side markers installation

[gil_ong81]

who here has done it?

I'm looking to get mine installed this weekend if the weather cooperates, but have no idea where to start. i don't even know if there's a right or wrong way to remove the triangular trim pieces that are on now.

and then there's the whole deal with if there's a correct set of wires to splice into and how to run them wires.

not looking for a handout, but rather at "best practices".

[shazapple]

The triangle pieces just slide forward, or backward (I forget)

How many wires are on the back of your sidemarkers?

[Plays_with_Toys]

I remember reading it was almost plug and play. The side things slip off and the hole is there for the wiring and everything. I don't know if you have to splice or not.

[Legacy4Life]

You didn't mention what year you were installing it on, but I've installed them on my 97 Wagon and it's pretty easy.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c397/michael_thomson/MLNA0009.jpg

You can pry the plastic piece off if you want, since you won't be needing it any more, but I found it easier to partially remove the wheel well cover inside the fender. All you have to do is remove a few bolts and "un-tuck" it from around the lip of the fender. This gives you clear access to where you want to put your side marker.

Then you'll see that the plastic trim is held in by a clip piece that spreads in the hole. If you press one side or the other in behind the fender it will pop out easily. It's held in similar fashion to the new side marker you got. And the hole is the perfect size for the new side marker too, no extra cutting needed.

The Legacy doesn't have any provision in the wiring harness for the side markers like the Impreza's do. But you can just splice into either the parking lights (if you want it on all the time) or the appropriate turn signal. Then it will flash at the same time as regular turn signals.

I ran my wires inside the fender behind the wheel well cover. Just leave enough slack so you can remove the side marker later if you need to.

Also, make sure you clean the painted metal surface before put the side marker on and touch up any scratches or nicks you make (if you make any) before snapping the new piece in place!

[dropdfocus]

Looks like that will make two of us Gil! :twisted: I'll post pics of mine Saturday or Sunday. I haven't decided if I want it as a running light that blinks or strickly a turn signal indicator...

[Legacy4Life]

Just in case I was misunderstood, there's no way to make it a "running light that blinks" without putting in some extra logic. The parking lights don't blink with the turn signals, and you can't tie the two together.

It's not hard to do, in fact I have bought all the hardware to do it, just haven't had the time. It's nothing more than making a three-way switch out of relays! Perhaps soon! :wink:

[Huffer]

Factory, they're strictly indicator lights.

[dropdfocus]

Yeah, that I was aware of. I was possibly going to wire them up as running lights that would blink opposite the corner markers (using all 5 pins on a standard relay).

[gil_ong81]

i defintely want them to blink with the (not exactly in synch) with the indicators, but it'd be wicked cool if i coudl have them on if not blinking.