Adding Turning lights
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Junior User
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From: Northeast
Adding Turning lights
Hey guys I'm hoping you guys can help. You always have in the past. I want to add a set of cornering lights to my 93 XLT. I have trouble seeing at night as is, but on hard rights in the Bronco I am completely blind. I'm thinking of recessing them in the lower air dam and reinforcing them with a bracket of some kind. My problem is powering them.
My thought was a relay pulling power straight from the battery but tripped off the power going to the front blinker leads. Simple. But then my corner lights will blink, duh. (Slaps head) So I break out my Haynes with the full schematics, but I am horrible at schematics. Is there a place where the power is seperate to each side yet before the flasher so it's constant. Looking at the schematic of the Multi function switch it looks like all power goes in and nothing comes out except one line to the flasher. Anyone ever tried this and if so how?
Thank in advance for any help
My thought was a relay pulling power straight from the battery but tripped off the power going to the front blinker leads. Simple. But then my corner lights will blink, duh. (Slaps head) So I break out my Haynes with the full schematics, but I am horrible at schematics. Is there a place where the power is seperate to each side yet before the flasher so it's constant. Looking at the schematic of the Multi function switch it looks like all power goes in and nothing comes out except one line to the flasher. Anyone ever tried this and if so how?
Thank in advance for any help
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From: Northeast
Adding Turning lights
OK Found my own answer. The power comes through the flasher first so there is no way to pick it off and add turning lights the easy way. So the next question. All you electronics and engineering gurus out there, I did a quick google search for time delay relays. Lo and behold, such things DO exist. Found some that take a 12V trigger and feed. They trigger off a short cycle, 1/2 second or less, and remain on for 2-600 seconds. Anyone know how these will work with the constant re-triggering of the directionals? I obviously am lookng for something that would trip at the first 12v applied and stay consatnt until 2 -3 seconds after the last trip voltage.
Thanks again.
Thanks again.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,182
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From: Gateway to the West
Adding Turning lights
Shouldn't hurt the relay. It will just reset the "off-time" every time voltage comes down the trigger until the turn signal circuit is once again "off" thus keeping the cornering lamp lit any time the turn signal is on. Keep in mind that since you are still pulling power for the trigger off the actual turn signal wiring, BOTH cornering lamps will light whenever the hazzard switch is employed.
I have considered doing this with my '92 but converting the clear lens parking lamp (outside of the headlamps) on each side to a higher wattage white lamp and doing exactly as you are describing.
I have considered doing this with my '92 but converting the clear lens parking lamp (outside of the headlamps) on each side to a higher wattage white lamp and doing exactly as you are describing.
Last edited by greystreak92; Jul 16, 2003 at 11:14 AM.
Posting Legend
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Adding Turning lights
You may be able to bypass the flasher and run your lights off of the column switch. You would then need two flashers for the turn signals. One flasher for each side. I am not sure how this would work with the brake light interlock tho...
The relay may be simpler tho since you will need a relay to power the lights anyway. The time delay on the relay would only have to be about 1 second, just enuf to keep the lights from flashing. Get a relay with contacts rated for the DC load. Relay contacts for AC loads are a different metal.
The relay may be simpler tho since you will need a relay to power the lights anyway. The time delay on the relay would only have to be about 1 second, just enuf to keep the lights from flashing. Get a relay with contacts rated for the DC load. Relay contacts for AC loads are a different metal.
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Adding Turning lights
Originally posted by greystreak92
Shouldn't hurt the relay. It will just reset the "off-time" every time voltage comes down the trigger until the turn signal circuit is once again "off" thus keeping the cornering lamp lit any time the turn signal is on. Keep in mind that since you are still pulling power for the trigger off the actual turn signal wiring, BOTH cornering lamps will light whenever the hazzard switch is employed.
Shouldn't hurt the relay. It will just reset the "off-time" every time voltage comes down the trigger until the turn signal circuit is once again "off" thus keeping the cornering lamp lit any time the turn signal is on. Keep in mind that since you are still pulling power for the trigger off the actual turn signal wiring, BOTH cornering lamps will light whenever the hazzard switch is employed.
I'm gonna start doing some research on the delay relays. I figure I need 2 seconds on after the last trigger to the relay and a relay that will activate on the very short on cycle of the blinker (1/4 - 1/2 second???)
Grey streak, would you look into a complete change to a dual filiment lamp like in brake lights? Other wise you'ld lose your marker lights anytime you didn't have a blinker on and here in MA that would be illegal.
If I get this worked out I will definitely post pics.
Posting Legend
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Adding Turning lights
A delay on OFF relay will trigger off a pulse that is just a few milliseconds long so you should not have any problem there.
You may want to put a speed sensitive switch in the circuit so they do not trigger above say 10mph otherwise lane changes in normal traffic would turn on the lights. You could power the circuit from another delay on OFF relay that was triggered by the brake lights. You are normally on your brakes just before a turn to slow down...
You may want to put a speed sensitive switch in the circuit so they do not trigger above say 10mph otherwise lane changes in normal traffic would turn on the lights. You could power the circuit from another delay on OFF relay that was triggered by the brake lights. You are normally on your brakes just before a turn to slow down...
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Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2002
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Adding Turning lights
Get the wiring diagram for a Town Car and see if you can wire yours that way. 
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Thread Starter
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Adding Turning lights
Originally posted by steve83
Get the wiring diagram for a Town Car and see if you can wire yours that way.
Get the wiring diagram for a Town Car and see if you can wire yours that way.
Torgue, I hadn't thought about the lights coming on at high speed during lane changes etc. but since your post I have researched a little bit about it. At least on the Crown Vic and some of the new Volvo's the turning lights do indeed come on at any speed. Apparently as long as they are not aimed at other drivers and are aimed forward to some degree it is not a problem. It would seem to me to be a fair warning to drivers around me who might miss the directional. The second relay on the brake lights is a good idea if that becomes and issue. Now I gotta find the lights to use. I was thinking of standard fog lights mounted in the plastic air dam but I was wondering if I'd be better with the opague white lenses like you see on backup lights. Gonna have to hit the catalogs and see what speaks to me.
Any other ideas? This plan is starting to come along great thanks to all the input so far.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Gateway to the West
Adding Turning lights
Yes, the idea of any cornering light is to illuminate the area immediately off the front corner of the vehicle in the direction you are going to be heading. So they all light whenever the turn signal is applied...even in broad daylight. The Tucker Torpedo back in the late 40's had the original idea to have both the headlamps swing via mechanical linkage with the steering... alas, budget cuts left the Torpedo with one center mounted lamp that swung left or right when the wheel was turned. Cornering lights actually work to alert drivers just like a turn signal (at least in my experience). But then the only cars I ever had cornering lights on were my hearses. I'm not sure if it was the cornering lights or the 21 foot long, 6700 pound car inching towards their lane that got drivers' attention.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,182
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From: Gateway to the West
Adding Turning lights
HA!, actually Steve, my first five cars were 60's vintage Cadi's. I finally retired (no pun intended) the last one in 98.
1965 Miller Meteor hearse/ambulance (black/white) 429ci
1969 Superior hearse/ambulance (baby blue metallic) 472ci
1969 Hess/Eisenhardt hearse (black/royal blue) 472ci
1969 Superior hearse/ambulance (black/white) 472ci
1970 Miller Meteor three-way hearse (bronze/black) 472ci
(Queen Anne edition)
All had cornering lights BIG ones.
If I didn't think I'd get heavily lambasted for *******izing the Bronco, one of the spare 472's that I have lying around would get suffed into it. Cadi engine in a Ford though....just doesn't quite work for me.
1965 Miller Meteor hearse/ambulance (black/white) 429ci
1969 Superior hearse/ambulance (baby blue metallic) 472ci
1969 Hess/Eisenhardt hearse (black/royal blue) 472ci
1969 Superior hearse/ambulance (black/white) 472ci
1970 Miller Meteor three-way hearse (bronze/black) 472ci
(Queen Anne edition)
All had cornering lights BIG ones.
If I didn't think I'd get heavily lambasted for *******izing the Bronco, one of the spare 472's that I have lying around would get suffed into it. Cadi engine in a Ford though....just doesn't quite work for me.
Last edited by greystreak92; Jul 19, 2003 at 02:05 AM.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,182
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From: Gateway to the West
Adding Turning lights
ANY lamp supplier that deals in miniature and sealed beam lamps can get any miniature and sealed beam lamps that the manufacturer that they stock makes. GE, Sylvania, Thorn, Wiko, etc.. They hand out distributorships based on the market the distibutor caters to. The question is, whether or not the distributor will actually go to the trouble of getting you the lamp you want. I worked for a lamp supplier for twelve years, we could get ANYTHING from the little headlamps for your model train to a 7000 watt Xenon long arc. We just sold more Stage and Studio lamps than anything else. If your alternator can handle the additional load, use a pair of 35 watt MR-11's ...small, easy to mount, long hour-life, and the reflector is built in.....they are available with or without a coverglass. Just a thought.
