looking for wire diagram for an 05 STi cluster
 

With CA's new law requiring you to have the headlights on when using windshield wipers, I want to re-wire the dimmer circuit on my stereo. I have an aftermarked head unit and when it is in dim mode it is impossible to see the display in the daylight.

When I turn the lights on in the daylight, I always turn the cluster lighting to max and would like to use that signal to trip a relay breaking the connection to the dimmer input on the stereo.

My hope is that Subaru used individual wires for each of the five illumination stages, much in the same way that they did for the headlight leveling positions. I am not trying to get the stereo to dim, just toggle between full bright and dim based on the brightness of the dash cluster.

The dimmer for the older cars was a simple potentiometer on the grounding circuit for the dash lights. My guess is that it's the same for the newer cars, and that variable ground is simply an input to the Defi-made instrument gauges, meaning there are no individual inputs that you can use in the manner you described.

The tech page has the wiring diagrams for the '04 STI cluster, however I know for a fact there were changes made to the pins between '04 and '05. So you can at least look at the '04 to see how that works, and perhaps some minor investigation w/ a meter will tell you if the '05 is similar with regards to the dimmer circuit.

However, what I'd suggest is replicating the way the SVX does it. The SVX has a variable ground dimmer same as the Impreza that is activated when the lights are switched on. However, there is an override button on the turn-signal stock that allows the driver to manually cancel the dimmer *for everything*. That means I can turn on my lights in the day, then hit the cancel button and see my stereo, clock, A/C temp, gear indicator, etc.

If you were to install a switch in line with the variable resistor in the turn signal stock, you could flip the switch to manually ground the circuit around the dial, thereby cancelling the dimmer entirely and for not just the stereo, but for the clock and gauge cluster, etc. IMO, that's the best solution because it means the lights are on outside but the interior lighting is still in day-time mode.

Let me know if I'm not making sense and I'll draw up a diagram.

I figured as much.

Installing another switch will be a last resort. I went that rout on my Mustang and I feel like a pilot waiting to be cleared by the tower every time I drive it. I am trying to go the minimalist rout on this car :D

I think I would just cut the dimmer input to the stereo and manually dim it when I need to before installing a switch. The stereo (Alpine) allows me to manually dim the display but I can not manually override the dimmer.

The way I look at it, if you have to turn the dimmer knob every time you use the headlights in the day, it should actually be easier to hit an override button to cancel the dimmer alltogether, wouldn't it? Then when you un-cancel the dimmer, your dimmer settings are left unchanged.

If you're really slick, you could wire a momentary switch to a latching relay. That way when you turn the lights on, the dimmer is active. Hitting the cancel button cancels the dimmer effect, hitting it again toggles it back. But the next time you turn on the lights, regardless of the state of the dimmer, it's is back to normal. That would make the operation identical to the SVX's dimmer cancel button, which I've found seems to work pretty good.

If you want to really go the stealth route... go to radio shack and pick up a light sensor and some relays. I'd have to think about it a bit, but I think you should be able to work out an auto cancel setup w/o having to go to a digital circuit. I just don't know what happens if you're driving around at night... would the street lights constantly toggle your dimmer on and off? :lol:

I'm in the same boat. I got a DEI kit intended to automaticly turn on your headlights using a photocell. I'm going to use it to turn on the parking light input on the my stereo and nav unit instead. The Nav switches colors at night to reduce the glare. Earth is tan during the day and black at night.

The whole drilling more holes in the car thing is what bothers me. If there was a way to use an existing input (like the rear defroster as a map switch on the 02-03 ECUTEC reflash) I would be more willing.
That could work. I would want to hide the switch though (perhaps under the shift boot) so that I knew where it was and could hit it by feel instead of having a hole in the dash somewhere. I did this on my Mustang when it was supercharged and chip tuned. There was a hidden valet switch on a bracket that mounted to the seal where the shift lever came through the trans tunnel that limited the RPMs to 3000 when armed. That is a good idea!
I think I can make that work, if I can find my old box of left over parts from my car stereo install days. I have some timed relays that I could use to prevent the flashing dash syndrome from street lights. I used one on my water spray setup on the 02 that kept the pump on for 3 seconds each time the circuit fired. I could up the time limit on keeping the relay open or closed to 30 seconds that would reset at each street light. I may be screwed if I get stuck at a traffic signal under a street light, but other than that it would probably work.

Of course if I could tap in to a signal wire from the combo switch to the dash cluster it would be even easier...

Any more info and a price on that kit would be appreciated. That sounds like someone already did all the R&D for what I would like to do...

DEI 545T (NITE-LITE)
you might find it a little cheaper if you dig.

The super trick setup would be to use the NITE-LITE with the OEM photocell on the dash. Not sure if they are compatable though.

I'd hate to draw current from that in two locations and screw up the A/C auto control. As it is in my SVX, I don't think the A/C is sensative enough to direct sunlight... reducing the sunlight response would suck even more... 'course I don't have auto A/C in my Impreza, so I don't know if it's better there or not.

You know... When I left Incline on Sunday I noticed something. The sun was cooking me more than it normally does. Is that an altitude thing?

The auto climate stuff in the 05 is already flawed. It references the outside air and overcorrects for it. Cold days puts out too much heat. Hot days puts out too much cold. I'd sure like to get in there and toy with the PI loops.

/slight thread direction change

Thanks Dan,

I will have to check that out. Hopefully it works outside of the alarm system and not only as an extra to the alarm. I will probably try to build my own first since I have everything but the photocell already, but that looks like a good backup plan...

Aren't there a couple stock switch locations on the left that could have OE switches popped in? Maybe not on the STI.

You could also rig something off the high beams I would think A relay so that the stereo wouldn't get the feed unless the highs had been on at some point. So a quick flash at night would turn on the relay to feed the head unit until you shut the lights completely off.

The STi has a headlight levelling switch and intercooler spray switch there, but I think there is at least one spare position.

Because the cruise control and fog light switches are missing on the STi (compared to the bugeye WRX), and because there's an added water spray switch, there should be two of the 3 large sized blanks available.

Correct, there are 2 blanks left. One will eventually be for fog lights and the other is a garage door opener that I no longer use because I bought the homelink mirror. I could use the existing button (big red ricey ugly thing) that used to be for a zerosports push button start in the 02 and use it to trip a latching relay. That is a good idea Dean, and I feel like a total dumbass for not thinking of it myself...

No problem. i like the idea of tying it to the high beams since it means no switches at all...

If you like the switch idea, you could relabel a stock cruise control switch instead of anything big and ricey. Stock switches can't be more than 5 bucks at a wrecker.

These guys have a prepackaged deal that ties into an accessory (usually the highbeams). Flash the highbeams to turn something else on or they have a momentary on model for garage door type apps.

http://www.autoswitch.com/