Project: AWD TURBO Family Hauler (04 Forester 2.5XT)

[JustinG]

So the lighting system doesn't play well with HIDs. these cars are a one bulb for Hi/Low beam setup. So you need a BiXenon HID kit. However when unplugging the headlights the system gets confused, and is looking for a load on the headlights to switch back to low beam. So you have to wire in a resistor to the pass headlight socket, so it switches from Hi to Low like it should. however you only need to do this if you have fog lights. Somehow the fog lights tie into this equation as well. So when the fogs are on it wont switch the HIDs from Hi back to low. Again no idea why it needs to sense a load on the headlight harness for this to work.

So threw in a 50W 8ohm resistor on the pass headlight harness and it works like its supposed to.



Also Ricer mod. Changed out 3 of the halogen dome lights, (2 map and 1 center dome) to LEDs. From Amazon, like $7 shipped for 4. Awaiting a pack of 10 168 style LED bulbs ($8 from Amazon) to switch out the rear cargo area light, the 2 front markers, and the 2 license plate lights.



They look brighter than the regular bulbs, we will see once it gets dark.

Snagged a STI Up Pipe for $30. The Stock XT uppipe is catted, and this is known to disentegrate with age, thus grenading the turbo. The STI uppipe has no cat, and it flows about 75% better, it also should help spool faster. Not really looking forward to this install, exhaust bolts are the suck.