How to wire aux lights into stock highbeams

[409industries]

I read in one of the rulebooks that all your aux lighting needs to be wired into a stock switch. Does anyone know where i can read up on how / where i need to splice into the 2001 RS's highbeams to control the relays that will turn on my driving lights?

I'm sure this is documented somewhere already.

Also since the RS already has a secondary switch for its stock foglights, does that need to somehow be incorporated into the highbeam switch also?

[rollo]

Check http://www.rallylights.com/ under "Useful info/links", they have loads of stuff.

Also I expect Special Stage has info on the topic.

[subyspawn]

I read in one of the rulebooks that all your aux lighting needs to be wired into a stock switch. Does anyone know where i can read up on how / where i need to splice into the 2001 RS's highbeams to control the relays that will turn on my driving lights?

I'm sure this is documented somewhere already.

Also since the RS already has a secondary switch for its stock foglights, does that need to somehow be incorporated into the highbeam switch also?


you might want to hit up Doug (shakes). i think he wired up Eli's rally car, he might have some good info

[409industries]

Rallylights.com is a great website, im actually planning on buying my relays etc from them...

you might want to hit up Doug (shakes). i think he wired up Eli's rally car, he might have some good info

Ahh nice! yeah i really want to talk to someone who has first hand experience doing it. I have shakes' number, ill give him a ring if i dont see anything online.

[IneedRS]

Wiring seems like it'd be a pain in the a s s

[rollo]

Nah, it's simple as long as you plan well, take your time and do a good job. It's when you rush it or try to cut corners that stupid crap happens. I like the electrical stuff.. instant gratification when it all works out :D

[RS-ti_Andy]

yeah all you need is to splice into the fuse box and your all set.. and upgrade the relays

[wolfman79]

+1 on using rallylights info. Thats what I used when I wired up mine. Of course the other thing to consider is that Subaru uses that quirky floating ground. It can be a little tricky trying to remeber when hot is actually negative and needing to do the opposite on your relays. Other option is to just rewire your headlights and include the aux. lights in that. Upside to this is your stock lights are much brighter.

[RS-ti_Andy]

+1 on using rallylights info. Thats what I used when I wired up mine. Of course the other thing to consider is that Subaru uses that quirky floating ground. It can be a little tricky trying to remeber when hot is actually negative and needing to do the opposite on your relays. Other option is to just rewire your headlights and include the aux. lights in that. Upside to this is your stock lights are much brighter.


well yeah.. i mean he can do this but i was going for an easy rout this will take a little more time.. i wonder if Painless wireing has a quick fix to this?

[409industries]

It can be a little tricky trying to remeber when hot is actually negative and needing to do the opposite on your relays.

Yeah i was reading about this and was pretty confused. Ill have to get some first hand info.

[UP2MTNS]

Yeah i was reading about this and was pretty confused. Ill have to get some first hand info.

OH....so that's why it was such a bitch for me to figure mine out.

I studied the wiring diagram for like, 3 days and thought I had it all figured out.

then, in reality, the wire I thought was +12v when the highs were ON, were actually +12v when they're OFF...and goes to 0v when the highs are on.

so I ended up just splicing into the wire just behind the light housing that goes to the high beams...and used a dual relay set up. works pretty nice, but I had to go to a FRY's to get the right relay that has an open connection when it has 12v, and then closes and makes the connection when there's zero voltage.

I get the feeling Shakes did Eli's a different way, but I'm not sure.

That make sense Aaron? I don't know if you have the same issue with an older RS.

[Not All There]

im really curious on this as well, post up any info if possible when you finally do this

[rollo]

Hmmm.. I tried to wire up the map lights to the rear (only) dome light in the LGT (no front dome light?! wtf Subaru?!) and it went "pop!" and made the stereo and HVAC go dark.. luckily just blew a fuse, but I wonder if this had something to do with it..

[RS-ti_Andy]

this is why i just rewire everything!

[dppaladino]

Go to scoobymods if you want the high beams and and fogs to work at the same time.

[409industries]

so I ended up just splicing into the wire just behind the light housing that goes to the high beams...and used a dual relay set up. works pretty nice, but I had to go to a FRY's to get the right relay that has an open connection when it has 12v, and then closes and makes the connection when there's zero voltage.


Yeah that makes complete sense. I was looking at a website that sold "reverse" relays that open when it has 12v power. Where did you splice it at?

This will be my fallback option. I am going to have to run 3 relays (two HID's on each) this was the suggestion buy the guys at Soltek Lighting Systems.

I will be checking out scoobymods too... thats a good idea. Still waiting for shakes to PM me back.

[409industries]

Oh yeah, also no one has answered my question if it is legal to run my rally lights off the OEM fog switch...

Rally America Rules don't mention the single switch rule, but NASA Rally rules do:

Section 3.2.1.1 General Conditions > Lights
Item #4

It must be possible to turn off all high-beam headlights
and auxiliary lights with a single switch, which must
leave the low-beam headlights functioning.

So it sounds like i can use the OEM fog switch right???

Something that this thread suggests...
http://www.scoobymods.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2908
.... anyone else see the diagram? i sure dont.

[UP2MTNS]

Yeah that makes complete sense. I was looking at a website that sold "reverse" relays that open when it has 12v power. Where did you splice it at?

This will be my fallback option. I am going to have to run 3 relays (two HID's on each) this was the suggestion buy the guys at Soltek Lighting Systems.

I will be checking out scoobymods too... thats a good idea. Still waiting for shakes to PM me back.

I just spliced it into the main headlight wire behind the driver side light. The 'reverse' relay then puts power to the normal bosch relay (that came with the lights) that turns on both driving aux lights. the only issue with this is: if the driver side headlight dies, I lose the driving aux lights.

My fogs are on their own switch, so eventually I need to re-wire those, probably to the stock fog switch.

[wolfman79]

Rewiring the lights to a standard ground system wasn't really that difficult and it saves a lot of time and headache when it comes to dealing with any auxiliary lights. I'll see if I can dig up my sketches and diagrams that I used when I wired mine up.

Also I would tie your auxiliary lights into your highs in such a way to ensure you can dip your lights with a single switch. This is the reason why HID's aren't recommended for aux lights on a road going car. The on/off cycles absolutely kill your ballasts. Mine are wired to a master switch which is only hot with the HB's and then seperate switches for 3 sets of driving/pencil/cornering lights. Fogs are on a seperate switch and tied to LB's.

[subyspawn]

Oh yeah, also no one has answered my question if it is legal to run my rally lights off the OEM fog switch...

Rally America Rules don't mention the single switch rule, but NASA Rally rules do:



So it sounds like i can use the OEM fog switch right???

Something that this thread suggests...
http://www.scoobymods.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2908
.... anyone else see the diagram? i sure dont.


yea, you should be able to use the OEM fog light switch. but it must turn off your regular 'high beams' too...

[shakes]

All driving lights must be able to be turned off by one switch. I wired Eli and Mindys lights into the bright switch. Turn brights on, the pencil and flood switches have power. turn the brights off and everything is off. headlights remain OEM. Play around with the fuse amount. I believe that they blew fuses only using a 30amp.

You can use the OEM sized wire going from the switches to the relays, but from the relays to the lights you need to use a 10 or 12 gauge.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v34/shakes/rallyheadlightwiring.jpg

[shakes]

P.S. Sorry for taking so damn long to reply to this. I didn't notice the message until just now.

[RS-ti_Andy]

dang! woot for Shakes!

[409industries]

Yeah Doug! Thanks for all the help. Now i just need to figure out if in my RS, the wire is green / yellow for the highbeams...