Glove Box Light retrofit [Archive] - ScoobyMods

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Peaty
07-10-2003, 10:05 PM
I did this mod to my RS when I had it:

http://www.scoobymods.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=466

And when I looked at the glove box in my 04' XT I saw that there was the same bulb and switch hole for the light harness, so I decided to install one. The mod is pretty simple to do. It took me a lot longer to figure out where to get the power from then to do the mod itself. I got the harness from Jamie, AKA "Subie Gal", at www.allsubaru.com (800 426-1332) The price was good as was the service. She sent me out a UPS tracking number as soon as it shipped.

What you'll need:

Switch / lamp Harness PN 83081FE000

10 mm open end - remove negative terminal at battery

Phillips Screw driver - To remove glove compartment

Insulated Spade connectors - 2 male and 2 female to make power connections

Wire cutters - To cut harness for power connections

Crimper - For spade connectors

1 Vampire tap - To tap into power

1 fork end - to attach ground under screw

Black electrical tape - To cover power side connectors for safety

Extra wire to extend the harness.

Something to connect extra wire to the existing harness, I used solder and shrink tube.

Ok lets get started. Take all your junk out of the glove box. Don't put it on the floor below the glove box you are gonna need the space to work. With a phillips screw driver remove the 7 screws inside then the two below the door. The far right side is attached with two push in type clips (see pics below) you can gently tug towards you to get the unit loose. Next take the plastic clip like thing off of the harness, you won't need it. It's only held on my electrical tape. Once that is off, thread the harness through the hole the switch fits in. Push the switch in place till it clicks in there tight. Insert the bulb in it's hole and give a 1/4 twist to lock it in place. Secure the harness wire under the little hook type holders on the back of the glove box. Now you have to cut the plug off the harness end and attach about a foot of extra wire of similar gauge or thicker. I used a soldering iron and some shrink tube. First I put some small shrink tube over the connections then a larger tube over both connections. I suppose you can just twist the wires and use electrical tape but I find soldering to be the best bet. On the other end of the extra wire, attach a male and female spade end. For the Positive wire use a spade that will be insulated to prevent blowing a fuse. I even put some black tape on the connection to make sure it wouldn't work it's way back out and short. Next make a short wire for the ground. Put a spade on one side and a forked one on the other. I used the screw that held the DRL bracket in place for the ground. As long as it's securely under something metal you'll be fine. For the Power I wanted something constant, so I tapped into the keyless module w/ a vampire tap. Unplug the keyless harness and flip it over so the bottom when the plug is in, is now facing up. Count over 4 pin spots from the left to tap into the white wire. I can't be sure that everyone at each year will have the same colour so if you can verify this has power with a meter if you can. Before you tap into it, undo the negative terminal on your battery to be safe. To get to the white wire with the tap I had to undo the tape behind the plug and peel back some black vinyl covering. After I tapped into it I covered it back up an put some electrical tape there. If you don't have the keyless module like the picture, you can always tap into the power outlet by the ashtray. See this link:

http://www.scoobymods.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2005

The light will only come when the key is on though.

Next bring back the glove box and plug the spades in. It dosen't matter which is positive and which is negative, just be sure that the positive side you use is well covered w/ no exposed metal. Put tape over it if you see any at the spade connection. Put the negative terminal back on and verify the light works. If it does, put everything back together. Try to secure any excess wire that may be hanging by the harness. That's about it.

Peaty 7/10/03

Peaty
07-10-2003, 10:06 PM
remove screws from inside

Peaty
07-10-2003, 10:06 PM
Get the two bottom ones

Peaty
07-10-2003, 10:07 PM
remove plastic clip from harness

Peaty
07-10-2003, 10:08 PM
thread harness in through switch hole

Peaty
07-10-2003, 10:09 PM
harness goes here

Peaty
07-10-2003, 10:10 PM
harness in place

Peaty
07-10-2003, 10:11 PM
remove plug from harness

Peaty
07-10-2003, 10:12 PM
Make the connection to extra wire

Peaty
07-10-2003, 10:13 PM
Make sure the connections are good and protected from shorts

Peaty
07-10-2003, 10:14 PM
Make a ground wire and put that under something metal

Peaty
07-10-2003, 10:16 PM
Undo the battery and tap into the power:

Peaty
07-10-2003, 10:17 PM
at the keyless harness:

Peaty
07-10-2003, 10:21 PM
Overview where the keyless is

Peaty
07-10-2003, 10:22 PM
Get the glove box and hook everything up and test it

Peaty
07-10-2003, 10:23 PM
close up of connections

Peaty
07-10-2003, 10:25 PM
Let there be light..

Peaty
07-10-2003, 10:25 PM
in action

Peaty
04-12-2007, 08:06 PM
Some updated info. from Tom AKA Buddur over at the Subaru Forester Forum (http://www.subaruforester.org)

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I just installed a glove box lamp in my 2006 Forester and would like to thank Peaty for the install threads which helped me out tremendously...

I did find out that the constant power wiring harness of my 2006 is not wired like the one in his pics, which I believe are from an '04 XT. My harness was gray in color and the constant power wire, which is all white and the largest-diameter wire of the bunch, is the farthest left wire on the top (bottom actually, when the harness is plugged in) when the harness is unplugged and rolled upside down back toward you.

I took 2 pics, but was fighting dead batteries to even get one, and unfortunately none are in focus that well. But the best pic is below, and shows the vampire tap/quick splice attached to that wire...

Hope this helps someone!
Tom


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Thanks Tom :D