This may have been done/posted before, but I'm too lazy to search.

If you're tired of the single speed non-adjustable intermittent wipers, I found out today that a 02 or 03 WRX (sedan) wiper switch bolts right in place of the stock one and works perfectly. Mine came out of an 03 wreck, but 02's are the same, I don't know about 04, but I imagine there is no difference.

There seems to be a lot of interest in this, so here's a brief write up and pics. To let you know how easy this is, I completely removed and reinstalled the switch this morning to take the pictures, whole process took about 20 minutes.

Step one - Get a WRX switch... note that is is different and has adjustability and giggle like a ryc3r who's about to mod his car. ;) http://www.freebmw.net/yamarocket630/NABISCO/SIDEBYSIDE.jpg

Step Two - Remove screws from lower steering colum cover.
http://www.freebmw.net/yamarocket630/NABISCO/COVERSCREWS.jpg

Step Three - lower column all the way down, leave lever down, and remove lower cover by pulling it straight down.
http://www.freebmw.net/yamarocket630/NABISCO/LEVERDOWN.jpg

Step Four - Remove 2 screws holding switch in, remove connector after sliding it part of the way out. Installation is the reverse of removal.
http://www.freebmw.net/yamarocket630/NABISCO/BOTTOMSCREW.jpg http://www.freebmw.net/yamarocket630/NABISCO/TOPSCREW.jpg http://www.freebmw.net/yamarocket630/NABISCO/CONNECTOR.jpg

All you did was put the switch in and it worked?

thats good info. I thought you might need the wiper motor or wiper module as well.

thanks for the info!

Jay

[Mr. Burns]
Excellent Smithers!
[/Mr. Burns]

Such a great find. Now, who'd like to donate their car to my cause? :D

Oh, and if you could snap a picture or two, it would be great. Are you talking about the stalk? Or something between the stalk and the wiper motors?

AJ

All of the electronics are integrated into the switch/stalk. I'll post up a picture(s) tomorrow.

That's sweet. I've wondered about this, but the wreckers around here aren't exactly awash in WRXs to find out. Thank you.

Bump for a brief write up with blurry pictures :lol:

This works for '98-'01 years of "old school". Same switch (wagon version only, of course) is used on Forester S since '98.

Any idea whether or not this will work on a 96 OBS?

not a clue

Thanks, does anybody know?

Originally posted by 96 Flat Four
Thanks, does anybody know?
The '98-'01 switch won't work on '93-'97. I believe there's another one that will, and might know the p/n, but on a '93-'97 the whole combo switch (and thus the steering wheel) has to come off before you get to the wiper switch.
Add: the switch can be removed and replaced with steering wheel in place as noted in the thread;
just adding this to prevent confusion.

What is the part number. I might give it a try. I have had the steering wheel off before so that's not a problem.

The part is 83113[AA520|AC480] (wagon/sedan), originally for older Legacy LS. My certainty that it fits is, say, 85%. The reason is that somewhow, parts catalogs for those years say this switch is only for vehicles w/o airbags, while w. airbag, you have to replace the whole combo switch. Same goes for the lighting switch, and it's incorrect. The fact is, switches do come off like on newer models and it's even in the service manual, but it leaves you guessing what the p/n is, and this is my good guess. Note you still won't get intermittent rear which I'd like most (for that you'd have to wire in an intermittent module from gen. 2 in place of the relay in the back). If you go ahead, add the cruise control while you're in there. Drop me a note if you have more questions, this is probably not a material for a sticky thread.

Thanks. I will probably give this a try. I agree that rear intermittent would be nice, but I really want the front to be adjustable. I will check on the price for the part and if I give it a go I will let you know.

Update re. 1996-97 models. For those years, Impreza and Legacy combination switches are the same. So an adjustable-delay switch from 1996-97 LS/LSi/GT will fit a 1996-97 Impreza. This is enough to know for those looking for a salvage part (but finding donor cars could be a problem). Buying a complete combo switch from a dealer isn't a practical option in this case, and I'm still not 100% sure about the p/n for just the wiper stalk. I believe the above also applies to '95 Imprezas with a pad-style horn switch.
Add: '93-'94. Likely of even less public interest, but 1993-94 GC/GF share their combo switches with 1st gen. Legacy. The '95 is an oddball, but I believe that in any case, all year-to-year differences were due to airbag and/or cruise connectors while the wiper and turn switches remained unchanged till the '98 redesign.

Sounds like a great mod to do to my MY'99 30th Anv. Legacy wagon. Does anyone know what all years and models have this same switch with the variable intermittant wiper feature? Would like to go wrecking yard hunting and score one for myself.

Dave Carr

Ok, Here is the last word on converting a 93-97 Impreza to variable intermittent wipers. The mod is much like the mod for the 98-01 cars explained above, but the switches are slightly different. First, variable intermittent wipers were not available on the 93-01 Imprezas but were on Legacy L, LSi, and GT of the same vintage and the part is a direct swap. Further just like the newer cars all of the electronics to convert a 93-98 car with intermittent wipers to variable intermittent are contained in the wiper swich. So, depending on whether you have a Impreza sedan, with no rear wiper, or a wagon, with a rear wiper, you need to obtain either Subaru part # 83113AA520 (wagon) or 83113AC480 (sedan).

As for installing the part, the conversion is only slightly more involved than the change for the 98-01 cars. Unlike the 93-01 cars for which the combination switch plugs right in at the column, the switch for the 93-01 cars has a wiring pigtail that threads down along the column and plugs in just under the dash. Don't be discouraged the change is very easy. Here are the steps:

1. Remove the four screw from the bottom of the steering column cover and then gently pull the 2 halves apart being careful not to break the clips that hold it together. When they come apart, gently stretch the bottom half over the ignition switch, remove it and set it aside. Next, drop the tilt column all the way down so that the top half can be pushed out of the way. I could not get the top half to come completely off, and was afraid to force the hard plastic. As it turned out, the job did not require the top half to come off.

2. Remove the steering wheel. This is relatively easy and I won't go into detail, as this is discussed elsewhere in these forums. Just make sure that if your care is an airbag car that you unhook the battery and wait about 5 minutes before unplugging the airbag. The airbag plug is a little tricky but play with it and you will figure it out.

3. Once the wheel is off, remove the 2 brass colored screws that hold the wiper combination switch to the combination switch cluster. These 2 screws are on the backside of the switch, that is the heads of the screws face the front of the car and it is a little tight. I found that if I removed the 2 large screws at 11 and 5 o'clock that hold the entire combination cluster to the column I could pull the cluster toward me and get better access to the screws holding wiper switch in place. I found that a small ratchet style screwdriver worked best for these screw.

3. Once the 2 screws holding the wiper switch in place have been removed you will need to follow the wire from the switch down along the column and clip the wire ties and tape and release the reusable wire clamps that hold the wiper switch pig tail to the other wire groups going down the column. I found that removing the kick panel at the bottom of the dash and pushing it out of the way helped with access to the wiring. The kick panel is held in place by 3 screws, 2 push-to-fit clips and on the left side of the dash by 2 plastic push clips that look like philips screw. Once the ties and tape are removed, you are ready to remove the old the combination switch.

3. To remove the old switch, unplug the connector at the end of the pigtail and thread it up along the column. Once the pigtail is free from the column the switch can be removed by pushing it toward the front of the car and up and out. It comes out very easily if the 2 screws holding the combination cluster to the column are left out so that the cluster can be pulled slightly toward you as the wiper switched is pushed forward.

3. Installation of the new switch is just the opposite of removal of the old one. Be sure and tie the new switch pigtail snuggly to the other wires going down the column and be sure that nothing binds before you put the column cover back on.

4. Once everything is back together, you have variable intermittent wipers. One issue of note: It appears to me that the variable function on the new switch works backwards form the diagram on the switch. In other words, when I rotate the variable switch toward the longer dashes, the wiper interval is shorter and when I rotate the switch toward the shorter dashes, the interval gets longer. This probably a polarity problem with the new switch that swapping a couple of wires in the plug would fix, but since one doesn't normally actually look at the switch when adjusting it while driving, but makes the adjustment by feel I am going to leave it alone.

Finally, I wish to thank AVK for all his help with this project. His insight and knowledge of the older Imprezas was invaluable and he supplied the part numbers listed above.

Does anyone have a part number for the 98-01 switch (wagon)? Wrecked WRX wagons aren't too common around these parts either.

My Full page w/instructions n photos here <<<-- (http://www.subiegal.com/images/car%20stuff/rs/tuning/impreza_wiperdelay.htm)

a few non-blurry photos ;)

http://www.subiegal.com/images/car%20stuff/rs/tuning/impreza_rs_wiper4.jpg

http://www.subiegal.com/images/car%20stuff/rs/tuning/impreza_rs_wiper5.jpg

http://www.subiegal.com/images/car%20stuff/rs/tuning/impreza_rs_wiper.jpg


really is a 10min job.

so simple.

Jamie
www.subiegal.com

good info, gotta convert my 97 Legacy L now

anyone know the pinouts on that controller? I'm looking for something to rig up to work as an intermittent comtroller for my I/C sprayer.

Ok I have been wanting to do this for a long while also on my car. But i have read this and am unclear of what one i can use on my car. I have a 92 legacy wagon and it has rear wiper. if you can tell me wich one to find i would really like to do this as i dont care for one fixed delay setting.

hutchmike: the part you need is 83113AA520. In fact, after the swap was discussed here and on RS25, one of the vendors began offering those switches.

good info!

I just did this upgrade to my 2000 Legacy Outback Wagon and now happily have variable intermittent wipers going into the misty Northern California coast winter. Why Subaru thinks only people with top trim/performance model vehicles need what I consider a basic safety feature is beyond me. Maybe people with sunroofs and leather interiors are too busy admiring the sky or interior and can't be distracted by constantly attending to their wiper switch.... But I digress.

Intallation is almost identical to those at the beginning of the topic with the notable difference being that there is only the 1 screw closest to the steering wheel to remove the bottom cover, and the other 2 screws for the top cover are then accessible once the bottom cover is removed.

I installed part# 83114AE130 on my wagon

Just wanted to add my thanks, especially for Jamie's super-clear write-up with part number. I ended up paying almost $50 for my switch, but so it goes; my 2000 2.5RS now has variable intermittents, and it's just in time - the first big winter storm moved into NorCal this weekend.

chris

Sweet

I installed the switch, 83114AE130, in my 99 Forester. It was a snap to install, but I'm not getting the intermittent wipers. Did I do something wrong? Is there another part I need? Thanks.

Finally did this modification today, on a '95 Impreza wagon. The procedure has already been presented in this thread for a '96 OBS, and I'm just trying to add to that description.
The type of switch used in this swap will fit 1990-99 Legacies, with or w/o airbags, and 1993-97 Imprezas (the model years are valid for N. America). The respective part numbers for sedans and wagons (or sedans with JDM rear glasswipe) were given in the preceding posts: 83113AC480 w/o rear wiper and 83113AA520 w. rear wiper. If you want a salvage part, look in any Legacy LS, LSi, and probably GT, as well as 1998-99 OB Ltd.
The switch has a long "pigtail" that runs along the steering column and plugs into the instrument panel harness at the bottom, above the pedals. I did the replacement w/o removing the steering wheel. To get at the two mounting screws, which point parallel to the column facing away from you, use some stubby or offset screwdrivers, or a short knurled extension bar with 1/4" socket and a Phillips bit in it, whatever works. Some maneuvering is needed to remove the old switch and sit the new one in place because there's a tight fit next to the combo switch body and its metal mounting bracket, but it's quite doable. The wiper switch wiring is taped together with the rest of the combo switch harness and is held to the column with two re-usable ratcheting clamps. For a factory-like installation, you need to remove the metal reinforcement plate (4 screws) from the bottom of the column, which is covering all of that. But if you don't care for the tape and clamps, just leave the plate in place: there's enough space between it and the column to run the wires through. Also there's a small zip tie holding the wires to a tab where they exit the switch body (a brand new switch comes with a zip tie and two screws). To run the wiring through the cutout in the mounting bracket under the combo switch body, I had to remove connector pins from the plug and then re-insert (although it looks like the plug just might go through if more force were applied). Pull the pins out of the plug first and after removing rhe switch, reassemble using the new one as a guide, then remove pins from the new plug and, when the wiring is in place, re-insert while looking at the old plug. Or just cut the old plug off right away with some wires if you don't care, and keep for reference. The tabs in the connector body are released with a miniature screwdriver or with an awl.
Of course the above procedure works for replacing a wiper switch simply when it's bad. You do not need to replace the entire combination switch assembly, even though many dealers and independent shops alike would say it's the only option.

7/29/06: On "old skool" wagons, it's also possible to have a [non-adjustable] intermittent rear wiper, but absolutely not cost effective with brand new parts: well over $200. The switch part number is 83113AA530 and the relay in the back should be replaced with intermittent module 86571AA030. On that switch, the knob for rear wiper has an additional detent labelled "INT", otherwise it's the same. It's not fully plug-and-play: the 9-pin connector is still the same but on wagons w/o intermittent rear wiper there's no extra wire for intermittent unit in the on-board harness, that is only 8 pins are utilized.
In the factory catalog, the above parts are listed for one model year only, 1991, of Legacy wagon. Does anyone in fact own one with such an option?

tight, i will have to do this mod. i need the intermediate wipers

Hi there... I realize it's been a while since anyone posted to this thread on wipers - but I'm looking to do a similar project (for a 2002 WRX race car) and wondered if anyone could help. I'm trying to use a simple single pole double throw switch to go direct to the front wiper motor (without using the combination switch or the intermittent wiper module that the combination switch provides). All I would want to wire is low, high and off using the switch. I've downloaded the wiring diagram for the wiper motor and tried a couple of combinations and can't seem to power the wiper blades.

In the wiring diagram there are 5 inputs to the wiper motor (that are typically controlled by the combination switch). Pin 4 is obviously grnd (wire is black and diagram is clear that it's ground). Pin 2 & 3 go into the motor and pin 1 & 5 seem to be a type of switch to the motor. I tried a few combination & permutations of powering direct from the battery to test it out and can't get it to work.

Any suggestions? (or does anyone know how this works? I asked a few suburu gurus that I know but they weren't able to help...)

Thx!

post the diagram.

Here's the diagram. Bottom Left (B8) is what I'm trying to power with a SPDT switch. (4 is ground) (not sure if this will post properly) .... posting didn't work - how do I post the diagram? (sorry I'm new to posting images... and can't post attachments)

I've gotta find my legacy at the junkyard so I can yank out my wiper controls.

thanks thats helpful cause I need to replace that sence mine is broken off,

alright

There are a number of old Legacies in local junkyards (including my old car :()...might have to try this out.

Nice!!!

Sweet information... single range delay is stupid. Going to attack the 1993 Legacy LS wagon at the yard and give the ol' Impreza a nice step up in equipment

I keep accidentally damaging stuff when I try to pull the stalk off.
How do I pull that ****ing steering column off?

Just did this yesterday... used a switch from a 93 Legacy Wagon LS in my 96 Legacy Outback. It was a pain in the butt pulling apart the column (wanted it put in like the factory intended) but wasn't hard and so worth it to ditch that stupid 6 second delay wiper.