Update: I sold this car to a friend in 2006. Someday, I'll have another...
Currently, there are a few things about the WRX that bother me. The main thing is dim headlights. Since the stock lights use 9007 bulbs, it's not safe to add higher-wattage bulbs. At least, according to Daniel Stern Lighting it's not, and I am inclined to believe him.
The options appear to be Morette, some form of HID conversion for the stock housing, like McCulloch, or a $ubaru $Ti or Prodrive housing from Europe, either HID or regular projector (H4 bulbs, I think) -- Japan is right-hand drive, so that's no good. There is a version of the UK300 lights made, runs about $700 from places like this, although you have to be careful to get the Prodrive-branded one, and not the knock-off brand.
To redo the fog light wiring so the lights operate independently of the other lights is apparently not hard. But getting the indicator light on the fog light switch to stay on is apparently trickier, given the number of people who have yet to get it right.
In the ultra-cheap-and-possibly-somewhat-useful department, Philips "hi-visibility" lights are apparently better than Sylvania Silver Star bulbs, and are half the price. Most car-parts stores carry them, it sounds like.
problems wiring morette lights
Jim Hoyd sells plug-n-play wiring harnesses for Morette, UK300, etc. lights.
improving the grounding of stock lights generally improves light output. we'll find out at some point, i guess.
Prodrive headlight installation with many good pictures
rewiring so the fogs come on with the high beams (good general information too)
foglight rewiring (read the whole thread...)
Rallylights.com (aka Susquehanna Motorsports) has lots of nifty lighting stuff.
I agreee that the factory stereo, for one thing, isn't all that an aftermarket system could be. However, I think it sounds pretty good, and I bet that tuning the factory subwoofer/amp (there's a picture halfway down the thread) will help a whole ton.
Here's how to install the seat heaters from leatherseats.com with a relay, as they should be. Daniel Stern suggests 14ga as a minimum for lighting circuits, so that should be fine for the heaters, too. Alternate install (tap the cigarette lighter) is here (PDF).
Disabling the clutch interlock might be useful at some point...
improve engine-compartment grounding in general: I think the ground wires should be heavier, but hey...
There are several around home. We bought our car at Valley Subaru in Longmont. Loveland has King Subaru. Fort Collins has Dellenbach Subaru. And just in case, Greeley has Ehrlich Subaru.
Near the office, there's Mike Shaw on 104th and I-25. Aside from Flatirons Subaru (who never return phone calls or emails), Mike Shaw is the only choice near work.
If it doesn't fit elsewhere, it's here. If you see a theme to some of this junk that I don't, let me know and I'll add a category.
An intercooler screen for $10 is definitely a good idea.
So is a Fumoto oil-drain valve. Order from fumotovalve.com, or look stuff up at fumotousa.com.
Fastline Motorsports apparently makes good mudflaps, and their hood scoop screens look good, too.
SubaruParts.com has the most amazing search tool with exploded-parts diagrams of every part of an Impreza. Very nice! Their prices seem good, too. Irvine Subaru is behind the site. Check their reputation...
Speaking of parts, this thread has lots of part numbers in it. Some may be UK or Japanese numbers, not sure yet...
SPD Tuning is a great information source, and he sells interesting performance stuff.
SPI Motorsports is another good parts source, apparently.
Here's how to convert MPa to Bar to PSI, etc.
This is what the Subaru logo should look like. *grin* (image mirrored here in case he changes his site)
Last updated Wednesday, 10-Sep-2008 22:01:54 MDT
