DIY rear garnish brake light

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DIY rear garnish brake light

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by mrgnluke on 21-02-09 06:15 PM

I know this has been done before but the pictures have disappeared and without them it is confusing.

It is really simple and only takes about 5 mins.





-In the boot of your genII sedan, you will find the circled plug. If it is not hanging there it will be just behind the carpet which can be easily pulled back without anything braking or without having to unplug anything!
http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/uu177/mrgnluke/IMG_62282-1.jpg


-There are a number of wires coming out of this plug. You want to find the blue one with a yellow stripe.
-Cut it.
http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/uu177/mrgnluke/IMG_6230.jpg


-Then if you turn the plug around, there will be a whole bunch of empty spaces.
-The loose end of the blue/yellow wire goes into the 3rd (or middle) socket on the row closet to the clip.
-Strip back the casing until there is enough wire to squeeze down the socket.
-Push down the socket!
*TEST THIS BEFORE SECURING BY HAVING SOMEONE STAND AT THE REAR OF CAR WHILE YOU DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL* ---some sockets surrounding the one you want will make the garnish lights stay on permanently?!
-Then whether it be by electrical tape or by soldering, secure the wire into its new location. Keeping in mind that the plug is plastic and can melt...
http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/uu177/mrgnluke/IMG_62372.jpg

-This is what your brake lights should now look like!
http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/uu177/mrgnluke/1.jpg




Hope this clears things up!!
mrgnluke
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Re: DIY rear garnish brake light

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by LIB3RTY on 21-02-09 06:27 PM

awesome going to try this!
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TO BECOME A TRUE DRIVER YOU MUST
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Re: DIY rear garnish brake light

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by dance_hard on 22-02-09 08:03 PM

AWESOME!

Well written, clearly explained and well illustrated write up. 

STICKY THIS ****E NOW!!!!
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Re: DIY rear garnish brake light

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by WhiteRX on 22-02-09 08:34 PM

Nice one!

I'll find out if this also applies to Gen3.
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Re: DIY rear garnish brake light

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by mrgnluke on 22-02-09 09:22 PM

dance_hard;178524 wrote:

AWESOME!

Well written, clearly explained and well illustrated write up. 

STICKY THIS ****E NOW!!!!
haha thanks guys! it really is a simple mod which also looks great!

how can one sticky a thread? would be a good idea!
it definitely should be up there with, 'what does the 'P' button on my steering column do?'
...i have been known to ask that!! smile
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Re: DIY rear garnish brake light

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by GT-TT on 22-02-09 09:25 PM

Very Good write up, i was lucky enough to have these already connected when my car was bought in MUAHAHAH.. but here is a pics of the rear end...
sorry about the quality Damn Iphones
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/5210/picture056f.th.jpg
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Re: DIY rear garnish brake light

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by Sti_Lib on 22-02-09 09:29 PM

Theyre the Legacy lights i take it? Looks nice,wider spread of light
and the light looks more even,are they parkers and brakes in the
centre garnish?
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Re: DIY rear garnish brake light

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by dance_hard on 24-02-09 10:53 AM

it looks so much better now...

thanks dude!

P.S.if anyone ever wants to check their brakes by themselves, a broomstick wedged between the brake and the drivers seat works wonders wink
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Re: DIY rear garnish brake light

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by mrgnluke on 24-02-09 12:04 PM

dance_hard;178800 wrote:

it looks so much better now...

thanks dude!

P.S.if anyone ever wants to check their brakes by themselves, a broomstick wedged between the break and the drivers seat works wonders wink
haha nice one!
yea i used a plank of wood!!
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Re: DIY rear garnish brake light

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by XXB4XX on 24-02-09 12:46 PM

thread stuck
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Sold the Subaru, replaced it with a Honda.. but all I know is Subaru's! (and Holden V8's of course):secret:

Re: DIY rear garnish brake light

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by JUXT on 27-02-09 11:14 AM

WOW!

that was easy    lol
thanks for the write-up...

incidently, when i put the blue/yellow wire in the middle/third socket i didn't solder it or tape it as it went in pretty tight (i stripped the insulation off very carefully and didn't lose any actual wire). I will check it in a while and let you know if it has come loose.

again... thanks
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Re: DIY rear garnish brake light

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by SociallyDisabled on 04-03-09 06:33 PM

Did this mod today on my 95 GX wagon, couldnt find this plug so i traced wires and spliced into the window brake light line. i tried the plug where i found the blue/yellow wire and none of these gave me a reading with the test light.

First mod i've done. woot!

hope this info helps other people who might have had the same problem.


i took a pic of where i spliced it in aswell if anyone needs it let me know and ill post it up, cant be bothered now.
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Re: DIY rear garnish brake light

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by scottb721 on 04-03-09 06:50 PM

What was the original function of the new found brake lights ?

Is the plug you are hacking the trailer plug ?
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Re: DIY rear garnish brake light

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by mrgnluke on 04-03-09 07:13 PM

scottb721;180511 wrote:

What was the original function of the new found brake lights ?

Is the plug you are hacking the trailer plug ?
so people see us brake! there is no real reason! just looks cool! the globes are already in there may as well make use of it!
nah its not the trailer plug. thats usually in the floor of the boot - although i dont even know if i have one! ...dont have a tow bar so that works out alright!
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Re: DIY rear garnish brake light

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by SociallyDisabled on 04-03-09 07:26 PM

my trailer wiring is spliced in to the brake lights e.t.c. dunno who did it.

i just used the orig brake wiring as said, but i soldiered it
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Re: DIY rear garnish brake light

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by scottb721 on 04-03-09 07:28 PM

mrgnluke;180519 wrote:

so people see us brake! there is no real reason! just looks cool! the globes are already in there may as well make use of it!
What I meant was what function did those lights perform before the mod ?
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Re: DIY rear garnish brake light

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by SociallyDisabled on 04-03-09 07:30 PM

fog lights i believe, but they arent operative on oz cars as far as i know, even on ones with the fog lights.
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Re: DIY rear garnish brake light

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by scottb721 on 04-03-09 07:37 PM

I got ya now. My Impreza I got back in 96 had a fog light like that, but just one side. That did actually work with the fog button however. Had there been two it too would have been a neat mod to do
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Re: DIY rear garnish brake light

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by SociallyDisabled on 04-03-09 07:39 PM

they are really annoying as a fog light at night when there is no fog, its like the car is driving with their brakes on, dads gen 3 outback has foggies but the rear ones dont come on with em.
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Re: DIY rear garnish brake light

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by CRUISN on 04-03-09 07:43 PM

Yes they are rear foglights for the USDM, not adr'd here as theyre not needed. Look cool and very useful as brake lights. I did this in my previous Gen2. Even better is the Legacy garnish that has tail/brakelights in the garnish, not just the taillights. big_smile
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Re: DIY rear garnish brake light

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by dance_hard on 04-03-09 10:34 PM

I have a problem...

I did the mod... the lights work... but now my old brake lights do not.  The spoiler light still works... but my two original tail lights dont! help...!

have checked the "tail" fuse under the dash and its fine...

one thing I did notice though is that I don't think my spoiler is OEM... it says made in new zealand on it... which is **** because that would have been factory fitted, because I bought it off the original owner... and it is a rallye...

maybe that is the cause of my problems?
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Re: DIY rear garnish brake light

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by mrgnluke on 04-03-09 10:40 PM

dance_hard;180591 wrote:

I have a problem...

I did the mod... the lights work... but now my old brake lights do not.  The spoiler light still works... but my two original tail lights dont! help...!

have checked the "tail" fuse under the dash and its fine...

one thing I did notice though is that I don't think my spoiler is OEM... it says made in new zealand on it... which is **** because that would have been factory fitted, because I bought it off the original owner... and it is a rallye...

maybe that is the cause of my problems?
hmm that is weird! you definitely cut the right wire? the blue one with the little yellow stripe? there is a plain blue one (no idea what that goes to tho)

plug and play with all the little sockets in the reverse side of the plug. it might be a different config for a rallye? or NZ spec?
one of the guys plugged it into the hole to the right of centre and the new lights came on with the parkers at regular intensity and went brighter as the brake depressed. mine didnt!? (damn!!)

see how you go and report back!
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Re: DIY rear garnish brake light

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by ILuvLibby on 21-03-09 04:48 PM

I've just done this to my liberty. It looks heaps better.:new_russi
Instead if cutting the wire if you can use another wire to run from that socket to the other earth socket then you can unplug it later and all the wires will still be intact.
I used a small section of wire and two bullet terminals which i have from my car radio instalation days.
At least this way if i unplug the wire it will still look exactly the way it left japan.
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Re: DIY rear garnish brake light

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by SIMOZ on 16-04-09 06:57 PM

Could someone please post some more info on this mod for wagons!
I have a 97 RX Gen2 and am not 100% sure on the best spot to do the splicing.
Sociallydisabled you said you had pics could you post them pleeease:D
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Re: DIY rear garnish brake light

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by mrgnluke on 28-04-09 08:32 PM

BUMP for SIMOZ! would be good to get some different variants of models up here too.
im looking at doing it to a friends gen3 (bought it today) but the plug isnt in the same spot. to gen3 owners (pre-face lift) is there a plug at all?
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