stransky Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 I just received a pair of new jdm wagon taillights complete with bulbs and cable harness from Japanparts and thought it was going to be easy to install on my pre-facelift car but I was wrong. Somehow some engineer/designer at Subaru decided to change the indicator socket by changing angle relation between the pins. Now the pins on my original socket will not fit the hole in the new taillight. The solutions are: 1. Cut off 2 of the 4 pins on the original indicator socket. (maybe this will cause moisture to enter light as it will not seal as good as with 4 pins.) 2. Cut the cable and connect the new harness. (This will be quick but does not feel right.) 3. Disconnect old harness and connect new harness. This is the best solution but problem is I cant disconnect it from outside and it seems I have to remove some panels in the interior to reach connector. I am going for number 3 but I will have to wait until saturday as it will take some hours to have it done. I have not found any photos what it looks like behind the rear quarter panel where the cable connector should be. The only close I found was the guide to install 12V receptable. So if anyone have photos or advices I will apreciate it. Thanks in advance. Also see attached photos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrSpeed Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 what's wrong with simply rewiring it? No cutting...and you can always return it back to stock. BANNED FROM THE TIKI FORUM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stransky Posted September 8, 2009 Author Share Posted September 8, 2009 what's wrong with simply rewiring it? No cutting...and you can always return it back to stock. That is what I intend to do. But I cant reach the cable connector (the white thing shown in picture 4) from outside through the small hole. I must remove interior panels to reach it from inside so I can disconnect the old harness and connect the new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stransky Posted September 12, 2009 Author Share Posted September 12, 2009 Mission: To install JDM facelift wagon taillight on pre facelift model. As the bulb sockets are not fittable with the facelift lights the cable harness must be changed. Problem is you cant reach it from outside and must remove interior panels. See instructions below. Photo 1: Remove 4 screws. The one in the upper right you must remove panel on pillar to reach (see photo 2). Photo 2: Shows the panel removed on pillar. The panel is attached with 3 plastic clips. The red circle shows the screw as mentioned in photo 1. Photo 3: Pull out panel attached with 2 clips (marked in yellow) then remove panel under attached with 3 clips (marked in red) Photo 4: Remove panel attached with 6 clips. One was left but I could reattach the panel without removing it. Photo 5: Now you can pull the rear side panel enough to reach the cable connection. But first you need to remove the connection from the plate (se marking). I squeezed it with my fingers and a screwdriver and then it was free. To be continued.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stransky Posted September 12, 2009 Author Share Posted September 12, 2009 Photo 6: Disconnect and connect new harness. Photo 7: New harness in place. Photo 8: Light installed. Photo 9: Light on other side installed. Photo 10: NOTE, exterior cover not 100% fittable with facelift light. I solved it by cutting one pin (se marking) Photo 11: Light installed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stransky Posted September 13, 2009 Author Share Posted September 13, 2009 Photos... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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