Speed Pulse, Reverse, Parking Brake Wires

[dysrhythmic]

Does anyone have instructions on where to connect the Speed Pulse, Reverse, and Parking Brake wires from a head unit to the vehicle? Step-by-step would be great since I'm terrible at figuring out how to remove panels.

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[blessthekellen]

All above can be found at the ecu other than at the random spots of the vehicle. Going straight to the ecu will make for a cleaner install.
I'm not at work right now but tomorrow can give you a wire color code if you need.

[dysrhythmic]

The ecu is by the passenger's feet in the front, right? How do you remove that panel covering it? There is a clip holding it in place. I tried prying it lightly but it didn't budge. I'm afraid of breaking it.

[blessthekellen]

Should be a few 10mm bolts holding it. What year and model is your vehicle.

[dysrhythmic]

2013 Wrx

[dysrhythmic]

Any updates on how to access those wires and what their colors are?

[blessthekellen]

hey sorry, i completely forgot to check my program while at work, got too preoccupied while doing remote starters.
I'll stop by shop tomorrow and check em for ya.

[SVXdc]

Vehicle Speed Signal (VSS) and reverse gear can both be found in the passenger footwell, in locations similar to those shown here:

Forester 2009 / Impreza 2008 wiring for VSS, Rear Gear and +12V Ignition On

Applies to 2008-2014 WRX and STI, 2008-2011 Impreza, and 2009-2013 Forester

In Impreza/WRX/STI, you can see the connector with the VSS wire without needing to remove any trim panels. Crawl in to the passenger footwell head first, put your head where a passenger's left ankle would be, and look straight up. You should see the multi-pin connector shown on the above Forester thread. Factory wire color is PINK/GREEN.

Reverse gear signal is behind the kick panel (right side, near the door hinge). You may be able to spot the harness connector without opening anything, but you'll have to pull the panel to actually reach the wire.

On 2012-2013 non-nav Impreza (not WRX or STI) and Crosstrek, VSS is pin 19 on the factory 20-pin radio harness. Reverse gear is pin 16 on the 16-pin aux harness. Parking brake is pin 15 on the 16-pin aux harness.

It seems that nearly all recent Subarus have the reverse gear wire in similar spots in both footwells (going to the respective rear light clusters), and the factory wire color is always BROWN/YELLOW.

On models with navigation, the wires for VSS, reverse gear, and parking brake are all on the head unit harnesses.

ADDED: When talking about wire colors, the first color is the main or dominant color of the wire. The second color is the stripe(s). So PINK/GREEN is mostly PINK with GREEN stripes. On factory wiring diagrams, that's shown as PG (no slash).

List of Subaru's abbreviations here (first one I could find quickly. Note that it's not safe to assume BLACK is ground, especially if there is also a stripe).

Factory wires frequently also have dots. Those are usually not mentioned or documented.

ADDED: There will often be factory wires with the same colors, used for different signals. It's important that you only look in locations where you know the desired signal is near, either from a post like this, or by checking the wiring diagrams, looking up a harness connector number, and seeing the location shown in the drawings towards the end of the wiring diagrams (e.g., "Bulkhead Wiring Harness (In Compartment)").

[dysrhythmic]

I see two PINK/GREEN wires. One of them is a solid green. The other is a lighter green. Both look like GREEN/PINK wires. There is much more green on the wires than there is pink. I have tried connecting to both and it still says, "Speed Pulse Not Detected."

I am connecting the Speed Pulse wire with an 18 gauge. I'm not sure if that's the problem. Any tips?

[dysrhythmic]

Found it!

When SVXdc says PINK/GREEN, it's really pink. It literally looks like strawberry ice cream. On my 2013 WRX, it wasn't anywhere near the BROWN/YELLOW reverse wire. I was mistaking the GREEN/RED wire and the LIGHTGREEN/RED wire for the VSS. You have to look straight up in the passenger kick panel to see it.

[SVXdc]

When talking about wire colors, the first color is the main or dominant color of the wire. The second color is the stripe(s). So PINK/GREEN is mostly PINK with GREEN stripes. See updates in my previous post.

[GuizmoPhil]

Hello dysrhuthmic,

I realize this is an old thread, but since it's refered from the main audio thread FAQ, I though I should ask my question here.

Did you end up tapping into the parking brake wire? Or you went the bypass way instead?

If you did tap into it, where's the parking brake wire for the 2008-2011 Impreza & 2008-2014 WRX & STI ? (without navigation)

Thanks in advance,
Phil

[gtmj115]

Originally Posted by GuizmoPhil

Hello dysrhuthmic,

I realize this is an old thread, but since it's refered from the main audio thread FAQ, I though I should ask my question here.

Did you end up tapping into the parking brake wire? Or you went the bypass way instead?

If you did tap into it, where's the parking brake wire for the 2008-2011 Impreza & 2008-2014 WRX & STI ? (without navigation)

Thanks in advance,
Phil

Unless you want the parking brake feature, bypassing it is super easy. Get a 4 dollar switch from autozone. Run parking brake wire from head unit to one side of the switch and the other side to ground. I just used one of the head unit bracket holes. Then i put my switch through the ashtray.

[wingfoot]

All, I am trying to finish installing a Kenwood radio into a 2014 WRX hatchback, any help with locating the speed sensor cable would be appreciated. I have read that the PINK/GREEN wire is it, but I have been told it was changed for the 2014 and is different for the STI as well.