Since I just found out recently that supposedly, the DRL's run the lowbeam filament on the bulbs at a lower voltage I thought I would post this up.

The problem:
My foglights do not work, yes the bulbs are good.
My DRL's do not work.
My hibeams(brights) can only be "flashed" by pulling the toggle toward me, pushing it forward to turn them on does not do anything.

I checked the voltage at the headlight the other night and was getting 14V, meaning that my lowbeams are permanently on, no matter what setting I set the switch on, whether it be "off, parking lights, or on".

I have to start the engine and release the ebrake for the lowbeams to turn on as well. The headlights cannot be turned on at all with the car off, or even with the ignition in the "on" position.

The foglight relay does not "click" when the button is depressed either.

Now, all that aside...it's a weird problem huh?

Mind you, its very hard to search the forums because you cannot search for words like "drl" because they are too short!!!

The lights are controlled by switching the ground side of the circuit. That is why you saw voltage at the lights even while they were off. They are also turned off with the ignition switch so that is normal. The DRL are turned off using the emergency brake so this is normal.

The problem with the low beams not turning on with the switch may be due to a blown fuse so check both fuse panels for that if you haven't done that already.

I checked the fuses a while back.

Is there anyway to test the DRL or relays?

The problem with the low beams not turning on with the switch may be due to a blown fuse so check both fuse panels for that if you haven't done that already.

But, the lowbeams are ALWAYS on instead of the dimmer drl's, which supposedly run a lesser voltage.

On the original post you can see that instead of having the drl's on while driving around town, my regular 14V supplied low beams are on.

The DRL module supplies the full voltage to the headlight common power circuit. The dropping resistor that reduces the power is located on the ground side of the circuit.
It sounds like something is not right with the DRL controller or relay. Try disconnecting the DRL module by the glovebox and see what happens, this will completely eliminate the DRL system.
It would also be a good idea to get the wiring manual so you can follow the headlight circuit for more accurate troubleshooting.

The DRL module supplies the full voltage to the headlight common power circuit. The dropping resistor that reduces the power is located on the ground side of the circuit.
It sounds like something is not right with the DRL controller or relay. Try disconnecting the DRL module by the glovebox and see what happens, this will completely eliminate the DRL system.
It would also be a good idea to get the wiring manual so you can follow the headlight circuit for more accurate troubleshooting.

I tried that as well. I beleive I no longer had any lights at that point.

EDIT:
Confirmed - just tried unplugging the drl module and I have no lowbeams or daytime running lights at all..as well as no foglights still.
I can still flash my hibeams though by pulling the toggle stick toward me.

This is so damn confusing!

Looking at a diagram, it seems to me that the low beam lights should not have gone out by removing the DRL module. If you actually pulled out the DRL relay instead then I could see the lights going out. I would check to see if there is voltage on the DRL relay coil, causing the relay to energize. That would cause the low beams to stay on all the time. The wires to the the coil may be green with red and black tracers.

The problems are easier to look at if you take one problem at a time. Looking at the whole system is pretty confusing if you aren't real familiar with it.

Looking at a diagram, it seems to me that the low beam lights should not have gone out by removing the DRL module. If you actually pulled out the DRL relay instead then I could see the lights going out. I would check to see if there is voltage on the DRL relay coil, causing the relay to energize. That would cause the low beams to stay on all the time. The wires to the the coil may be green with red and black tracers.

The problems are easier to look at if you take one problem at a time. Looking at the whole system is pretty confusing if you aren't real familiar with it.

What would cause the drl relay to energize? Could be a bad foglight relay?

The DRL relay is controlled by the DRL module and also the lighting switch, which tie the relay coil to ground.

Hmm ok...I never knew there was also a DRL "relay", just thought there was a little black module.

Where is the drl relay located?
I know the drl module is located behind the glove box.

I don't have my data right now to check that out. It may be with the other relays in the fuse panel under the dash.

Well if you can find it sometime I would really appreciate it! Thanks, you have been a great help!

Will do. It will be thursday before I can get to them.

bump!!!

Hey check your wiring too...my old bugeye had a problem with a bad solder for the wire that goes to the ignition to turn the lights/gauge/etc. on...had to get it re-soldered.

Anyways, Subaru apparently doesn't do wiring very well so that may be your problem if the relays and modules seem to be ok.

The relay is shown to be on the passenger side under the dash close to the door. It may be in the kick panel.

not to threadjack, but I saw posted in this thread that the lights are ground side switched?

Im doing something else but this detail was mentioned and wanted to claify.
When you flip the switch in the car, you are switching the ground side correct?

Yes, that is correct. The ground is switched.

For the high beams, is the ground only switched(12V+ all the time) or are both positive and negative switched?
Im installing a headlight flasher(volunteer firefighter) and It will work with a negative switched or positive switched system. But if its not receiving 12V+ either, then I'll need to wire up a relay so it does when I flip the switch to turn the flasher on.

The positive side is run through a relay that is controlled by the DRL control module. The negative side is tied to ground through the light switch and the high beam relay which is controlled by the light switch.