Our previous family car was a 2003 Buick Century. It included front lights (left & right) wherein either the left or right light would illuminate steadily when a turn signal flashing light was enabled. It was a nice feature because it illuminated the side of the road and particularly the curb at the corner of the road that I was turning upon.
I am thinking about adding such lights to my 2001 4-Liter 2-Wheel drive.
I realize that with enough time and enough money many things can be done. But, being a simple thinker, does the following appear realistic, or am I way out in left-field?
I will include fused circuitry.
Each light will include its individual relay.
Each relay will be powered/enabled from the constant input signal/voltage that is applied to the flasher module when a turn signal is initiated.

 

Sounds logical to me. Do you have the relevant wiring diagrams for your Ranger? That way you could be more sure of things.

 

I've been wanting to add "cornering lights" to my Ranger also, I have had several Tbirds and Lincolns that have them and they really help to see the drive, etc. when its really dark and rainy or snowing. JC Whitney had a kit back in the '80s you could buy to add on a vehicle and i put a set on a pickup I owned back then and they were nice. Haven't seen any kits for several years, but I believe it wouldn't be that hard, the way you describe should work.

 

Bob, I also have a Buick Park Ave Ultra with the curb lights, and you get use to them, and really miss not having them. Your plan sound fine, coming from an electrician, but I was wondering what lights you were planing to install and where. I also have a 2001 Ranger and dont see a real good flat place to cut them into.
Mike.

 

Thanks fellas for the feedback. I don't have wiring diagrams. All that I have is assumptions. I'm assuming that if I probe around the flasher cannister with a volt meter, I will find a constant voltage source for either the left or right signals when a signal is initiated at the turn signal wand. I will then tap off of that source to power the relay(s).
When I get the time to do that, and if I'm successful, then I will start hitting the local stores to see what lights might be applicable. My thought is that the light lense would be dome shaped. Then I would cut a hole, sized precisely, so the light housing would mount on the rear of (whatever you call that black plastic facia below the chrome bumper) and the dome shaped lense would protrude through the hole. I would make a calculated guess as to where to cut the hole so the light would shine down and forward.

 

I'm not sure if the Rangers still used a conventional turn signal system that late, but if they did that'll be a bit of a trick to pull off. The power comes up from the fuse box through the flasher, to the turn signal switch and then on to the bulbs.

 

Jared's correct, as I have learned while continuing to look into this. But, I have another thought. If I installed a relay coil in electrical parallel with a signal light, that relay contact would power my cornering light. Obviously the cornering light would only be on while the signal light is on. So, my relay needs to include a "delay off". This can be created by properly including a capacitor, diode and a resistor across my relay coil. The capacitor charges to 12-volts while the turn signal is enabled and then provides the 12-volt potential to keep the cornering light powered while the turn signal light is off. I'm going to guess that a 500 micro-fared capacitor will keep my coil "latched" for some time after the turn signals are turned off.
How long is some time? I need to find some basic electronic references to crank through the numbers.

 

How about a couple of VLED's or good 3156 LED equivalents - not the stuff you see at Autozone, but the better ones scattered across the web? The VLED guys make one for example. Just wire it in parallel with the turn signal or side marker bulbs. The power drain should remain well within specs & similar candlepower to the best normal bulbs.

 

Bob, you could make two delay relays in the way you mentioned, we use to do that often for various things years ago. But now you can buy small cheap ($15.) time delay relays, in both time on or time off, not sure about the voltage rating, but I think there rated for 12 V DC. Check with Johnstone Supply, or WW Granger.
If you do this project, and are happy with the results, let us know all about it. And good luck.
Mike.