Headlight/running light Issues... I am stumped

[iblackwe]

Hi all,

I am having a hard time getting my headlights and running lights to work. I have a 2003 WRX donor and if I turn on the head lights on from the steering column and have the e-brake disengaged and the car running there is power to the middle prong of the plug. However, I can't seem to get the running lights to work (the other small plug). I also can't seem to get a light on the dash indicating the lights are on or that the high beams are actually working.

If anyone has any advice that would be much appreciated.

PS I have deleted the integrated unit but kept the DRL unit and its relays

[Pearldrummer7]

I also deleted the integrated unit (02 harness, so the same harness as far as I know) and kept the relays for high/low beam and it seems to work.

Sure you have all your grounds there? Without grounds the running lights will not work well. Also make sure your switch didn't break. I've broken one on a regular Subaru before just by taking the dash off. Flimsy things. I also recommend troubleshooting with a bulb outside of the enclosure so you can ensure good contact between the bulb contacts/the wire.

I didn't think the 02 had an indicator for the headlights to be on, only for the high beams (blue light). Getting that requires the R wire below (from the cluster) to be spliced into the high beam relay power wire.

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5799/19925541843_bd03577cf1_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/wmKBoT)

When I had hacked up my donor harness, I had the wire from B103 pin 1 (R) running to both headlight high beams. I didn't remember to run it back to B36 pin 8.

[gwarden]

If you check the rest of the wire diagram you will find the lights are always fed power and then grounded through the switch and relays

[Pearldrummer7]

If you check the rest of the wire diagram you will find the lights are always fed power and then grounded through the switch and relays

Not always, at least in my findings.

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5787/20555700342_7518f17705_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/xjrkyA)
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5617/20376643230_af08493427_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/x3BC81)
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5748/19943766353_77ca297080_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/won1Uz)


I had a ground (one of the mutual ones; I believe from the first image I uploaded here) not attached and my lights did some wonky things. Left turn signal on cluster came on when I turned on parking lights, the parking lights worked on one side of the car only, the driver rear turn signal illuminated when I turned on the parking lights. Second I touched that ground to the frame everything was fine. I can take a picture of the OEM ring terminal that I'm talking about tonight.

[TrickyPete]

I ran my running lights through a solid purple wire that was I found in the harness. I spliced into it and ran new wires. Not sure if this is correct or whatever but its not blowing fuses or anything. I have a 02 impreza donor. Maybe this helps?

[svanlare]

I have an '07 and there is no headlight indicator, just a high beam indicator, so probably none on the '03 either.

The headlights should have power to them, and the ground is switched (Red pin 1 above). You can test for power with the volt meeting and try shorting our the red pin to a ground to test all is well power side.

The clearance lights have ground continuously and the power is switched. If I remember right, the light switch controls a relay that turns on the +12 for the lights. The parking switch has continuous power and toggles the relay switched +12 with the continuous +12 so you should be able to turn the parking switch and check for power then.

[iblackwe]

Thanks everyone for the help! So far I think I have solved my headlight issue. I have power running to both the headlights (Middle connector on the original plug) and I am assuming that when I engage the low/high beams it will create a circuit between either of the two other end member wires (on original subaru plug).

Now my only problem is I can't seem to get running lights. I believe it is the red/orange wire that is routed through the back and the front but what ever I do I cannot get power to them (tried parking switch as well). My question is do they need to have a bulb in order to complete the circuit to get power (logic says that this wouldn't be the case because if one were to burn out they would all be out). So I am assuming I am missing a ground wire some where. If it makes a difference I have signal lights, brake lights, and reverse lights all working for certain.

I have checked all the fuses and they are fine, so now I am going to check all the relays. Could it be all the DRL box that I have tucked away into the toughest access area of my wiring.... haha. Also does anyone have a how to on how to check relays for subarus? I have seen them on youtube but for a different number of poles and I am a little nervous attaching a voltage to a subaru one without the correct instructions.

Thanks again everyone your advice is much appreciated.

[svanlare]

The running lights are wired in parallel so having one blown or missing isn't your problem.

I don't remember why I marked this one up, so ignore the colors and the '07 might be different than the '03 but I think the lighting is pretty much the same, just the colors and connectors may be different.

Start with the parking switch as it should have continuous power on pin 1, and then output it to pin 4. Then it goes through the fuse box and comes out as the power wire for the running lights (pin 1 and V on all the lights here, but the same for the outside lights as well just a different fuse output). Once that is working and you have lights with the parking switch, then you can move it the other way and figure out what is wrong with the relay.

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h276/svanlare/dimmer01_zpsewhv1yhw.jpg (http://s66.photobucket.com/user/svanlare/media/dimmer01_zpsewhv1yhw.jpg.html)