Few Questions for a n00b

[blondy]

Hiya Guys,

I have a few questions, some...or all may appear stupid to ask...but seeing this is my first modern
car and subaru i thought it best to seek before i go doing something stupid and damage anything.

All questions are in relation to my 2005 Outback 2.5 non turbo, So here it goes;

1) I know this one is in the wrong thread, but was easier to add to this post...It's called a symmetrical AWD and has Hi and Low range. I have searched and searched the manual
and it does not tell you the correct way to use this system. I have driven 4X4's where you have to
lock in the front wheels, be at a stand still and select the correct gear then off you go. But what
is the correct way i should do it with my outback? Is it best to be stationary when changing from
Hi to Low? Or is it safe to change while on the go, and if so, what speeds is it capable to do so?

2) A friend made me aware that some forester's and outbacks in my year and onwards came with a cigarette
lighter in the cargo area/boot and i think i have found the spot that it goes. Is this true and if so,
would the wiring be there if i wanted to put one in? Or would i have to run a new wire from the battery?
which isn't hard, but no point doing it if i don't have too.

3) Switches, i want to add some for some accessories i'm looking at putting in my car. I've noticed there are some
spots for them, i got the blanking plate out. But it seems to be one big solid piece and already has some
wires plugged into the back of it as shown in the images below.

The other one in the centre console area appears to be in there solid, so if i want to use that one,
i'll probably have to do some cutting?

Otherwise, Anyone have any idea's or suggestions on succesful spots they have run switches to? I had the idea
of putting them in the sunglasses holder that's in the roof, but that probably will be alot of work/hassle to try
and run cables up there and ground them for the switches. Else i'll just have to cut my own holes in the current
plastic somewhere? Which i was trying to avoid for the day i want to upgrade and take out some of the components
i put in, don't want to leave ugly holes around the place.

4) Cable Running, any helpful hints are greatly appreciated. I haven't had the time to remove the plastic from under
the Dash yet to find out where the current wires come in.

I think that's the main ones for now, thanks for your help and time to read.

 

[Kevin]

blondy

Not sure re max speed for hi/lo range as both my Subies (Outback now Forester) have been auto.

Cig lighters are common in the rear quarter panel. Subaru usually run the wiring for everything so it's probably there already.

Some folks run cables through the sills - just lift the trim. I've had sucess in the Forester running up the A pillar and along inside the roof. You need to remove the A pillar trim and loosen the rear quarter panel trim to get a snake through.

 

[blondy]

Cheers for that Kevin

Any one else feel like adding their few cents? the more info the better...i'll try to return the favour one day...once i get some knowledge under my belt...or if i stumble across a topic that i know a bit more about...?

 

[simxs]

Hi/Low range: No problem changing on the fly. Just dip the clutch as you do for normal gear changes. The only speed restriction is to not downshift at too high a speed as to over-rev the engine (again, the same as applies with your main gearbox).

Power socket: It might be worth doing your own wiring for this anyway. Use thicker wire and reduce your voltage drop. You can also have power without the key in (the standard sockets are only active on 'ACC' or 'ON'). See: https://offroadsubarus.com/showpost.php?p=9778&postcount=11

Switches: Those blanking plates under your electric mirror switches can pop out and be replaced when you sell the car - shouldn't be too expensive...just a thought.

Wiring: I ran mine along the sills. Very easy to do in the Forester at least. Pulling out the cargo bay side panel was a bit messier however.

 

[Barry]

HI blondy,

I have the same model as you. Like you my first 'modern' car.

If you look in the manual you will see that those blank plugs are for rear fog and something else (forget which) on the northern hemisphere spec. (INCORRECT - see post #6, below)

I am looking at hooking up a rear fog - to reply to Excell drivers!

I intend getting a second blanking plate to modify (so can reinstall the orig if I ever sell).

Feel free to PM me with any queries on our cars, although I'm something of a nOOb myself!

 

[Barry]

Blank switches below mirror controls etc.

Found what controls go here:
Inboard - windscreen wiper de-icer 'on' button
(Owners Manual p. 3-38)
Outboard - Vehicle Dynamics Control 'off' switch.
(Manual p. 7-34)

Rear fog light would be on the light stalk (contrary to my earlier post).
N.B. It appears that there is only a rear fog light on the Liberty, not the wagons - Outback or Liberty. No idea why!
see: Manual 11-55 & 11-56.

I am investigating setting up RHS reversing light as a fog light. Just need to fit and wire a RED 12V - 21W globe. (globe 14 on p. 11-56)
(This is the same as a brake light globe for use with a clear rear lens.)

Regarding the 'blank' behind the handbrake lever on the centre console, I have NO IDEA what this is for - can't find any reference to it in the manual. [Hadn't even noticed it til I saw your pic, then checked my car to check it was there! :ebiggrin:]

 

[Barry]

Using Low Range, off-road driving, etc.

See Manual p. 7-13

Also: 8-5 & 8-6 Driving AWD vehicle
8-7 Off road driving (for Outback models only) through to about 8-17

Not much, but a start.

 

[blondy]

wow...someone's been busy reading the manual...lol

great info, will try to get around to checkin it out this weekend...along with installing my new horn hopefully.

Cheers

 

[Barry]

wow...someone's been busy reading the manual...lol

great info, will try to get around to checkin it out this weekend...along with installing my new horn hopefully.

Cheers

I have a bro.-in-law who once worked in an I.T. 'help desk' for a large computer software firm.

In his experiance "RTFM" would solve most of what he dealt with. (Though in my experience computer manuals are even more brain deadening than car manuals!)

 

[blondy]

Manuals....who needs them...unless you stuff something up...then you read the manual...hehe

Yea i'm in IT and not a fan of reading the big manuals...tend to follow my nose as much as i can first...

Only problem with the manual...is it tells you what is meant to go there...but i want to put something of my own there.

If you have a gander at the pics above, the 3 areas that the factory extra's controls go into, are all joined as one plate, and plugged into the back of it is wires that i don't know what they go with? I could probably buy another one of those plates and hack it up to put the switches i want in that place...but then i'll have to find a switch aswell that will fit the spot. Starting to look like i may have to either do my own hack job, or try to find somewhere else to mount my own switch box for the switches/accessories i want to add to my car...

In relation to hi-low changing...haven't been game yet to try changing it while on the fly...don't want to risk the big grind if it doesn't slip through...through experience of other 4x4 you have to be stationary...but the outback is a lot more modern and a different type of 4x4 than the Patrol my parents have...

 

[El_Freddo]

In relation to hi-low changing...haven't been game yet to try changing it while on the fly...don't want to risk the big grind if it doesn't slip through...through experience of other 4x4 you have to be stationary...but the outback is a lot more modern and a different type of 4x4 than the Patrol my parents have...

As you may have already noticed, subarus are a lot different to most 4wd's. The reason why you can change from high to low or vise versa on the fly is that subaru's "transfer case" and gears are syncromeshed, so no huge grinding like you'd get from a traditional 4wd.

I say "transfer case" like that because we don't really have a transfer case that can be removed from the back of the gearbox like a traditional 4wd. Really what we have got is a step down gear between the motor and the gearbox, conviently fitted above the front diff between the bell-housing and the gearsets.

If you want a real low range, best thing you can do is split your box and swap your low range for that of an L series. Your subi has a low of 1.19:1 where as the L series has 1.59:1 - I can tell you it makes a huge difference offroad! If you have a 4.11 or larger diff ratio the crown wheel will need some meat removed to fit the L's low range gears, non of the mating surface is removed from what I've been told. I hope to be doing this in the next year so I'll let you know how it goes...

As for the switches and the little panel, if you really want it you'll work something out so someone later can do it easier than you did :biggrin: - if you write about it...

Cheers

Bennie

 

[blondy]

As for the switches and the little panel, if you really want it you'll work something out so someone later can do it easier than you did :biggrin: - if you write about it...

Cheers...but i wanted to be that person...O-well...hehe

Just need to find some time to get back to this project...have been too busy, the horn is in and mounted, just need to practise my welding abit more and then finish off the frame i'm going to bolt into the engine bay to mount another 6 piece fuse box and a relay, then the fun of wiring and finding the first switch location starts...

Ta

 

[blondy]

Right...been a while, but i'll just add an update to the info i have found/progress i've made.

In relation to the hi-low dual range, i have found out since then after asking some others that you can change while on the move so long as you put the clutch in like changing gears normally... I have tested without any grinding happening...something silly but like me, i wasn't game to try and potentially damage anything before i tried it myself...specially when the car was so new...to me at least.

The cigarette lighter...haven't really looked into that one, other things have taken preference. But with that one i think i will run a new fused power cable from the battery right through to the back so it is always "Hot." Have found out that the factory wiring if it is there, is quite light and may not be up to the work load...

Switches...still pondering about what i'm going to do, i've already installed one, but it's a hidden switch for my ahooga horn. Since over my way you can legally have them hooked up, you just can't use them when the car is on.

Went to a subaru parts guy to get another plastic insert section i've got shown in the images in the first post. But they wanted to dock me $25 for a little piece of plastic i was planning on hacking up, so going to continue to look for another option or try and fabricate something up in that spot myself...or at least attempt to.