can help.

Sounds like you're upgrading puddle lights.

Sounds like you have grill lights in hand and fang lights on order.

Why not just have the grill and fang light turn on when the car is on? You want them on a switch?

Where are you located? I ask because I'm in the bay area and would be happy to show you how to do this.

Also, looks like you have a new 2024 based on your user name. Grats on the new ride.

 

Thank you! I’m in Texas and this is my first time ever modding my car!
The reason I said grill lights to puddle lights is because of this older forum post where the OP wanted the same thing I want:

So from what I understand, if I tap it to the puddle lights (which I have no idea how to do), the grille lights should come on with them.

What I am trying to accomplish is have the grille lights (the ones I linked) and the fang lights come on and stay on when I unlock the car. I also want it to stay on no matter if I have my DLRS, my parking lights, headlights, or no lights on, but be able to be turned off without turning off the car (I sometimes go to drive in movie theaters with my gf and I need to have my car turned on while having all my lights off).

The fang lights have switchback meaning the lights can be DLRs and indicators (I’m planning on white DLRs and amber turn signals). I want to be able to use that function as well as the other two functions (if it’s possible).

Thank you for your help!

 

I looked and couldn't find how many wats or amps these lights pull.

Honestly, any product that doesn't come with a power rating, I would AVOID.

You really should know the rating of the circuit you will be connecting to, the rating of the devices currently on that circuit and the rating of your new device.

Forums are littered with cheap Chinese devices that pull more current than they should and create all sorts of electrical issues. MODERN cars are EXTREMELY sensitive to electrical system modifications.

 

I have piggybacking off of the INJ fuse as of right now and they haven’t giving me any problems.

 

Until it doesn't.

Realistically, you're probably OK, but I'd rather know I was ok, than guessing.

 

i had to reach out to baja designs and ask what the current draw was for one of their products because it wasn't listed.

It will be fine. These things will draw next to nothing. What ever switch be gets will be able to handle it. He could add it to the puddle lights circuit no problem.

I'm sure they take less than an amp.

 

OP sounds like you want the fangs on white while driving, and then used as blinkers with your blinkers.

Sounds like you want the grill light on all the time, but also come on when the puddle lights come on.

Is that accurate?

 

Yes but also be able to turn off without having to turn off the car

 

Welcome. The best advice that I can give on this is to seek a professional expert and pay them to do the install for you. It won’t be as simple as tapping a few wires. If you were in Utah, I’d be more than happy to help out.

 

Hey OP

ThaCrow is a great resource here to tap into, a few other dudes are also smart cookies re: automotive electrical.
I've done a lot, self taught.
I have grille lights and such, those are fused and on dash switches. I have the fog fangs, those are not inline fused and no dash switches but t-tapped into fused factory light positive and switchback.
Watch you tube, Search and read 4Runners.com, and if you have lights on a fuse like it sounds like you will, or tap into existing fused lighting, there's no real danger just replace fuse (keep fuses with you when ur piggybacking like that just in case)

 

Cool.

So @steelevo has a pretty good point and it might be worth taking it to someone if you have no idea what you're doing. However, it sounds like a really cool/fun project and would be very rewarding to do yourself.

But if you want to do it yourself you're going to need some stuff. Wire, crimps / butt connectors, crimper, switch, (maybe) a relay, heat gun or lighter, add-a-fuse, patience.

If you have zero experience go on YouTube and learn how to crimp wires. You could get a heat gun to shrink the heat shrink crimps (to protect from weather) or you could just use a lighter.

You're going to need heat shrink crimps/butt connecotrs
https://www.amazon.com/Waterproof-E...6336&sprefix=crimps+heat+shrin,aps,135&sr=8-4

Crimper + wire stripper
https://www.amazon.com/Klein-Tools-...96410&sprefix=crimper+strippe,aps,132&sr=8-10

Wire - get 16 gauge. It's easy to work with. You could go smaller but this will be easy to work with. Here's an assortment. 18 gauge would work just fine as well. Make sure its pure copper and not copper clad aluminum(CCA) because this can't handle the same amount of amps for the thickness. Google "wire gauge amp chart automotive) the thickness or gauge of a wire can handle X amps per a certain length - so any time you're doing this make sure the wire is thick enough for the length of the run and the amp draw or you might start a fire.
https://www.amazon.com/BEST-CONNECTIONS-Automotive-Electrical-Lighting/dp/B01JM8J4TI?crid=34AX6ZXMTFK05&keywords=copper+wire+16+gauge&qid=1707196506&sprefix=copper+wire+16%2Caps%2C132&sr=8-29&th=1

Then you'll need a switch to turn it off when you want and not just when the car is off. There's a bunch that will fit the stock location left of the steering wheel. Do some searching to see what you want.
https://caliraisedled.com/collections/2014-2020-toyota-4runner-switches-accessories

Switch back module
https://caliraisedled.com/collections/2014-2020-toyota-4runner-switches-accessories

Add-a-fuse - there's a lot. Here's a link for one.
https://www.amazon.com/Nilight-NI-F...otive&sprefix=add+a+fus,automotive,153&sr=1-5

==================================================================

Ok lets start.

First, these switches are good for about 3 amps so they cannot power more. You need to check how many watts or amps your viper and grill lights require. If you can'y find out, reach out to the manufacturer. Alternatively, you could just try it and see i your switches burn out. "Should" be fine but you'd want to keep an eye on it and be prepared to add in a relay later. I know this might sound dangerous but what ever the fuse is, it wont get hot enough to start a fire.

That said, your fangs come with a switch back so that's pretty easy. The switch back will take in your turn signal and ignition on power (power that's on when the car is on). You'll need to find the positive wire for your blinker and connect that (with this butt connectors) to switch back. Likewise with ignition on. An boom you're set.

Now the grill lights. You're really doing about the same thing so you need another switch back module but these don't come with them so buy some linked above. You're going to have to find the positive for the puddle lights and plug that into the switch back where it says turn signal.

You can see on this picture the switch back is very straight forward. "Running" is ignition on. This is a switch back that I linked. Might look different than what comes with the fangs.


Now the ignition on piece (running). The ignition on or the running power going into the switch back you want switched (so you can turn it off even if the car isn't off). So you can grab ignition on from the fuse box under the dash like this right here.


You plug that add a fuse into your switch and then that switch feed ALL of your switch backs running input. You then leave that switch on. And of course just turn it off when the car is running to turn it all off.

ONE EXCEPTION. That switch is for the running power. Your fangs would still function as blinkers even if you turn this switch off. The grill lights would also turn on with the puddle lights. You can use relays to turn everything off at all times from this single switch, but you're already biting off a lot here and this is something you can add in later. But i would be happy to get into it at any time if you wish.

Everything you're looking to do has been done. Get on YouTube and familiarize yourself with how to crimp, how to run wires through the firewall. How to install the fangs (I'm sure there's a lot of videos on this) etc etc.

This was a brief overview. Happy to go further into anything. Off the top of my head this didn't cover grounding. I'm fairly curious myself where the power wire is for the puddle lights. I'm sure somewhere on this forums it has that and the positive lead for the blinkers.

You can always find a positive wire by guessing - get a volt meter, stab a wire with a sewing needle and see if it makes the volt meter do stuff.

When you end up getting a switch, if it's a push button stock style switch, here's how you need to wire them, and then their lights will function. Happy to go over this more if/when you get that far.



you're going to need to do a lot of research but also once you get everything, draw it out. Then think about it and draw it again. Post your drawing on here. Let us take a look and give feedback.

 

what a guy, great work

 

lol thx

 

Not many ppl are so helpful and selfless with their time like dat

 

Wow, thank you so much. I don’t know what else I can say but thank you so much. I am definitely confused, but I do have someone who knows a lot more about cars than I do ( he helped me wire the grille lights and did some chimping and cutting)

My main concern now is reliability; if something goes wrong with the lights or the wiring, would I still be able to drive the car without having to immediately fix it? And if the lights were to stop functioning, I would have to basically do all this again, or could it be possible to wire replacements lights to the old wires (if they’re not bad).

And I agree with you, I want to do this [semi] by myself because I want to learn and because of the rewarding feeling I had when I put on my grille lights. I’m in college right now, studying to become an engineer, and this seemed like good opportunity to gain some experience (as long as nothing blows up). What I think is funny is how I have an HVAC license and was in a class where we did wiring and used relays and such, but I don’t remember anything that I can use for this project.

Some questions I have right now are :

I don’t care for the grille lights to act as the indicators, so I wouldn’t need the switch back module for them right ?

Why wouldn’t I add relays initially? I’m probably wrong but I thought switches needed relays to be able to turn something on and off?

You did say be patient but how long do you think all this would take? Like I said, I’m in college and I work, so I can’t be without a car for too long.

But again, thank you so much for your time, energy, effort, and detail (with the links tooo!!). If there’s anything I can do to help you, just let me know and I will try my best.

 

Since you're adding stuff tot he car and not really messing with anything too much it would be easy to leave this project in an unfinished state every day and the car would be perfectly safe to drive.

I thought the grill lights would be constant on whent he car is on and then also on when the puddle lights come on. So no indicator function. Yes you would need the switch back to make them turn on with the puddle lights.

You don't really need relays because the switch backs are effectively doing the work of 2 relays - so you technically will have relays, just more bad ass ones.

No fucking clue we're all different and have different back grounds and amount of time available. Good thing is you can drive the car at any time if you need to use the car and its not finished. Might just need to put some electrical tape on the end of a live wire

Very welcome! just let us know how it goes, report back, ask questions and be part of the community here please. I'm very excited to see this work.

 

Helping is very fun and rewarding. And I think this is a really cool project. Adds some cool uniqueness to his ride.

 

Yes sir I will, but I can’t really start until late March (that’s when the fang lights start shipping). But that’ll give me plenty of time to do research.

one more question: if I do all this for the grille lights now, I can always come back and add the fang lights later right?

 

Yeah you could do the Grill light now. You could even do the grill light now and not have a switch or maybe even have it so it's only on when there's power on the 4runner and don't tie it into the puddle lights yet.

 

that’s the only thing I’ve done.

 

I've never actually seen those ^
Nice

 

Oh fuck yeah dude. What ground and power did you tap? How did you wire it?

 

Much better than raptor lights.

 

Better than......2 sets of raptor lights?

Edit:

 

I have it piggy backing off the INJ fuse and grounded to a something near the bumper.
Also, using rule of thumb, the wires they came with to connect to a fuse were really thin so that must mean they don’t pull a lot, right?

They come with yellow wires for the turn signals but I just have them wrapped up nicely under the hood near the bumper.

I don’t know, I feel like having those turn into sequential turn lights would be a little corny, but the more I think about, the more I’m thinking why not.

 

I was thinking of getting raptor lights under the grille but there’s that divider thing in the middle so it wouldn’t really look as clean.

 

that bar/wench (the bottom of the front grille) is so bad ass.

Also is it true that the scoop reflects sunlights right into your eyes? That’s the only thing that’s stopping me from getting one.

 

I never had any issue with the reflection but this is a stock hood and it's all I know

 

Hey @Thacrow , I did some research and I was wondering:

why don't I just get this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071ZPX32N?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

it comes with a relay, and a switch (which I'll replace with one that will a better one), and I can wire two lights to it.

I feel like this would save a lot of time and be more efficient but I'm not completely sure.
Could these power two different lights or just the same pair?
And would I still be able to wire the switch back module to this?