dash and tail / parking lights (melted plug)

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93wagonship
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dash and tail / parking lights (melted plug)

Post by 93wagonship »

hi guys, I need help!

My dash / tail / parking lights went out.

Investigating, I've discovered a bad contact in a plug that reaches the cabin fuse box.

Then, the dash lights came on, but tail and parking lights only work on the right side of the car (the bulbs are fine).

I took off the plug and it's partially melted (pics bellow).

I believe the reason was due to a cheap DLR system with chinese 18w led bars that was plugged directly into the parking lights wiring (now gone).

Well, how to address this melted plug now? Or, will I ever be able to fix this?

I can't use the car at night as just one side have tail / parking lights, so it's pretty bad. The engine, however, is running superb (EJ22).

So, help, I need to get this fixed. Is it fixable? How?

I know if it was a plug-to-plug connection I could just cut and bypass this melted wire. However, this pkug connects directly with the fuse box (joint box).

Thanks a lot.

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Wagonship: 1993 Legacy BF (High Roof Touring Wagon) EJ22 5-spd manual with low range \o/
cj91legss
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Re: dash and tail / parking lights (melted plug)

Post by cj91legss »

I would replace that plug and about 4-6" of wire following it. How does the fuse box look?
91 L-TW Wagon with a full Swap -RIP
92 SS Prefaced, GD dash swapped, 22T/205 Hybrid 20 psi - BEAST!
93 SS Bone Stock Gone!
94 TW Bone Stock Gone!
91 SS 4EAT Sold!
98 LGT 4EAT
98 LGT Wagon 4EAT
93wagonship
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Re: dash and tail / parking lights (melted plug)

Post by 93wagonship »

Thanks a lot for taking the time to read my post.

Do you have any idea if I could buy this plug new and from where? I believe this is part of the wiring that they sell along with the engine on yards.

About the fuse box, I think it's ok. I have never even had a blow fuse in this car (all 4 spares are still new).
Wagonship: 1993 Legacy BF (High Roof Touring Wagon) EJ22 5-spd manual with low range \o/
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Re: dash and tail / parking lights (melted plug)

Post by mike-tracy »

Your car has been out of production so long, your best bet would be to get a used but intact one.

If you really, really want to get a brand new one, spend some time searching through the posts from the last 5 years. A guy found a source for plugs. I don't remember if he was successful or not. But he searched through the hundred plus discrete plugs on his car (which differ by year), found the part number and manufacturer.
1992 Legacy SS 5mt, build in progress
Josh Colombo wrote: Mon Jan 14, 2002 10:23 am Wait....I'm confused now.
93wagonship
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Re: dash and tail / parking lights (melted plug)

Post by 93wagonship »

thanks mike, your help is also much appreciated.

I understand what you are saying, I'm better of keep searching junkyards :(
Wagonship: 1993 Legacy BF (High Roof Touring Wagon) EJ22 5-spd manual with low range \o/
cj91legss
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Re: dash and tail / parking lights (melted plug)

Post by cj91legss »

I can cut one out of a harness for you.
91 L-TW Wagon with a full Swap -RIP
92 SS Prefaced, GD dash swapped, 22T/205 Hybrid 20 psi - BEAST!
93 SS Bone Stock Gone!
94 TW Bone Stock Gone!
91 SS 4EAT Sold!
98 LGT 4EAT
98 LGT Wagon 4EAT
93wagonship
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Re: dash and tail / parking lights (melted plug)

Post by 93wagonship »

Hi cj91legss, I'd be very interested on that. I'm in south Brazil where a 1993 Legacy is almost an alien artifact. I have a US address though. Please PM me if you can get this plug you certainly have a deal!

Thanks much!
Wagonship: 1993 Legacy BF (High Roof Touring Wagon) EJ22 5-spd manual with low range \o/
Legacy777
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Re: dash and tail / parking lights (melted plug)

Post by Legacy777 »

I had thought there was a post where someone found a place to get connectors, but I agree if you get a used one from a member here in the states that'd probably be the easiest/cheapest route.

I'll do a little searching to see if I can find that thread I was thinking of.
Josh

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1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT

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93wagonship
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Re: dash and tail / parking lights (melted plug)

Post by 93wagonship »

Thanks Josh. I'm still in need of the plug to fix my tail lights. If anyone reading this could get me a used one, please PM.

cheers
Wagonship: 1993 Legacy BF (High Roof Touring Wagon) EJ22 5-spd manual with low range \o/
Legacy777
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Re: dash and tail / parking lights (melted plug)

Post by Legacy777 »

I'm still not sure if this is thread I'm looking for, but it may give you some additional reading material and part numbers to search online.

https://www.bbs.legacycentral.org/viewt ... 19&t=42652
Josh

surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT

If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
93wagonship
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Re: dash and tail / parking lights (melted plug)

Post by 93wagonship »

great stuff Josh. I see Bosch make the repairs and it's searchable online. But still not sure what to buy...

I went to the car now to take some pics (see bellow).


this one I've found this online just to show where the plug connects (red ellipse):
Image


luckily the fuse box / plate / receiver seems not affected at all

cheers

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Wagonship: 1993 Legacy BF (High Roof Touring Wagon) EJ22 5-spd manual with low range \o/
Legacy777
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Re: dash and tail / parking lights (melted plug)

Post by Legacy777 »

I guess a question I have for you, have you checked the burnt wire? Is the insulation still good and have good conductivity? If the only issue is that the electrical connector got a little crispy, you may be alright just plugging the connector back in and using it as is.
Josh

surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT

If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
93wagonship
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Re: dash and tail / parking lights (melted plug)

Post by 93wagonship »

Hi Josh to Be honest the n00b here don't even know what is check insultation. I've been searching and I guess do something like this https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2m2KDoU2erU or If I also need some kind of re-pinning, but just for this bad apple and leave the others alone?
Thanks mate
Wagonship: 1993 Legacy BF (High Roof Touring Wagon) EJ22 5-spd manual with low range \o/
Legacy777
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Re: dash and tail / parking lights (melted plug)

Post by Legacy777 »

The first step would be to check continuity of the wire from the plug to wherever it's going. You need a multimeter for this. The reading should be around 0 ohms. When I say to check the wire insulation, I mean just look at it and make sure it's not falling off and still ok. If it's burn and brittle and cracking you either need to replace that section of wire or maybe peel back the bad insulation and wrap the wiring in electrical tape.
Josh

surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT

If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
93wagonship
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Re: dash and tail / parking lights (melted plug)

Post by 93wagonship »

Hi guys,

I've took the car to a professional shop. He said the wire is Ok and it's working. that melted plug should have been there for a long time, probably due to ex-owner excessive boat towing (trailer lights were not led back them).

He said there was a blow fuse that I've missed. He replaced and it and now left side parking and tail lights are working again. For the plug, he said just leave it. This fuse box is constant connected to the battery (the wires have energy even with keys off) and if it wasn't working the car would not even start (as it does not without the plug connected). So if I have a problem in the future, I already know where to begin looking.

Well, summarizing this topic, I'm an idiot who didn't see o blow fuse (have checked twice). This fuse was the first to ever blow in 24 years probably due to cheap DLR plugged directly into the parking lights harness without the use of a relay. The highway patrol stooped me to complain about the blue light and in order to keep going I had to disable those lights. So I cut the wires and kept driving. Most probably one of those wires touched the body frame and a fuse blows.

Thanks heaps for the help ans for reading this. Have a nice week everyone :)

cheers. Thiago
Wagonship: 1993 Legacy BF (High Roof Touring Wagon) EJ22 5-spd manual with low range \o/
Legacy777
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Re: dash and tail / parking lights (melted plug)

Post by Legacy777 »

Glad to hear you got it all sorted out :)
Josh

surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT

If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
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