The Elite LED Fog Lights for the 2021-2023 Ford F-150 feature triple LED projectors for maximum output and intensity. They also add a switchback sequential turn signal, welcome sequence, brighter DRL bar with selectable color, and optional show mode to improve the style and function of your F-150 fog lights!
This installation guide will provide you with detailed instructions on how to install the Elite LED Fog Lights for the 2021-2023 Ford F-150. Continue reading for step-by-step instructions below!
Table of Contents
- Installation Tools
- What's Included
- Mounting Instructions
- Programming Instructions
- Questions About the Installation?
- Where Can I Buy Elite LED Fog Lights for the 2021-2023 Ford F-150?
Installation Tools
- Ratchet
- 4mm Socket
- 7mm Socket
- 8mm Socket
- 10mm Socket
- 13mm Socket
- 21mm Socket
- T30 Torx Driver
- Pliers
- Plastic Trim Removal Tools
- Tape
What's Included
- Elite LED Fog Lights
- Communication wire harnesses
- Halogen fog-light adapter harnesses
- Constant-power adapter harness
- Sealing plugs
- Fog-light aiming tool
Note: The same components are included with every kit. The harnesses used during installation will depend on the factory headlight and fog-light configuration of your F-150.
Mounting Instructions
Step 1 — Remove the fender liner bolts
Beginning on the passenger side, use a 7mm socket to remove the two 7mm bolts securing the fender liner to the fender wall. Repeat this step on the driver's side of the vehicle.
Step 2 — Remove the mid-bumper trim panel
Starting at the front wheel wells and working your way inward, carefully pull the mid-bumper trim panel away from the truck until each retaining clip releases.
Step 3 — Remove the radiator core support panel
Open the hood and locate the black radiator core support panel.
Using a plastic trim removal tool, remove the 13 plastic clips holding the panel in place. Then, lift the panel upward to remove it.
Step 4 — Disconnect the grille harnesses
Disconnect the harness connectors near the hood latch, circled in red, and remove the harness retaining clip, circled in blue.
Step 5 — Remove the upper grille bolts
Using a 10mm socket, remove the four 10mm bolts securing the grille to the top of the radiator core support.
Step 6 — Remove the lower grille bolts
Using an 8mm socket, remove the two 8mm bolts securing the lower corners of the grille near the headlights.
Step 7 — Remove the grille
Carefully pull the grille away from the vehicle to release it, and set it aside.
Step 8 — Remove the factory headlight fasteners
Beginning on the driver's side, use a plastic trim removal tool to remove the clip, circled in blue, from the top of the headlight. Then, use a 10mm socket to remove the two 10mm bolts, circled in red, from the top of the headlight.
Using an 8mm socket, remove the 8mm bolt on the lower-outside corner of the headlight, circled in red. Then, use a 10mm socket to remove the 10mm nut on the lower-inside corner, circled in blue.
Step 9 — Disconnect the factory headlight
With the fasteners removed, pull the headlight firmly toward you to release the remaining ball-pin retainer. Lean the headlight forward and disconnect the three wiring harness connectors from the back of the headlight. Once disconnected, remove the factory headlight from the F-150.
Step 10 — Remove the passenger-side headlight
Repeat Steps 8 and 9 on the passenger side of the vehicle to remove the remaining factory headlight.
Step 11 — Disconnect the bumper connector
Disconnect the large connector located on top of the passenger-side frame rail by pressing down on the dark gray tab and pulling the connectors apart.
Note: Some trim models may be equipped with a lower radiator shutter. If present, remove the three plastic retaining clips, circled in red below, and disconnect the two connectors, circled in blue. The shutter will remain attached to the bumper.
Step 12 — Remove the bumper nuts
To access the nuts securing the bumper, reach down through the area where the grille was removed in Step 7. The nuts are located at the ends of the driver- and passenger-side frame rails.
Beginning on the driver's side, use a 21mm socket to remove the three 21mm nuts securing the bumper bolts, circled in red, to the frame rail. Repeat this process on the passenger-side frame rail.
Step 13 — Remove the bumper
Pull the front bumper away from the vehicle by sliding it off the tow hooks.
Step 14 — Remove the active air dam assembly
The active air dam assembly consists of the driver- and passenger-side active air dam actuators connected by the air dam blade. The assembly will be removed as one piece.
Disconnect the wiring harness connectors, circled in blue, on both the driver and passenger sides of the bumper.
Using a 13mm socket, remove the three 13mm bolts, circled in red, from each air dam actuator. Pull the complete active air dam assembly away from the bumper and set it aside.
Step 15 — Remove the factory fog lights
Beginning on the driver's side, disconnect the factory fog-light connector and remove the harness retaining clip, circled in blue.
Remove the four T30 Torx screws, circled in red, securing the factory fog light to the bumper. Remove the factory fog light and repeat this process on the passenger side.
Step 16 — Install the Elite LED Fog Lights
Beginning on the driver's side, use the four factory Torx screws removed in Step 15 to install the Elite LED Fog Light. Repeat this process on the passenger side.
Factory LED fog-light applications:
Connect the factory fog-light connector directly to each Elite LED Fog Light.
Factory halogen fog-light applications:
Connect one included adapter harness in line between the factory wiring harness and each Elite LED Fog Light using the connectors circled in red below.
Allow the Deutsch-style connector, circled in blue, to hang freely. It will be connected to the constant-power adapter harness during Step 21.
Factory LED headlight and factory LED fog-light applications:
If you are retaining factory LED headlights and your F-150 was equipped with factory LED fog lights, none of the included wiring harnesses will be used. The factory fog-light connectors plug directly into the Elite LED Fog Lights. Continue with Step 17 and skip Steps 21 and 22 when reached.
Applications being upgraded with Elite LED Headlights:
If you are installing Elite LED Headlights for the 2021-2023 Ford F-150 at the same time, remove the protective plastic cap from the communication port on the driver's-side Elite LED Fog Light. Connect one of the communication wires included with the fog-light kit to the port.
Route the opposite end of the communication wire into the headlight area. It will be connected to the Elite LED Headlight during Step 24. Repeat this process on the passenger side.
Step 17 — Reinstall the active air dam assembly
Using a 13mm socket and the bolts removed in Step 14, reinstall the active air dam assembly on the driver and passenger sides. Reconnect both wiring harnesses, circled in blue.
Step 18 — Reinstall the bumper
Slide the front bumper over the tow hooks and toward the frame of the truck.
Step 19 — Secure the bumper
Using the 21mm nuts removed in Step 12, secure the bumper to the frame rails. Tighten the 21mm nuts to 78 lb-ft.
Step 20 — Reconnect the bumper connector
Reconnect the large connector that was disconnected in Step 11.
Note: If you disconnected a lower radiator shutter during Step 11, reinstall the three plastic retaining clips and reconnect both connectors.
Step 21 — Route the constant-power adapter harness
Factory LED Headlight and Factory LED Fog-Light Applications: If you are retaining factory LED headlights and your F-150 was equipped with factory LED fog lights, proceed to Step 23. None of the included wiring harnesses are required.
Factory LED Fog-Light Applications: If your F-150 was equipped with factory LED fog lights but does not match the configuration above, proceed to Step 22.
Factory Halogen Fog-Light Applications: Route the included constant-power adapter harness by following the recommended path shown below.
Secure the ring terminal to the positive battery terminal, indicated by the red arrow in the image below.
Connect the Deutsch-style outputs from the constant-power adapter harness to the Deutsch-style connectors on the inline adapter harnesses installed during Step 16. Their positions are indicated by the light blue arrows below.
Install the Add-A-Fuse in fuse position F25 to provide ignition power.
Note: Make sure the wire lead from the Add-A-Fuse is routed in the direction of the red arrow toward the positive post in the fuse box, as shown in the magnified image below.
Step 22 — Connect the turn-signal function
Factory LED Headlight and Factory LED Fog-Light Applications: If you are retaining factory LED headlights and your F-150 was equipped with factory LED fog lights, proceed to Step 23.
Elite LED Headlight Applications: If you routed the communication wires into the headlight areas during Step 16, do not use the T-Taps. The communication wires will be connected directly to the Elite LED Headlights during Step 24. Proceed to Step 23.
All Other Applications: Locate the 3-pin turn-signal connectors behind the factory headlight assemblies. Identify the wire in the labeled pin 3 position on each connector.
Using the included T-Tap on each communication wire harness, tap into the wire located in the pin 3 position of the corresponding turn-signal connector. Route the remainder of each communication wire harness down to the Elite LED Fog Lights.
Beginning on the driver's side, connect the communication wire harness to the indicated port on the Elite LED Fog Light.
The connector on the communication wire harness marked with an X will not be used. Secure the unused connector safely to the harness. Repeat this process on the passenger side.
Step 23 — Test the fog-light functions
Test all functions of the new Elite LED Fog Lights before reinstalling the headlights.
Note: If the DRL function does not activate after installation, check the vehicle's DRL brightness setting if you previously changed it using FORScan. Increasing the DRL brightness above the factory value can prevent proper operation. Resetting the DRL brightness to the factory setting, typically 25% or lower, has resolved this issue.
Step 24 — Reconnect the headlight harnesses
On the driver's side, reconnect the three wiring harness connectors disconnected from the back of the factory headlight during Step 9.
If you routed communication wires from the Elite LED Fog Lights during Step 16:
Remove the protective plastic cap from the communication port on the Elite LED Headlight, circled in red below, and plug in the corresponding communication wire connector. Repeat this process on the opposite side.
Note: When the communication wires are connected directly between the Elite LED Headlights and Elite LED Fog Lights, the T-Taps are not used. Secure the unused T-Taps to the communication wire harnesses.
Step 25 — Reinstall the headlights
Using an 8mm socket, reinstall the 8mm bolt on the lower-outside corner of the factory headlight, circled in red. Then, use a 10mm socket to reinstall the 10mm nut on the lower-inside corner, circled in blue.
Reinstall the two 10mm bolts, circled in red, along the top of the headlight. Then, reinstall the plastic clip, circled in blue, at the upper-inside corner.
Repeat Steps 24 and 25 to reinstall the passenger-side headlight.
Step 26 — Reinstall the grille
Position the grille on the vehicle. Using an 8mm socket, reinstall the two 8mm bolts removed in Step 6 at the lower corners of the grille.
Step 27 — Reinstall the upper grille bolts
Using a 10mm socket, reinstall the four 10mm bolts removed in Step 5 along the top of the grille.
Step 28 — Reconnect the grille harnesses
Reconnect the harness connectors near the hood latch and reinstall the harness retaining clip removed in Step 4.
Step 29 — Reinstall the radiator core support panel
Reinstall the radiator core support panel removed in Step 3 and secure it using the 13 factory plastic clips.
Step 30 — Reinstall the mid-bumper trim panel
Align the mid-bumper trim panel with its original mounting position. Beginning in the center and working outward, press the panel toward the vehicle until all retaining clips snap into place.
Step 31 — Reinstall the fender liner bolts
Using a 7mm socket, reinstall the 7mm bolts removed in Step 1. Be sure to secure the fender liner on both the passenger and driver's sides.
Step 32 — Aim the fog lights
For additional aiming instructions, watch the video below and then continue reading.
Position the F-150 on a level surface 25 feet from a wall.
Use a tape measure to determine the height of the center of the lens on both installed Elite LED Fog Lights. Place one long horizontal piece of tape on the wall at that height. The measurements should be the same on both sides. Turn on the fog lights after positioning the tape.
The top of the fog-light gradients should be four inches below the tape line.
If adjustments are required, access the adjuster screw for each fog light from underneath the truck. The adjuster location is circled in red below.
Using the provided aiming tool or a 4mm socket, rotate the adjuster clockwise to aim the fog-light gradient higher or counterclockwise to aim it lower.
The installation is now complete. Enjoy your new Elite LED Fog Lights for the 2021-2023 Ford F-150!
Programming Instructions
To configure the selectable daytime running light and optional show mode, follow our step-by-step Ford F-150 Elite LED Fog Light programming guide.
Questions About the Installation?
If you have any questions about installing the Elite LED Fog Lights for the 2021-2023 Ford F-150, contact us via our support page.
Where Can I Buy Elite LED Fog Lights for the 2021-2023 Ford F-150?
If you're ready to upgrade your 2021-2023 Ford F-150 with Elite LED Fog Lights, visit DiodeDynamics.com or use our Dealer Locator to find a dealer near you.
Want to know more about Diode Dynamics products? Visit DiodeDynamics.com and subscribe to our newsletter for new product releases and more!
This Installation Guide is for the following SKUs: DD5169, DD5170
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