This modification was submitted to me by fellow NASIOC.com member Loren Jacobi. Should you have any questions or concerns, please email and ask.
| Needed Materials And Tools |
| Auto Meter Pro Shift Light ($65) and pill kit ($25) from Jegs.com |
| 12’ of electrical wire |
| Electrical tape |
| Adhesive backed industrial velcro strips, $4 at Walmart or Home Depot |
| 3M Automotive Trim Tape , $5 at Walmart or Home Depot (2” x 4”) |
| Electrical shrink tube (Home Depot) |
| 10mm ratchet |
| Wire cutters/stripper |
| Flat and phillips screwdrivers |
Step 1: Removing Dash and Console
Look here for how to remove the lower dash panel under the steering wheel. It will be the same for the WRX except there are 3 plastic dash clips instead of 2. Now go here to remove the center console bits (this proceedure is remarkably similar for the WRX). You will then need to pull off the trim around the radio- you are looking to tap the convenient switched power and ground wires running to the cigarette lighter.
Step 2: Splicing Into 12V Power
Locate the and unplug the wires going to the back of the cigarette lighter adaptor. It’s kind of hard to get to! Strip and splice (or use vampire clips) a wire to the yellow/white wire (red on the WRX) coming from the cigarette lighter. Use a multimeter to verify the connection- you should have 12 volts or better when referenced to ground (any large unpainted metal spot on the body will do). You may also run a wire in a similar fashion to the black ground wire on the cigarette lighter. Labelling your wires is a good idea, to prevent any confusion.
Step 3: Accessing The ECU
I'm going to send you to yet another page on this site to learn how to gain access to your ECU- just click here and follow the first few steps to learn how.
Step 4, Tapping The RPM Signal
In order to find which wire to tap on the ECU for your RPM signal, you need to go to yet ANOTHER page (aren't you glad I wrote all of these?). Go here and locate the wiring diagram for your ECU. I presently have 1993 and then 1997 through 2002 on this site. I do not have any of the 1994-1996 ECU pinouts I'm afraid. If you consult your local dealership, they should give you the pinouts you need to complete this modification. Strip and splice or vampire clip approximately 4’ of wire to the RPM signal wire. It may be necessary to peel back some of the factory electrical tape. Reinstall the kickplate and carpet, running the new wire up over the area covered by the center console. Tape it solidly in several locations to ensure that it will not get ripped out of the ECU if it gets snagged on something. Label new wire so you don’t get confused.
Step 5, Mounting The Shift Light
The light can be bolted on, but I chose a non-permanent solution. The bracket was removed for a lower profile- this works as long as it can still be seen; it will all depend upon your seating position. I removed the bracket and applied industrial adhesive-backed velcro (Walmart) to the bottom of the light. Clean the dash with alcohol, then apply the corresponding velcro to the dash. I did have problems getting velcro to stick to the dash in the heat, so I ended up using a strip of 3M automotive trim adhesive (Home Depot) to attach the velcro to the dash. If you can think of a better, non-permanent solution, please feel free to email and suggest it. Most double sided tapes are either not strong enough or do not work well in the heat. Now, it is simply a question of connecting ground on the light to the ground wire you ran, power to power, and the tach to the RPM signal you ran from the ECU. After that, reassemble your lower dash and center console. With that, you are finished!
Standard Disclaimer: Modification of your car involves risks and may void your warranty. I can not be held responsible for the modifications you consciously decide to undertake nor for the results of doing so.
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