Mitsubishi FTO: Fitting a new fog lamp switch

Why have a Fog Lamp?
UK MOT regulations (Road Traffic Act 1999) state that you must have at least one rear fog lamp on your vehicle. Most vehicle importers will do this before selling your the car, 90% of them convert the inner brake lamps to act as rear fog lamps, some will attach a fog lamp to the underside of the rear bumper and I have even seen one car with one of the reversing lamp converted using a red bulb.

What about the switch?
The regulations also state that the fog lamp switch must illuminate when the lamps are in operation it must also be visible from the drivers' sitting position. So the importers fit the cheapest switch that they can find, being simular to the one shown above.

	A bit of investigation lead me to find that the a fog lamp switch from the Mitsubishi Carisma (Part No. MR 114085) fits almost straight in. Below you will find a step by step instructions on how to fit one.
Fitting the new switch Start by removing the plastic housing that holds the remote exterior rear view mirror control pad, using a small screw driver carefully so not to mark the surface.
Connections Take the new switch and locate the 4 pins/connections, these are numbered 3,2,1and 4 inside (quite hard to see). Pin 3 is connected to the positive side of the battery or the positive connection (green and white cable) of the front fog lamp switch. Pin 2 is connected to Pin 1, then both are connected to the green lead of the inner rear stop lamps. Pin 4 is connected to the vehicles earth or the black and yellow cable on the front fog lamp switch. It is best to solder the cables on unless you have the correct size terminals. If possible use some heatshrink to stop any leads shorting.
	Fitted the switch in the housing The switch should snap straight into the housing once you have removed the blank, is some cases you may have to use a knife and remove a small portion of the housing to get the switch in, but be carefull. Reconnect the housing back into the car and test the switch you will know its working when the icon on the switch lights up blue.