First of all, I'd like to say I'm electrically ignorant. I'm trying to jury-rig an 00-01 hardtop defroster switch to toggle a rear foglamp I'll be mounting on the rear bumper. The foglamp itself has 2 wires coming out of it - the main wire and the ground wire. The ground wire I just contact to a metal part of the body - self explanatory. The main wire would be run to the switch.

Now, here is the electrical schematic of the defrost switch that would go on the armrest console. Since I'm a total electrical layman, could someone briefly explain what each of the 5 pins does and how I would wire, given this diagram? I can stab guesses, but it would be a shot in the dark, since I'm electrically ignorant. Seems like #3 would lead to the fog light (hence output). #4 might be the wire that powers the switch when pressed. #1 and/or #2 might provide illumination with the headlights, but don't know which is which. Don't know what #5 would do.

Thanks in advance.

 

It appears that the yellow/black (3+4) pins are the switch, and the red/black (1 +2) wires are for the dash lights to light the switch. Use a relay to take the load off the switch. The fifth pin I don't know. it could be another ground. You'd have to look at the helms for the S and check the wiring schematic to get an idea how everything is hooked up.

 

Thanks for the reply. I just had somebody at work take a stab at the switch with a multimeter. My initial guess seemed to be on track and your input is a definite reinforcement.



For #1 and #2, he told me to tap into a nearby switch which also becomes illuminated with the headlights. He said it didn't matter which is which since the lighting inside the switch isn't LED.

For #3, he told me to wire that to the foglamp.

For #4, he told me to wire that to the power source that only functions when ignition on. An inline fuse should be in this wire.

For #5, he told me to ground the switch for the on/off indicator functionality.

 

Ahh, on/off illumination. That's what pin 5 is. He seems to have it right. Go for it. i would still use it to switch a relay though. If the switch has an amp marking on it you could be the judge.

 

Actually, regarding the illumination function...

I was told to tap into the illumination + of say the top switch and wire it to illumination + of the defrost switch. Then, contrary to that handwritten diagram up above (of connecting illumination - on top switch to illumination - on defrost switch), I would leave the illumination - of the top switch alone, and just ground the illumination - of the defrost switch. If this is the case, I guess I would be grounding 2 pins on the defrost switch.