[jogosub]

Daytime running lights.

Of course, here in the US of A, we can't seem to figure out that parking lights aren't for driving, and parking brakes aren't only for emergencies.

And to add to that: fog lights are for driving in the fog..., turn signals are for turning..., yellow and red traffic signal lights in intersections have some peculiar purpose...., left lanes on freeways are for passing or driving faster "with the flow" ....etc,etc.... LOL

You've got that right!

 

[hoppyjr]

And to add to that: fog lights are for driving in the fog..., turn signals are for turning..., yellow and red traffic signal lights in intersections have some peculiar purpose...., left lanes on freeways are for passing or driving faster "with the flow" ....etc,etc.... LOL

You've got that right!

I agree!!!

Like that comedian "Gallagher" once said; we should all have dart guns and be able to shoot darts at cars driven by idiot drivers. When I cop sees a car with three or more darts attached, it's automatic probable cause to stop and write the citation for being an idiot. :29:

 

[Budaru]

I agree!!!

Like that comedian "Gallagher" once said; we should all have dart guns and be able to shoot darts at cars driven by idiot drivers. When I cop sees a car with three or more darts attached, it's automatic probable cause to stop and write the citation for being an idiot. :29:

Love it! Where do I get my dart gun?


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[Budaru]

OK back OT. Today I installed a rear fog using the left rear reflector. It was easier than I originally thought. Here are the steps:

1. First I bought a spare left reflector, just in case, and a meter of weatherproof, flexible, red strip LED lighting from SuperBrightLEDs. This strip can be cut into 3" lengths.
2. Cut a hole in the back of the reflector at the bottom, full width and about 1/2 an inch high
3. Carefully slide the LED strip into the reflector between the back and the red lens. Cut the strip where it comes out of the lens, at the nearest marked cut place.
4. Repeat step three until 4 strips are inside the lens. Use a piece of coat hanger wire to insure the strips arestraight
5. Solder wires onto each strip. Solder all the positive wires together, same with negative wires. Attach a connector to each
6. Remove stock reflector from car. Cut a narrow rectangular hole in the bottom of the recess to accommodate the wiring
7. Snap the modified reflector into place, fitting the wires into the hole.
8. Connect the wires. Since I have an external rear fog, I just temporarily tapped those wires. Both fogs come on at once now. I will remove the external fog once I see the new fog at night.

Note that I cut the holes in the bottom so that the lens wouldn't fill with water. Also, I used liquid electrical tape and shrink connectors for further water proofing. Some silicon caulking might help too.

That's it. Easy and works great.

 

['05 Outback 2.5i]

Looks nicely done, Congratulations! Curious to see how this works out and if you feel it is bright enough etc, after you get to test at night!

 

[jogosub]

Nice work, Budaru! One note though, typically, not all light assemblies are always waterproof - and for a good reason - so they don't sweat. Typically, most body parts and some light assemblies are designed in such a way that "water comes in" and "water/moisture drains out"... Sometimes you see headlights or rear light fixtures filled with moisture/sweat, especially in climates, where cold and hot temps fluctuate. Most "plastic" fixtures have drain holes. Actually, in some of my earlier cars I would drill a small hole for water/moisture to drain out.
Just a thought though... you did a good job!

 

[Budaru]

Nice work, Budaru! One note though, typically, not all light assemblies are always waterproof - and for a good reason - so they don't sweat. Typically, most body parts and some light assemblies are designed in such a way that "water comes in" and "water/moisture drains out"... Sometimes you see headlights or rear light fixtures filled with moisture/sweat, especially in climates, where cold and hot temps fluctuate. Most "plastic" fixtures have drain holes. Actually, in some of my earlier cars I would drill a small hole for water/moisture to drain out.
Just a thought though... you did a good job!

I'm not sure what you're advocating. In the case of this fog light / reflector, it originally appeared to be totally sealed with glue. After my mod, there's the opening at the bottom, which I haven't totally sealed although I'm thinking about it. Right now, since the hole in the reflector lines up with the hole I cut in the bumper, water can get in from behind. I just need a little more waterproofing on the connections i made, I think.

 

[Budaru]

Looks nicely done, Congratulations! Curious to see how this works out and if you feel it is bright enough etc, after you get to test at night!

Thanks! While I bought the brightest LED strip lights that I could find, I'm not expecting anything terribly bright. That's because the strip lights just aren't as bright as a high LED count lamp, and the reflector was designed to reflect outside light back out, not to pass inside light and magnify it. Still, I think it's a useful thing to have. I'll try to get a photo tonight.

 

[jogosub]

My bad, I think.... - when I look at that picture of the new stock reflector, I thought those 2 round holes go to the "cavity" of the reflector lens - or maybe they are blind/sealed...? Never mind then, I am just speculating since I haven't seen those reflectors from the back....To seal that back/cut hole, I think JB Weld would work. I have used it to seal my trailer hitch harness going through the bottom of the spare tire well....

 

[jogosub]

I installed/wired red fog light same as OEM Subarus have it in EU; i.e. in the left backup light. It's now "red" and used as rear fog light. See my installation instructions elsewhere on this forum. The bulb is bright (921 LED 14 red) and works great - you'll get noticed!! I also "increased" brightness (921 white LED 19) of the right backup bulb to more than double of the existing OEM. Bulbs are from VLeds.com.
See pics below!
Budaru installed an outside red rear fog light that he mounted under the rear bumper, that is yet another alternative solution.

UPDATE:
I have also re-wired my rear fog red light (located in my left rear backup lamp) by running a wire from the rear backup lamp to the front dash fog lights switch by the cabin fuse box, next to rear brake/mirrors adjustment cluster. This way I have returned to OEM the full usage of the hitch trailer wiring/plug/socket, where I had previously tapped my rear fog light wire. <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

 

[Euchre]

I like the idea of turning the reflectors into rear fogs on the current gen. That puts them well away from the regular brake lights, they're small enough to not so easily be confused with brake lights, and they're a good marker for the full width of the vehicle. I would put them in BOTH units though, not just one side.

 

[Budaru]

I like the idea of turning the reflectors into rear fogs on the current gen. That puts them well away from the regular brake lights, they're small enough to not so easily be confused with brake lights, and they're a good marker for the full width of the vehicle. I would put them in BOTH units though, not just one side.

I agree, I thought of that as well after I had converted my left reflector into a fog. But I have a feeling (based on no facts) that there might be something illegal about having four lights in back. Maybe I'll check the vehicle code.

In any case, now that I know how to do it, I might just go and convert the other reflector as well. It would look kind of cool

 

[jogosub]

I like the idea of turning the reflectors into rear fogs on the current gen. That puts them well away from the regular brake lights, they're small enough to not so easily be confused with brake lights, and they're a good marker for the full width of the vehicle. I would put them in BOTH units though, not just one side.

I just followed the EU code and put rear fog in just one/left side.
Converting both to fog lights would eliminate totally rear illumination when backing up...and cars/drivers with rear view cameras would not be able to see anything at night (unless you convert that backup camera to military "night" vision camera/lens)...LOL

 

[Budaru]

I just followed the EU code and put rear fog in just one/left side.
Converting both to fog lights would eliminate totally rear illumination when backing up...and cars/drivers with rear view cameras would not be able to see anything at night (unless you convert that backup camera to military "night" vision camera/lens)...LOL

I agree, I'd never eliminate both backup lights. My friend's BU aren't working and he has a lot of trouble in parking lots with cars and pedestrians not knowing his car is in reverse.

What Euchre and I were discussing is converting the reflectors. That leaves the BU's intact.

 

[jogosub]

OH - sorry, that's it - the rectangular strips on both ends of the rear bumper.... now I get it... getting old and senile...LOL
That removal and conversion was a "major" surgery, from what I hear from Budaru. JCBERB promised to let us know, how he has done those (his), but we yet have to hear from him on that one...