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07-21-2012, 05:03 PM | #1 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 286423
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: PGH, PA
Vehicle:2012 Impreza WRX 2006 GTO |
DIY: 2012 WRX: Use fog lights as DRL
I just bought my car last weekend, and I tried searching for a thread like this but couldn't fine one. This mod is very simple but it would have saved me a lot of time if someone would have laid it out instead of having to study the wiring diagrams.
My goal was simple, use my fog lights as the day time running lights. I had seen threads about disabling the DRLs, or making the fog light independent, but that's not quite what I wanted. I believe that DRLs are there for a safety reason, so I don't want to totally disable them, and all the independent fog light mods seem to require hacking up a bunch of the wiring under the console. The theory behind the mod is to take the 12v going to the DRLs before the resistor, and give that 12v directely to the fog lights. This sounds simple, and like I said above, it is simple. What you need: 10mm Wrench 2 Vampire Taps 6" of wire (12-14 awg) 1.) Remove the airbox assembly: a.) Two pop clips at the front:2.) Pop out side cover on the bumper for easy access 3.) Unplug the plugs from the resistor and fog light 4.) Put one wire tap on the [Green] wire on the resistor plug, and the other tap on the [Black & White] wire on the fog light plug. 5.) Connect them with your wire and wrap in electrical tape. 6.) Plug in the fog light plug 7.) Reassemble car
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07-21-2012, 05:03 PM | #2 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 286423
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: PGH, PA
Vehicle:2012 Impreza WRX 2006 GTO |
The Results:
All lights off, E-Brake Up: All lights off, E-Brake Down: Parking Lights On, E-Brake Up: Parking Lights On, E-Brake Down: Low Beams On, Fog Lights Off (e-brake doesn't matter at this point) Low Beams On, Fog Lights On (e-brake doesn't matter at this point) High Beams On: |
07-21-2012, 10:12 PM | #3 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 224097
Join Date: Sep 2009
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: Clinton, Ma.
Vehicle:2012 WRX Hatch - DGM Stage 1 - Tuned by Bren |
Good write up!! Love it!
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07-28-2012, 08:07 PM | #4 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 141373
Join Date: Feb 2007
Chapter/Region:
E. Canada
Location: Quebec, QC
Vehicle:2022 Crosstrek Sport 6MT |
You're a genious!
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07-30-2012, 11:52 PM | #5 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 300848
Join Date: Nov 2011
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Vehicle:2012 WRX LR |
I know that this is not what you were going for but can you point me in the direction where the independed fog light mod was done on a 2011 or 12? ive tried searching for a DYI i could understand but it seems that the comprehensive ones are for earlier models
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07-31-2012, 10:18 PM | #6 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 286423
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: PGH, PA
Vehicle:2012 Impreza WRX 2006 GTO |
It's the same as the 08-10. There's a purple/yellow wire coming from the stalk, you need to hook that up to a relay with a switched power source, and then hook the fog lights up to that. If you use the existing relay, the fogs will stay on when the car is off.
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08-01-2012, 08:58 AM | #7 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 141373
Join Date: Feb 2007
Chapter/Region:
E. Canada
Location: Quebec, QC
Vehicle:2022 Crosstrek Sport 6MT |
For those of us who wish to keep DRLs, this has a lot of merit. One issue with the Imprezas is that the DRL resistor ends up providing too low of a voltage for the highbeam bulbs, which makes them run too cold. As a result, the filament vapours don't re-deposit themselves on the filament (as they do in halogen bulbs), but simply coat the glass, which drastically cuts the lifetime of the bulbs. It's easy to spot a yellow deposit on high beam bulbs after quite a short time of using them as DRLs...
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08-01-2012, 08:09 PM | #8 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 300848
Join Date: Nov 2011
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Vehicle:2012 WRX LR |
Thanks but im honestly not very good with elctrical components of the vehicle what do you mean by relay with switched power source... and sorry for the thread high jack
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08-01-2012, 08:15 PM | #9 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 286423
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: PGH, PA
Vehicle:2012 Impreza WRX 2006 GTO |
By switched I mean it runs on accessory power, only when the car is switched on.
This is a good thread: http://www.clubwrx.net/forums/tutori...od-thread.html It has the service manual that includes wiring diagrams. |
08-03-2012, 12:11 AM | #10 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 72195
Join Date: Oct 2004
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: NJ
Vehicle:2016 Golf R DSG Oryx White Pearl |
Quote:
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08-04-2012, 11:26 AM | #11 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 141373
Join Date: Feb 2007
Chapter/Region:
E. Canada
Location: Quebec, QC
Vehicle:2022 Crosstrek Sport 6MT |
Why LEDs? as DRLs? I just bought a pair of HIRs, so as to essentially double the amount of light for highs. Have a bixenon retrofit as well, but figured that it won't hurt to supplement them with more light (now that my fogs act as DRLs)
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08-04-2012, 08:36 PM | #12 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 72195
Join Date: Oct 2004
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: NJ
Vehicle:2016 Golf R DSG Oryx White Pearl |
$60 for bulbs = no thanks. I barely use highs and the retro hi/lo are very powerful so more for the look than anything.
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08-05-2012, 01:31 PM | #13 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 300848
Join Date: Nov 2011
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Vehicle:2012 WRX LR |
Rebinc thanks for the time to write back i just did the mod and it worked great!
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08-05-2012, 03:14 PM | #14 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 141373
Join Date: Feb 2007
Chapter/Region:
E. Canada
Location: Quebec, QC
Vehicle:2022 Crosstrek Sport 6MT |
Post pics with the LEds, curious how it'll look!
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08-12-2012, 12:48 PM | #15 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 74392
Join Date: Nov 2004
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: Virginia
Vehicle:2010 STI DGM |
Wanted to chime in and also say that this worked on my 2008 STI, so I'd assume it'll work for most, if not all Subarus with the DRL setup this way.
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08-12-2012, 01:38 PM | #16 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 214715
Join Date: Jun 2009
Chapter/Region:
SWIC
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Vehicle:2010 Gt500 2012 Swp Wrx e85 (Sold) |
Good write up, thanks for the idea!
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08-14-2012, 02:25 AM | #17 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 313093
Join Date: Mar 2012
Chapter/Region:
VIC
Location: Vancouver Area
Vehicle:2012 Impreza 2.0i 5-door Sport. Dark Grey |
Sorry to thread jack. How do you have your retrofit HID projectors set up? I have bi-xenon projectors and in order to preserve the shutters, I've disconnected the plug behind the bumper on the passenger side. So I'm running without DRLs and when I turn my high beams on, I have dual high beams (halogen + HIDs). Did I do it properly?
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08-20-2012, 02:53 PM | #18 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 310920
Join Date: Feb 2012
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: feasterville pa
Vehicle:2012 WRX Blue |
Nice write up cant wait to try it out
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08-20-2012, 04:21 PM | #19 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 288369
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Hunterdon County, NJ
Vehicle:2011 STI Limited SWP |
Thanks for the DIY. I have been meaning to do just this, but never got around to it.
Couple questions. You only need to do this on the one side? Can't you use a terminal and get the power from the green wire vs those taps which I hate so much? Assuming one can fin a terminal to use. |
08-20-2012, 04:40 PM | #20 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 322775
Join Date: Jun 2012
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: SNJ
Vehicle:2012 WRX-4Dr SWP |
PerfecT!
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08-20-2012, 05:20 PM | #21 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 74392
Join Date: Nov 2004
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: Virginia
Vehicle:2010 STI DGM |
Quote:
Second question... terminal? Are you asking if you can find plugs go that route? Absolutely. Just gotta find the right plugs. |
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08-20-2012, 05:33 PM | #22 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 288369
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Hunterdon County, NJ
Vehicle:2011 STI Limited SWP |
Quote:
Great Thank you very much for the fast reply too. |
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08-20-2012, 09:28 PM | #23 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 286423
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: PGH, PA
Vehicle:2012 Impreza WRX 2006 GTO |
WTF, there's no magical CANBUS. I can't tell if that's sarcasm or not. The fogs are already wired together in parallel from the drivers side, so it works the same way when applying 12v to the passenger side.
If you can find the plugs it would be easier, but I have no idea where to find OEM plugs, and that would probably raise the price of this mod 10x. |
08-20-2012, 10:07 PM | #24 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 141373
Join Date: Feb 2007
Chapter/Region:
E. Canada
Location: Quebec, QC
Vehicle:2022 Crosstrek Sport 6MT |
Doesn't take long to do. Removing the intake airbox is the most annoying part, the rest is smooth.
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08-21-2012, 07:18 AM | #25 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 74392
Join Date: Nov 2004
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: Virginia
Vehicle:2010 STI DGM |
Quote:
Here, let me help you: http://ae64.com/20-pin-pinout.htm As for the fog lights being wired in parallel, I had no idea about that. But thanks for the DIY. I wouldn't have tried this mod unless you posted it, so kudos. |
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