SNAFU 4

OK, so after a few years I decided to finally do the fog light rewire. It was simple, but the hardest part was finding the actual parts, so I hope this can help someone else avoid the driving and searching.

I went to 4 auto parts stores and 2 different Radio Shacks to find the fuse tap like shown in BD's post. I looked through the entire Radio Shack catalog to confirm, and they do not carry this product anymore. 2 different auto parts places (Pep Boys, Strauss) did not have them either. My last stop was a local parts store. Here are the parts needed:

Fuse Tap (X2): Buss Fuses HHA Accessory Add-A-Line; Cat. No. BP/HHA ($8.99 each - ouch)
ATC 3-10 Fuse (X2) ($2 for a box)
Wire cutter / stripper / crimper

Picture of the box:
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/twovettes/tapbox.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

Disclaimer: Not responsible for any damage you do to your own car or anyone else! Take all precautions like disconnecting the battery. This mod was done on a 2001 A6 2.7T

1. Cut one of the wires for one tap in half, discard the connector
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/twovettes/tapcut.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

2. Strip the wire you just cut, and insert into the connector for the other tap; crimp to secure. Insert an ATC 3-10 fuse into each tap.
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/twovettes/tapmade.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

3. Remove the fuses for 36 (fog lights, 4th up from bottom left) and 27 (rear wiper and heated wheel, one up one over from bottom left). Plug in one tap right side up into 36, and the other upside down into 27.
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/twovettes/taps.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

4. Secure loose wires and make sure connections are tight. Test to make sure everything works. Note: The other wires going into the fuse box (black up top, black and red in the middle and black going to the bolt underneath) are not related to this mod. Those are for the hard wires for my XM, Passport and aux power outlets (wired in so they all turn on with the key).


Finished product (goes nice with the PIAA bulbs)
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/twovettes/fogs.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

Thanks to BD and all for the base to this mod. I hope having the part numbers will help others not waste 4 hours trying to find it, and maybe find it somewhere less expensive than $9 per tap! Also, 2 of the other stores sold Buss Fuses, but did not carry this product.

Boston Driver

...it does not get crispy. I found that the connection between the two fuse taps is the weak point in this installation method.

Oh, and Autozone carries those same taps for about $5 each. Oh well. At least you did not pay what another local auto parts store wants for those...$14 each!!! Robbery!!!

Press

wtg....

SNAFU 4

are not Autozone stores around me! It would have saved $10 in gas! Hopefully people could find those online cheaper somewhere too. I brought them up to the register and the guy who rung it up said, "You know these are $13.95?" I said, "Holy cow!" He looked it up and gave them to me for $8.99...even he thought the price was rediculous!

Cargasm2.7

Reminds me, I gave mine to AW member who was to send me the shipping $, never did. Some people suck

TTwdrl

1. this mod turns fogs on whenever parking lights are on - regardless of fog switch position.

2. even though there is a position for the fogs on/off when switch is to parking lights only fogs and parks cannot operate independently
.
Nice add on to the write up - I find it is often the work that is easy, and the prep that proves difficult-you helped us all out with this. I'm gonna do this mod next

Thanks!!

SNAFU 4

... you can have just the parking lights on with no fogs. You still have to pull out the switch to turn the fogs on... which is why I went this method. I did not want the fogs on anytime the parking lights are on.
Just think of it as totally normal operation, with the exception of NOT having to have the headlights on to have the fogs on. Everything else is factory (including the fogs going off with the high beams).

TTwdrl

stopping at parts store on way home

Press

you need to identify this person....

iProDrive

...10 year sentence to AW prison...breaking an AW rule