Hi to all. New to this site here, got a referral from another wonderful site that I frequent very much......THESAMBA.com.......which deals with old air cooled VW's.

 

I have a 2005 Subaru Forester. I need to be able to disable the daytime driving/running lights. They come on when I let the brake handle all the way down. It appears as if there might be a small mechanical switch somewhere under the parking brake handle. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

Ok, after I posted this, I did a search, which is what I should have done to begin with. I noticed all the fighting about the pros and cons of DRL's. I agree that it is a wonderful safety feature, something I used to do 30 years ago before it was suggested.

 

My reason for wanting to disable mine are because this vehicle is used for law enforcement purposes, like trying to catch the bad guys who are trying to break into your house, or car, or assault or rape your sister or wife. Its kind of difficult to hide when your lights are on all the time.

 

Thanks again for anyone's input.

On passenger strut column under the hood is the dropping resistor. Just unplug it to disable DRL's on the Forester.

Where do you get the DRL's disabled for your other Law Enforcement vehicles? I know GM in particular has been using DRL in the USA since '97 or so. Or are they delivered to you with the DRL disabled/disable-able?

In any case, I think a toggle can be set up to tie the e-brake indicator light low, which should do what you need.

Or what ferret said.

Or, pull the e-brake one notch, it will shut off the lights, but not engage the brake.

 

It may be cheating, but it's KISS cheating.

Or, pull the e-brake one notch, it will shut off the lights, but not engage the brake.

That's exactly what I do on my '00obw, works easily and, at least with mine's e-brake adjustment, is nowhere near enough to engage the e-brake. Although IFIRC it does make the 'brake' light illuminate.

 

I use this method to avoid lighting up the neighbors house (my parents) with my headlights when pulling in the driveway at night.

Thanks for all your input. I will try to find the connector under the hood on the left strut.

 

Yes, a switch would be the best thing, but there is just not much room in this car for switches.

 

We have used mostly Ford products over the years, and didn't have to worry about DRL's. Believe it or not, on our Chevys that we do have, there is a dash button labeled "surveil", that disables the DRL's.

 

Again, thanks for all your input.

Why don't you put a toggle switch next to the resistor in the engine bay?

Easisest is a switch at the parking break light switch. you can put the switch in the console. No running nasty wires through the firewall.

 

nipper

I sure wish it were that easy on the 2007 Outback.

Seems like this issue is on every Soobie forum. I am not a fan of DRL's and really do not see them as a safety feature.

They do add to the maintenance of the vehicle, having to replace them more often.

I really don't have a lot of trouble seeing on coming cars with or without lights on.

It is not federally mandated yet.

 

My two cents.

There is a way to do it, you have to un-plugging a connector under the steering wheel in US spec Legacy's

Edited February 1, 201511 yr by shortlid