convert rear fog lights to run/break lights

[bobw]

To use the inoperative rear fog light as a running light / brake light, would you need to jump connectors 1 & 4 as well as 2 & 5, and install a duel brake light bulb in the fog light socket?
Thanks bobW

[Surfboy88]

You just add a jumper between 1 and 4, and use the existing bulbs.

The part of the bulb that would have lit up for rear fogs will activate as additional brake lighting.

Someone at the last Mini rally I went to pulled the wiring plug out and showed us the jumper position.

I'm not sure whether she just pushed the jumper in alongside the the existing wire ends or attached it in another way.

What's the best (and most secure) way ?

:: dave ::

[Pamlico]

As Surfboy88 mentioned, all you need to do is insert a jumper - initially I used a straightened paperclip, athough a jumper purchased at an electrical supply store might be more apprpriate.

If you're thinking of having the rear fog lamps activated, you might want to use a diode as the jumper as this will allow you to have the upper bulbs serve as both additional brake lamps and fog lamps. THis has been discussed in some detail on North American Motoring (the old Mini Cooper Online). Check here to get to one of those discussions which includes pictures of the modification.

NOTE: The earlier messges in the linked posting describe and show a modification to the rear lamp circuit boards, but go to the second page and scroll down and you'll find pictures of how the jumper (diode) can be installed between contacts 1 and 4 on the connector. This is the route I followed when I activated the rear fogs and all works well.

Good luck.