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Old 07-21-2012, 05:03 PM   #1
REBinc
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Default 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:

b.)Two metal straps on the top of the airbox:

c.) Unclip the wiring looms that are connected to the cover.
d.) One 10mm nut on the upper left of the front side of the airbox:

e.) Pop the airbox off the bushing at the bottom.
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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Old 07-21-2012, 05:03 PM   #2
REBinc
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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:
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Old 07-21-2012, 10:12 PM   #3
Jmhm17
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Good write up!! Love it!
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Old 07-28-2012, 08:07 PM   #4
Bluefoton
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You're a genious!
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Old 07-30-2012, 11:52 PM   #5
johnmkv
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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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Old 07-31-2012, 10:18 PM   #6
REBinc
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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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Old 08-01-2012, 08:58 AM   #7
Bluefoton
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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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Old 08-01-2012, 08:09 PM   #8
johnmkv
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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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Old 08-01-2012, 08:15 PM   #9
REBinc
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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.
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Old 08-03-2012, 12:11 AM   #10
Subie FA20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bluefoton View Post
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...
Yep, mine are 9 months old and are brown. About to replace them with LEDs since i did the retro and my lows act as highs and lows
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Old 08-04-2012, 11:26 AM   #11
Bluefoton
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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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Old 08-04-2012, 08:36 PM   #12
Subie FA20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bluefoton View Post
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)
$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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Old 08-05-2012, 01:31 PM   #13
johnmkv
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Rebinc thanks for the time to write back i just did the mod and it worked great!
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Old 08-05-2012, 03:14 PM   #14
Bluefoton
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Post pics with the LEds, curious how it'll look!
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Old 08-12-2012, 12:48 PM   #15
infinite012
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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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Old 08-12-2012, 01:38 PM   #16
djuss21
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Good write up, thanks for the idea!
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Old 08-14-2012, 02:25 AM   #17
pkL
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bluefoton View Post
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)
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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Old 08-20-2012, 02:53 PM   #18
boostjuice21
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Nice write up cant wait to try it out
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Old 08-20-2012, 04:21 PM   #19
NJJer
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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.
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Old 08-20-2012, 04:40 PM   #20
matigas_TT
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PerfecT!
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Old 08-20-2012, 05:20 PM   #21
infinite012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NJJer
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.
I'll answer that first question. Yes, just the one side will somehow magically make both fog lights work. I'm thinking it's a function of the CANBUS system in use for car electronics.

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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Old 08-20-2012, 05:33 PM   #22
NJJer
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Quote:
Originally Posted by infinite012 View Post
I'll answer that first question. Yes, just the one side will somehow magically make both fog lights work. I'm thinking it's a function of the CANBUS system in use for car electronics.

Second question... terminal? Are you asking if you can find plugs go that route? Absolutely. Just gotta find the right plugs.

Great

Thank you very much for the fast reply too.
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Old 08-20-2012, 09:28 PM   #23
REBinc
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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.
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Old 08-20-2012, 10:07 PM   #24
Bluefoton
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Doesn't take long to do. Removing the intake airbox is the most annoying part, the rest is smooth.
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Old 08-21-2012, 07:18 AM   #25
infinite012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by REBinc
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.
Oh really? Tell me then, oh wise one, what do pins 11 and 12 on the 08+ Impreza headunits have in common with my statement of there being a magical CANBUS onboard most, if not all, modern Subarus?

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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