2003 WRX LED Headlight/Fog Light Issues

[fsas85]

I recently changed the headlight bulbs to my 2003 WRX to LED light bulbs. The first issue I was having was the fog lights would no longer turn on with the new headlights. I contacted the maker of the LED Bulbs and they sent me the LED Decoder for the bulbs, I connected the LED Decoder and good news my fog lights now turn on.

The issue I am now having is every time I turn on the fog lights the high beams are also activated. I wanted to know if anyone has had the same issue and how it was fixed.

Side note- When I connect just one decoder the opposite headlight works as it should with the low beam and fog light on. The side with the decoder has the high beam activated. Once I connect them both I am back to the same issue with both high beams activating along with the fog lights.

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[Big-E]

What is the function of this 'decoder'? Is this used to cancel any flickering or hyper-flashing of an LED bulb and/or act as a load-resistor?

The headlamp system in the car utilizes a switched-ground system whereas the LED bulbs are a switched-power system.

You would have to create a separate relay-harness that when activated (by the car's wiring) it would turn on the appropriate relay to activate either the low-beam or the high-beam of the LED bulb.

[fsas85]

Originally Posted by Big-E

What is the function of this 'decoder'? Is this used to cancel any flickering or hyper-flashing of an LED bulb and/or act as a load-resistor?

The headlamp system in the car utilizes a switched-ground system whereas the LED bulbs are a switched-power system.

You would have to create a separate relay-harness that when activated (by the car's wiring) it would turn on the appropriate relay to activate either the low-beam or the high-beam of the LED bulb.

Hey Big E,

Thanks for the response, The decoder is used as you mentioned to cancel flickering and/or hyper flashing. I am not sure if the decoder has the same resistance as a load resistor because I contacted the seller again and they mentioned that they were going to be sending me a pair of load resistors.

Do you have a write up or instructions on how I can create a separate relay-harness as you have suggested?

- Mike

[fsas85]

Bump!

[Big-E]

I usually build my own harnesses on the spot and don't prepare a write-up.

None-the-less, you could purchase one: https://www.rallylights.com/hl281s-t...-vehicles.html

My suggestion is to contact them by phone to make sure that they have what you need and that you purchase the correct one.

[Jaws4God]

I was also wanting to purchase some LED headlights as i had some on my 2010 Cobalt and loved them.

But I am reading about High Beam / Fog Light issues.. so want to know what the options / fixes could be.
Thank you!

~2003 Subaru Impreza WRX

[Mulder]

The fix is don't use them, especially in reflector housings as on the bugeye where they will likely produce glare and a poor beam pattern.
But aside from that, the fog light switching system is designed so it uses the filament of the bulbs as part of the circuit and that is why there are issues when using non-filament bulbs like HID's or LED's.

[Jaws4God]

Originally Posted by Mulder

But aside from that, the fog light switching system is designed so it uses the filament of the bulbs as part of the circuit and that is why there are issues when using non-filament bulbs like HID's or LED's.

would using a Xprite LED Headlight Canbus Anti-Flicker Harness| Bulbs Resistor Decoder Error Free Conversion Kit for 9007 (1 Pair)

like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Xprite-Headli...0558068&sr=8-5

fix it?

Thank you!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2003 Subaru Impreza WRX

[shagfagon]

Take that garbage out. Problem solved. Its a downgrade anyway so you gain less than nothing.

[Jaws4God]

for me.. i really wanted to stay away from Halogen since they burn out quickly.. I loved how LED's won't burn out and brighter.. but I do want to keep the proper function of the fog's.

So if I do get Halogens, what do you all recommend?

[Mulder]

9007 isn't the greatest bulb format unfortunately, with the dual-filament setup being something of a compromise. You definitely want to stay away from Sylvania Silverstars which are blue-coated bulbs and known to have a short lifespan, as well as any other "superwhite" bulbs with coatings and overdriven filaments.
There is a 9007LL (longer life) bulb you can try, should be something you can get at the parts store.

[Jaws4God]

Originally Posted by Mulder

9007 isn't the greatest bulb format unfortunately, with the dual-filament setup being something of a compromise. You definitely want to stay away from Sylvania Silverstars which are blue-coated bulbs and known to have a short lifespan, as well as any other "superwhite" bulbs with coatings and overdriven filaments.
There is a 9007LL (longer life) bulb you can try, should be something you can get at the parts store.

Thank you!

[amiexploited]

Originally Posted by fsas85

I recently changed the headlight bulbs to my 2003 WRX to LED light bulbs. The first issue I was having was the fog lights would no longer turn on with the new headlights. I contacted the maker of the LED Bulbs and they sent me the LED Decoder for the bulbs, I connected the LED Decoder and good news my fog lights now turn on.

The issue I am now having is every time I turn on the fog lights the high beams are also activated. I wanted to know if anyone has had the same issue and how it was fixed.

Side note- When I connect just one decoder the opposite headlight works as it should with the low beam and fog light on. The side with the decoder has the high beam activated. Once I connect them both I am back to the same issue with both high beams activating along with the fog lights.

Have you tried disabling your DRLs?
Also helps with the longevity of your halogen bulbs

[Jaws4God]

anyone who is running HID or LEDs, anyone have a work around for the fog light issue?

Thank you.

[satrya]

Originally Posted by Jaws4God

anyone who is running HID or LEDs, anyone have a work around for the fog light issue?

In the GD/GG imprezas in North America, the low/high beam and foglight circuitries are connected to implement regulations like the US' fmvss that result in foglights to only activate when the low beams are on, and disable when high beams are on. It just so happens that the circuit relies on the typical resistance of halogen bulbs (9007 on the low/high beams, H3 on the fogs). When something else is used instead, the circuit gets confused.

The circuit is apparently also connected to the DRL system, and disabling DRL may avoid the circuit above from getting confused. But the downside is losing DRL functionality. In some locations (e.g. Canada), this is not a workable solution.

[Jaws4God]

Originally Posted by satrya

In the GD/GG imprezas in North America, the low/high beam and foglight circuitries are connected to implement regulations like the US' fmvss that result in foglights to only activate when the low beams are on, and disable when high beams are on. It just so happens that the circuit relies on the typical resistance of halogen bulbs (9007 on the low/high beams, H3 on the fogs). When something else is used instead, the circuit gets confused.

Thank you for explaining that! I kinda had read something about that so was trying to figure how how to work around it.

Originally Posted by satrya

The circuit is apparently also connected to the DRL system, and disabling DRL may avoid the circuit above from getting confused. But the downside is losing DRL functionality. In some locations (e.g. Canada), this is not a workable solution.

I'm not sure I have DRL.. i'm assuming i don't since I have to manually turn on my headlights.. so i'm guessing that fix would not work for me..

I did try this add on:
SEALIGHT 9007/HB5 LED Resistor Kit Relay Harness Adapter Anti Flicker Error Decoder Warning Canceller


and I haven't driven the car, but so far that seems to have worked.. My lowbeam headlights come one.. fog lights turn on fogs.. flip on high beams and the fogs turn off.

[satrya]

Originally Posted by Jaws4God

I'm not sure I have DRL.. i'm assuming i don't since I have to manually turn on my headlights.. so i'm guessing that fix would not work for me..

For the record, DRL is a feature in the GD/GG imprezas (and subsequent models) in north America. DRL doesn't turn on the low beam headlights. Rather, it runs a low power that feeds the high beams for conspicuity.