Installing aftermarket rear fog light

I'm about to install a rear fog light on our 2012 Prius v and am looking for a fog light switch that is verified to fit in the 4-switch panel on the lower left of the dashboard. The attached photo shows a switch blank in the location where I want to install it.

I prefer the indicator light in the switch to be amber or yellow when the switch is on but red or green would be OK.

Does anyone know of an OEM Toyota fog light switch that would fit? Preferably with a connector and pigtail if the switch contacts are buried inside the switch - not necessary if the contacts are external. An aftermarket switch would be fine too - just need it to fit the empty switch slot. The faces of the existing switches in the panel are about 23mm by 34mm.

I'm finding plenty of appropriate switches in fog light kits for the Prius v but haven't found a switch sold separately that is designated to work on the Prius v.

I installed an identical rear fog light on our Sienna but drilled a hole in a switch panel for an round amber Hella switch since all the switch slots were in use. I can find a way to use the Hella switch in the Prius if absolutely necessary. The LED rear fog light I used is very compact and powerful and has an E-code - purchased on eBay Germany. Here is a photo of it on the Sienna - barely noticeable when not in use and it should fit nicely on our Prius.

OK, I haven't created a thread in a long time - can't seem to upload images.

 

Thanks! I searched the seller's eBay store hoping to find a similar switch not labeled "DRL" but didn't find one. I suppose I could spray paint over the "DRL" lettering on the switch. For now I'm holding out for a fog light switch. Thanks again. The DRL switch is a "definite maybe".

 

Thanks. I didn't see a link if you meant to include one but the automatic eBay link added to your reply by "Skimwords" happened to show a Yaris fog light kit that I think includes the switch I'm looking for: Toyota Yaris 09 11 2 4DR Hatchback Front Bumper Clear Fog Lights Lamps w Switch | eBay

Now to find just the Yaris switch.

Edit: I've read that the Yaris switch should work but it doesn't look as "short, squat" as the switches in the Prius v.

 

Air_Boss is providing the fog light switch and harness I need - left over from one of his projects.

Thank you, Air_Boss!

 

Not a very good photo in the shadows of late afternoon but it shows the rear fog light that I installed on our 2012 Prius v. It was purchased on Ebay Germany from seller "Lights for Bikes" for around 36 Euros including shipping. I attached its ground wire to a left tail light bolt and ran its power wire along the driver side forward to the rear seat area. Next steps are to run the fog light's power wire under the driver side door sill covers to the switch I got from Air_Boss which I will install in the lower left switch panel and then to run a wire from the switch to the left front fog light positive wire. I'll attach the switch's ground wire to a common ground behind the driver side kick panel.

The lower left rear interior trim panel was pretty easy to remove - very obvious on how to do it. I had to remove all the floor trim behind the rear seat and expose the hybrid battery in order to run the rear fog light's positive wire forward - again obvious and easy.

At first I thought I would have preferred an aftermarket rear fog light with a red lens like most I have installed but I have to say that the clear lens of this one makes it less noticeable.

Oh, I ran the rear fog light wires into the interior through a small existing hole underneath on the left rear that was exposed when I removed a small grommet. I sliced the grommet so that the wires would fit within it and forced the grommet back into the hole.

 

I bought a "5-pack" of relays on Amazon for this project (and others) but found that they were not necessary due to the extremely low current draw of these LED rear fog lights. The wires exiting from these rear LED fog lights are small - only 20 gauge - and I am using only 18 gauge wires forward to the dash switch and then to the front fog light. I've used 10 or 12 gauge wire and relays when installing rear fog lights that use 21W incandescent bulbs.

This particular LED rear fog light is marketed on eBay Germany for use on U.S. spec cars imported into Europe where rear fog lights are required.

 

I finished the installation this afternoon. It was easy to push a straightened wire coat hanger through the grommet above the gas pedal from the engine compartment, tape the power wire to it and then to pull the power wire into the engine compartment.

I T-tapped the rear fog light wire to the left front fog light positive wire which required removing the front under body panel as would be done if front fog lights were being installed. I think the positive wire was "greenish" - I confirmed it with a test light.

I put an in-line weather-proof fuse holder on the rear fog light's power wire and zip tied it just aft of the engine compartment fuse box.

I installed the fog light switch "upside down" in the lower left switch panel so that at least it would look somewhat similar to a rear fog light symbol (i.e. facing to the right) even if the LED is green instead of the correct amber.

Rear lights don't usually show up well in photos but, for what it's worth, here is a photo of the rear fog light on from about 30 feet back while the Prius is parked in the garage.

 

Here is a photo of the fog light switch I got from Air_Boss and installed in the switch panel. I thought about opening the switch and seeing if I could change the green LED's to amber - the standard color for a rear fog light switch and symbol - but I decided the risk of breaking the switch was too great. I did turn the switch 180 degrees so that the light symbol would point to the right since that is the standard for rear fog light symbols.

 

The wiring for the rear fog light in the left tail light unit of the EU Prius+ is integrated into the factory wiring harness. The US market Prius v does not have this wiring for the OEM EU Prius+ fog light in its wiring harness nor does the US Prius v have a rear fog light switch on the turn signal lever. Also, an EU Prius+ left tail light unit cost far more than the rear fog light I bought on eBay Germany.

When I checked a few weeks ago, seller "lightsforbikes" was still selling the rear fog light I bought on eBay Germany at around 30 Euros. If I remember correctly, this rear fog light has an E7 (Netherlands) approval code - it should be acceptable for use in Norway.

 

If you do a google search for "rear fog light wiring diagram", you should find a number of relevant wiring diagrams. Use a common 4-terminal automotive relay and power it from the 12V battery per what xliderider said in post #9. There should be plenty of room to put the relay near the 12V battery.

You will need to find a non-CANBUS power source to power your rear fog light switch that is "hot" only when the front lights are illuminated. If local regulations allow, I suggest using a positive wire to one of the parking lights. Doing this allows the rear fog to illuminate and draw the least amount of current when the engine is off. Otherwise, power your fog light switch from a front headlight low beam or front fog light positive wire as long as it's not CANBUS.

The power wire "exiting" your rear fog light switch should be connected to the trigger terminal on your new rear fog light relay - terminal 86.
The power wire from the 12V battery positive cable clamp will be connected through an in-line fuse to relay terminal 30.
Connect the positive wire from your new rear fog light to relay terminal 87.
Relay terminal 85 and the ground wire from your new rear fog light can be connected to any convenient ground on the vehicle body or if necessary they can be connected to the 12V battery negative cable clamp.

Here is one of the diagrams I found by searching with google.



Universal rear log lights are not necessarily "ugly". The low profile rear fog lights I installed on our vehicles are barely noticeable when not in use. Rear fog lights have a relatively narrow beam and must be aimed correctly in order to be useful and pass inspection.

 

I suggest that you check to see if there are additional requirements on how your rear fog light switch functions. There may be a requirement that the rear fog light must be reactivated each time it is used even when its switch remains in the ON position. Here is a link to a seller of a component that allows meeting this requirement: Cartek IVA Fog Light Switch Control from Merlin Motorsport