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Old 05-12-2005, 02:02 AM   #1
WRX-Traterrestrial
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Thumbs up Rear Fog Light: How To

After lots of searching with scattered bits of information here and there, I decided to write up a "how to" on hooking up the OEM rear fog light on my 05 WRX using another OEM front fog light switch (didn't feel like dropping crazy $ and waiting for shipping over seas for an actual OEM rear fog light switch). WRX's in the States don't get the rear fog like other markets across the Globe, but do have the bulb and wire ready to go***8230;just have to extend the wire to the front of the car. Thanks to RalliTek for getting the switch super fast and my bro Steve for wiring tips!

I'm sure you all know the rear fog light is found almost everywhere else besides the States***8230;why I don't know. It's a great safety precaution during adverse weather. It's always red and found either on the driver side rear, both sides rear, or in some rare cases middle rear. Basically its there so others coming up from behind can spot you in foggy or raining weather. Here in both the Seattle and Portland area we get our share of both.

Here is what I used:

-OEM Fog light switch Part # 83001FE000
-5 post relay (a 4 post will probably work as 87a isn't used, but I had a 5 post laying around)
-Inline fuse holder and Fuse (I used a 30A because I had one laying around...10A will probably work fine)
-Wire splices, wire, female ends to connect to posts on relay, etc

Here's what I did:

1) One the driver side tail light on the middle tail light bulb under electrical tape there is a wire about 3" long coming from the bulb not attached to anything. This is a double filament bulb one lights up with the tail lights and the other will light up as the rear fog light. Extend this wire to the front of the car to reach under the dash to where the switch will be.

2) Drop the plastic dash panel under the steering wheel by removing the one plastic screw on the side and two metal screws below***8230;the top is held in with 3 clips, 2 on the left side of the steering wheel and one on the right.

3) Disconnect the harness for the fog light switch and any other switches you may have. Now everything is exposed and you have room to work.

4) Looking at the fog light switch harness you'll see there are 5 wires. My kindergarten style drawing should explain the rest.



So when all is wired up, the rear fog light switch will look just like the front fog light switch (will light with dash lights and on light will come on when pushed). The rear fog light will come on independently of the front fog lights, but will need the headlights on in order to be activated just like the front fogs. High beams will also turn off the rear fog light just like it does the front fog lights which is kind of lame, but you really shouldn't use your high beams in the fog right? And please don't be "that guy" who drives with it on in broad daylight or on a clear night, its rather bright. Feel free to PM or post any questions. Enjoy!

Pics of wiring (sorry...camera is kind of old):


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Last edited by WRX-Traterrestrial; 12-13-2012 at 01:01 AM. Reason: Fixed broken picture link
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Old 05-12-2005, 02:08 AM   #2
WRX-Traterrestrial
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Interior...gotta love the cleanliness of OEM


Tail Lights On, Rear Fog On:


Tail Lights On, Rear Fog Off:
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Old 05-12-2005, 03:39 AM   #3
bmagna
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cool. nice work
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Old 05-12-2005, 03:59 AM   #4
John UK
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We've had rear fogs here in UK for some years now. They REALLY work.
I have wired my relay to earth via 2 diodes and through the indicators. That way when both indicators are on (hazards flash), the rear fogs go off. As a result, they flash in oposition to the hazard lights. Thats also very effective, especiallty if you have one each side.
Two final points, our rear fog switch goes off when it looses the supply so when we turn our main lights off, the rear fogs go off and do not come back on.
Our wiring also feeds the rear fog switch via 2 diodes from both the front fogs and headlamps so that either being on will enable the rear fogs to operate. Ours don't go off with main beam BTW.

John
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Old 05-12-2005, 10:18 AM   #5
wagons_ho!
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So the UK rear fogs work on both rear tail lights?

Thanks.
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Old 05-12-2005, 10:26 AM   #6
crxgator
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im in the process of getting a rear foglight switch from the uk...i already did this upgrade on my crx and it definatly helps a lot for people seeing you...

thanks for the how-to...cant wait to use it...
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Old 05-12-2005, 01:42 PM   #7
Leonardo
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Want to know if the 05 Legacy has space for the extra bulb
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Old 05-12-2005, 01:49 PM   #8
wagons_ho!
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Got a PN for the rear fog switch??? I have goodies coming from the Left Shore or the Right Shore on a weekly basis.

Geo
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Old 05-12-2005, 01:52 PM   #9
crxgator
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no, im getting a used one hopefully...i dont see how they should/could be so expensive used, every car has to have them for them to be road legal...plus shipping shouldn't be more than a 5 spot for 5-7 days either...
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Old 05-12-2005, 02:49 PM   #10
Leonardo
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gonna have to turn the rear parking light into a dual filament bulb to make this work on hte LegacyGT.

Geo, see if you can get ahold of rear fog switches for the 04~ Legacy as well please.
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Old 05-12-2005, 10:52 PM   #11
ChrisL2
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Thanks for the write up. I'll be doing this mod.
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Old 05-13-2005, 08:20 AM   #12
John UK
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wagons_ho!
So the UK rear fogs work on both rear tail lights?

Thanks.
Not sure about later cars but my 2000 wagon only has one as stock. That's the legal minimum over here although most cars have two.
On my car, the rear fog is a seperate bulb, single filament, 21W. I am fitting another light into the passenger side light cluster. The lense is there, the fitting for the bulb holder is there. I put the bulb and holder from the reverse light into the rear fog position and the light was dimmer than the drivers side rear fog. The cheapskates at Subaru didn't fit a reflector on the passenger side. Must have saved themselves a good 3c. Later cars may have both rear fogs working.
I am now working at installing a 12 volt halogen dichroic domestic light into my passenger side rear fog as it has it's own reflector.

John
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Old 05-13-2005, 08:21 AM   #13
John UK
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wagons_ho!
Got a PN for the rear fog switch??? I have goodies coming from the Left Shore or the Right Shore on a weekly basis.

Geo
Carefull uf the UK ones as they go off when the supply is lost. See my post above

John
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Old 05-13-2005, 08:27 PM   #14
prelude/2.5rs
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Anyone know if this will work on an 02 wagon? I might have to go out and check the tail light to see if there's a double filament red bulb. This write up is just what I've been looking for. Thanks for taking the time to do this, WRX traterrestrial.

Mike
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Old 05-14-2005, 03:20 AM   #15
WRX-Traterrestrial
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Y
Quote:
Originally Posted by prelude/2.5rs
Anyone know if this will work on an 02 wagon? I might have to go out and check the tail light to see if there's a double filament red bulb. This write up is just what I've been looking for. Thanks for taking the time to do this, WRX traterrestrial.

Mike
Not a problem! Glad I can help. I would assume it would be the same for your 02 wagon, but I'm not 100%. You'd have to check. The bulb will be clear, but its behind the red lense.
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Old 05-14-2005, 06:16 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WRX-Traterrestrial
Interior...gotta love the cleanliness of OEM

Erm, what is your 3rd button on the dash? On my 04 WRX, i have fog, and cruise buttons next to each other. It doesnt look like you have a cruise button, but a wiper control or some sort? Yet you have a sedan and no rear wiper so it cant be for that.

Sorry its off subject, but im curious what its for...
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Old 05-14-2005, 08:23 PM   #17
prelude/2.5rs
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Well, I took a quick look at the driver side tail light on MY02 wagon and the only double filament bulb I have back there is the brake/parking light. The only other light that sits behind the red plastic is the parking wedge bulb, which is only a single filament 5W bulb. This won't work. I didn't take the time to cut back the wrapped wiring to see if there's a loose wire, as stated by WRX traterrestrial(it was getting dark). Does the sedan have an extra bulb in the red besides the parking and brake? From the pics above, it doesn't look like it. Was this simply done w/ the brake light?
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Old 05-14-2005, 08:25 PM   #18
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WRX traterrestrial...can you somehow take a pic of the rear fog w/ the brakes on? I know this would be hard w/ one person, but maybe you can have someone lend a hand. Thanks!

Mike
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Old 05-15-2005, 12:40 AM   #19
WRX-Traterrestrial
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Quote:
Originally Posted by G3Red04WRX
Erm, what is your 3rd button on the dash? On my 04 WRX, i have fog, and cruise buttons next to each other. It doesnt look like you have a cruise button, but a wiper control or some sort? Yet you have a sedan and no rear wiper so it cant be for that.

Sorry its off subject, but im curious what its for...
The 3rd button is for the wiper defroster. There is some heating coil in the lower part of the windshield (let's hope I don't take a serious rock chip so I have to replace) that heats up to keep the wipers from freezing to the windshield.

prelude/2.5rs:

I thought the 02-03 tail lights were similar in function to the 04-05. Behind the red reflector is 3 bulbs...the middle one normally only lights as a tailight, but should have another fillament (and cut wire under electrical tape) that will light as the rear fog when hooked up. I could be mistaken as I haven't looked at the 02-03 tail lights. Hope it works out for you!
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Old 05-15-2005, 12:48 AM   #20
WRX-Traterrestrial
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Quote:
Originally Posted by prelude/2.5rs
WRX traterrestrial...can you somehow take a pic of the rear fog w/ the brakes on? I know this would be hard w/ one person, but maybe you can have someone lend a hand. Thanks!

Mike
I can if you'd like, but I can tell you...when my brakes are on, the outside light gets brighter and the inside light turns on (with the same brightness as the outside). So with the rear fog on and the brakes on at the same time, it would look like all three on the drivers side are at their brightest while on the outside and inside are at their brightest on the passenger side.
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Old 05-15-2005, 08:11 AM   #21
prelude/2.5rs
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Thanks for the info. It looks as though the 02/03 wagon does not have a third light in the red section. I'll have to take a better look today. This is a great and simple mod for the sedans though. Good luck to those who try it!

Mike
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Old 05-15-2005, 08:16 PM   #22
Rhys
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I have an 05 WRX wagon, I took the tail light assy. out but can't find a loose wire.
What color is it?
Black, Green, or Red.
E mail me.

Last edited by Rhys; 05-15-2005 at 08:18 PM. Reason: Need to add more
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Old 05-16-2005, 03:29 AM   #23
John UK
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Quote:
Originally Posted by prelude/2.5rs
Well, I took a quick look at the driver side tail light on MY02 wagon and the only double filament bulb I have back there is the brake/parking light. The only other light that sits behind the red plastic is the parking wedge bulb, which is only a single filament 5W bulb. This won't work. I didn't take the time to cut back the wrapped wiring to see if there's a loose wire, as stated by WRX traterrestrial(it was getting dark). Does the sedan have an extra bulb in the red besides the parking and brake? From the pics above, it doesn't look like it. Was this simply done w/ the brake light?
On my UK 2000 wagon, the rear fog is a seperate single filament bulb so look for an unused bulb location. If this is the case, you will need new bulb holder(s) to fit rear fogs.
Also be aware that Subaru don't always fit reflectors in unused lamp locations.

John
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Old 05-16-2005, 06:53 AM   #24
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When the light conversion was performed on MY WRX they just installed the fog light into the right backup light. Simple and clean.
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Old 05-16-2005, 07:19 AM   #25
John UK
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BVM
When the light conversion was performed on MY WRX they just installed the fog light into the right backup light. Simple and clean.
I've seen this type of instalation and it's certainly neat. The down side is that you loose a revese light. I like to be able to see where I am going when reversing. In fact I have fitted 35W halogen bulbs in my reverse lights for more output. The choice is yours though. It's certainly an option.

John
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