2004 XS Premium questions

You just purchased one? Read your owners manual.

I concur in the recommendation that you should find your answers in the owner's manual--except for how to disable the lights. There is no mechanism for that; you have to cut wires or disconnect stuff.

But in the interest of safety, please note that the "automatic headlights" are called "daytime running lights (DRLs)." As the name suggests, their job is to help other people see you during the daytime. They run dimmer than normal, and they don't turn on the taillights. They are NOT a substitute for headlights at night, or during heavy rain when helping other people to see you from behind is also very important. If you start up at night and think that your headlights are on but your panel lights are off, it means you forgot to turn on the headlights and you're just using the DRLs. Bad move.

There are differences of opinion here as to the utility of DRLs, but I would caution you that if your insurance company is giving you a discount for having them and you disable them, you might be left holding the bag in the event of an accident.

Curt wrote:

I have a '96 and since the lights are on the ignition circuit, I just leave them turned on all the time. (not brights of course!)

The answer to all of these questions can be found in your owner's manual and on your window sticker.

Sorry for disturbing a few of you. I realize I am deserving of a little abuse here for not finding these things in the manual. I'll accept that. However, I have read it and was still a bit confused. In addition, there are often features that are present but don't appear where one thinks they should. Having not been a Subaru owner before I was not sure what to expect.

That said, let me mention why I ask. First, the dealer told me I have a kill switch but I saw no evidence of one. Furthermore, it is not clear to me whether the "optional security system" includes that feature.

Next, regarding the lights, I am an amateur astronomer and need to be able to kill all my lights so when I leave a group activity I don't blast out the dark adapted eyes of my colleagues. In my last car this meant pulling a fuse. I was hoping that there was a full off option. I'll look up the fuse situation in the manual. I certainly have no problem with daytime running lights and I don't want to inactivate them and have turned on the lights during the day in previous vehicles.

The last point was more an exclamation of surprise than a question. The front of the cab is where light is most often needed so it is surprising to have no front lights that can be set to automatic function.

Despite all that I am loving the vehicle. Fun drive, many nice and well-thought-out features.

Curt

There's no motion sensor, and the antitheft system normally doesn't come with the vehicle. However, if you ask for it or purchase it, it is a simple plug in.

Yes they are on, however dimmer than when it's fully on (headlight switch to on position). When it's dimmer, the light filament is in series with a high wattage resistor. I would much rather have it on the highbeam filament, but that would disable the flash-to-pass function

It's more of whether you want all your lights on or just the fronts. Of course it's going to be the default for daytime and all the lights on for nightime.

Yes. The resistor that runs in series with the lamps are located on the passenger side strut tower in the engine compartment. You just need to unplug it.

Don't know. You could just rewire it.

I finally found an installation guide on the net. Apparently there is a motion detector, light motion causes two beeps and headlight flashes, heavy causes full alarm. It also includes a kill switch.

See, this is what I mean about information not being in the handbook. :-(

Thanks for that information. I'll take a look.

The optional security system has a motion detector. We have on on our '04 OBW and have never set it off, it's not overly sensitive. We have had it set of by someone reaching into an open window when the alarm was set. I'm not sure quite what they did, my neighbor saw them reach in and get scared off by the alarm.

If you pull the handbrake on one click (or don't fully release it), it will kill the DRL (daytime running lights) and shouldn't provide any braking action. We do that for boarding ferries here in Seattle all the time.

We have footlights in the doors that come on.

Steve

-- remove "SPAM_TRAP_" to reply directly

Assuming you bought a Forester XS with the premium package, here are some answers:

The security system is a plug-in chip option. The standard keyfob only works as a keyless entry system/panic alarm.

DRLs can be disabled by unplugging the resistor box marked HOT! on the passenger-side strut tower, down near the bottom. Go to

On the cars without sunroof, the ceiling light is placed further forward to illuminate front and back. Too bad Subaru didn't see fit to turn on the maplights for entry lighting too. There may be a modification for that someday.

Cheers,

Tim

Curt wrote:

Thanks for the input. I have now been to scoobymods.com. Great site.

One suggestion made to me off the group was to just pull up the parking brake one click to temporarily disable the DRLs. That one works for me since I only need to go a few hundred yards before I turn on the lights (just far enough to get away from the other telescopes when I am out looking at stars) and I will be moving at very slow speeds. But I did look at the pictures there for the permanent disable. I will definitely keep that in mind.

Another thing I learned there is how to change the sensitivity of the Hillholder, something my service manager told me couldn't be done. It was very easy and I now have it just the way I want it!

Someone has done a LED mod for a front light and a glovebox light as well. Great information there.

Thanks again,

Curt

Curt

Your are assuming as to an alarm system that a genuine Subaru system was put in. On the windows, does it say genuine Subaru security system?

Aftermarket jobbies sometimes control cabin lights as well. They will have different mechanism of placing the alarm in valet mode and shutting it off in an emergency.

Cabin light has 3 settings, Off/On and Door.

SOA I am sure would like to know if the car is not being thoroughly explained at time of delivery.

SOA maintains a website

Another rogue site

Thanks for the input. My browser says 4ester.net is "coming soon". Am I missing something?

Curt