What I have is a 96 legacy l sedan, I got it cheap and did a timing belt but while I was working under the hood I noticed the headlight wires had been cut just before the bulbs on both sides, no problem just get the meter out and repair the wires. Well the results have me baffled. wires on the left side are Yellow/blue, red/blue and red, and the power test results low beam Y=Ground, R/Bl= 12v, R=12v, High beams on Y=G, R/Bl=12v, R=0v and the right side has Yellow/Blue, black/yellow and red, Right side power test low beam Y=G, R=12v

B/Y=12v on high beam Y=G, R=0v and B/Y=0v.

I don't see any butched wires but why would I have two live wires on low beam and one or none on high beam? dimmer switch? any Ideas

parking lights, turn signals work high beam indicator on the dash works and the 4 way flashers do not work

Subaru switches the ground circuits for the headlights.

The headlights are powered through separate fuses and relays when key ON. one fuse and relay for each side. The ground paths of each filament are tied together, and then grounded via the dimmer switch. The dimmer switch changes which filament gets the ground path. The headlamp switch grounds the headlamp relays. Multi-meter readings can appear strange if you are used to switched power circuits.

 

Left side:

R/B = 12V from fuse 24

Y = low filament ground

R = high filament ground

Right side

B/Y = 12V from fuse 26

Y = low filament ground

R = high filament ground

On these it's best to just check continuity on the ground sides rather than voltage.

 

Are the wires are just hanging, and the original headlight plugs gone? If the originals are there just match up the wire colors. If not, junkyard. I can post the wire diagram if you'd like.

 

Hazards and turn signals use the same flasher relay. It could be bad but if the turn signals work then probably not. Could be a bad switch or blown fuse.

a wiring diagram would be great, the wires to the headlight are marked on the plug as high, low and ground but all the wires are black. I'm not sure if its the factory plug, was planing to replace the whole headlight assembly both are damage.

thanks Greg

Yeah the factory plugs wire colors on the plug match the harness.

 

Someone probably replaced them because they corroded or melted because of high resistance/poor connection. Happens fairly often on these.

 

Wire diagram for the headlights without DRLs.