2002 Subaru Impreza daytime running lights removal (temp; this way, you can turn them on when you sell your Suby)

What you'll need:
1 small slothead screwdriver (head width is about ¼ in. or less)
1 average sized (I don't know, just whatever works) phillips screwdriver
1 flashlight (preferably a small one)
It would also be VERY nice to have a stubby phillips, with the same head
size as above.

This should take about 30 minutes or less. To make the screws and areas of importance easier to find, I’ve drawn blue circles (sort of) around them.

Step 1: Remove the center console compartment lid, and the two screws down in the bottom of the compartment.
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Next, stick the slothead into one of these two slits, and pull up on the big hole in the middle at the same time, then do the other.
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Then pull up the parking brake all the way, disconnect the power mirrors controls (and heated seat switches, if you have them), and remove the cover completely. Then, remove the shift knob (just spin it counter-clockwise). Remove the plastic around the shifter (pull up on it & wiggle it left to right). But be careful----there are little metal tips that may fall off of the prongs on the bottom of the plastic covers.
Next, you must remove the lower section of the plastic. There are just three screws holding it down, and if you lose just one, the whole thing will flex about and feel very flimsy.

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Also, watch out for that little black button; I’m not sure what it does (pretty sure it’s for the self destruct sequence).

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There should now be nothing around the shifter and parking brake. Next, look at the passenger side of the parking brake handle mounting, and you should see a switch of sorts. On the other side, there’s a goldish colored screw. Now this is where that stubby phillips comes in handy. Hold the switch with one hand, and take off the screw with the other.

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(sorry, above photo is upside-down http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/redface.gif)
All following info isn’t entirely necessary, but it should eliminate rattles (I have yet to test this on a torn up backroad). Put the switch back up to the original mounting hole, except rotate it 90 degrees, so it faces the rear of your Suby. Put the screw back through it, and put everything back in place, and VOILA! No more daytime running lights.

Thanks very much to Subymamma for donating her 2002 OBS for this project!

[This message has been edited by Dr. Spud Funk (edited May 06, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by Dr. Spud Funk (edited May 06, 2001).]

Come to think of it, that little black button looks exactly like the keyless entry resetting button (or whatever it did for keyless entry) that, on the 2000 OBS, was on the "roof" of the driver's footwell, on the very edge.

OK. Bad news (kinda). We tested it, and the dash warning light that says "BRAKE" stays on the whole time the car is running. I'm planning on making another "exploratory surgery", on the gauge cluster this time, to see if it's possible to take the bulb out or something. Oh well, if I can't take the bulb out, it can just burn itself out eventually. Speaking of eventually, how long do we probably have to wait until this damn thing burns itself out?http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/mad.gif

Anyhow, I'll keep you guys posted!http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by Dr. Spud Funk (edited May 06, 2001).]

theres an easier way to do it...just involves getting your hands dirty. http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/Forum28/HTML/001541.html

did and it works great!

I could've told you the brake light would stay on http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/rolleyes.gif

do the ballast resistor it seems easier to do.

Look guys, I'm doing this stuff to Subymamma's OBS, not an RS. It may have the same thing under the hood, but she's scared to death every time I do anything at all to her car. Another thing is that I'm not a mechanic yet, so I don't know what that ballast thing does, and I'd never heard of disabling the drl's by removing it. I just never knew that anyone had figured it out yet, so I was just trying to help.http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/rolleyes.gif

what does the ballost resistor do????????

The ballast resistor limits the voltage going to the headlights, so when DRL's are on they aren't at 100% brightness. Disconnecting it simply stops any voltage from going through, hence no more DRL.

As long as you have some good electrical tape, all you really have to do it tape up the connectors and piggyback the loose side to the wires right near it. It took me 5 minutes to do, and it's easily reversable.

Yup, this is an easy one. Unbolt it, tape up the loose end and they're gone. Good riddance!

Ed

Considering you're only 15 and came up with this method on your own, I'd say you're pretty hot stuff, Dr. Spud!