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DIY : Illuminated Power Window Switches

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35K views 37 replies 20 participants last post by  Rittmeister  
#1 ·
DIY : Illuminated Power Window Switches

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Disclaimer: As always modifications or upgrades to your XV are at your own risk of damage or injury.

*Disconnect your battery before working on any electrical components. It only takes a few seconds of your time and it can save a lot of headaches!

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Post Contents:
Post 1 : My illuminated power window switches
Post 2 : Switches / Part numbers
Post 3 : Installation / Toggle mechanism swap
Post 4 : Conclusion

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My illuminated power window switches

Here I go again with another mod :) The WRX STI cars have illuminated power window switches and the XV doesn't have any passenger window lights illuminated. :(
I found a way to get illuminated switches and this write up will describe how to do it!

Subaru Forester forum member Nomad06 used the switches from a WRX STI on his 2014 Forester. Window switch compatibility
His mod convinced me that this would also work on the XV. So I searched ebay and purchased a set of WRX STI power window switches.


Below are the pictures of my 2015 XV Limited with illuminated power window switches!
 
#2 · (Edited)
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Post Contents:
Post 1 : My illuminated power window switches
Post 2 : Switches / Part numbers
Post 3 : Installation / Toggle mechanism swap
Post 4 : Conclusion

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Switches / Part numbers

As I said in my first post I purchased my illuminated WRX STI power window switches on ebay. This is by far the cheapest way to get them! New switches are not cheap!


Power Window Main Switch

Part Number : 83071VA200

(ebay used from a 2016 Subaru STI)




Front & Rear passenger sub switches

Part Number : 83071VA300

(ebay used from the same 2016 STI)
< toggle mechanisms


The main switch and the three sub switches will run well over $300 new. I purchased my switches as a set for $99.98 ($100.00). If you break it down I got six LED switch lights for $16.67 a piece. Not too bad if you look at it like that. Like I’ve heard before – you need to pay to play!
 
#3 · (Edited)
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Post Contents:
Post 1 : My illuminated power window switches
Post 2 : Switches / Part numbers
Post 3 : Installation / Toggle mechanism swap
Post 4 : Conclusion

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Installation / Toggle mechanism swap

The installation requires the removal of the door cards. This video should help – Door Card Removal



Front Switches

The driver main switch and the front passenger sub switch are a direct swap with the new switches. The plastic locking clips that hold the switches in place can be a little frustrating to release. Use a small flat head screwdriver and make sure your careful not to damage any of the clips.

Tip: I slid zip ties in between the switch and the mount to help in the removal. Take your time and be careful.




Rear Switches

The rear door switches require a toggle mechanism swap since the mounts in the door card are different. Same issue Nomad06 had with his install. He removed the chrome tip toggle on his for a toggle swap I assume. My XV already had the chrome tip toggles but I’m guessing it wouldn’t be to hard to swap them.


Now all you have to do is plug in the connectors to the switches , install the door cards, test everything out and then head out for a night drive to enjoy your new lights!
 
#4 · (Edited)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Post Contents:
Post 1 : My illuminated power window switches
Post 2 : Switches / Part numbers
Post 3 : Installation / Toggle mechanism swap
Post 4 : Conclusion

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Conclusion

The illuminated power window switches add a finished look to the interior. One added bonus - when you lock the passenger power windows the LED’s turn off on the passenger doors and on the main switch. This lets you know they are locked – very cool! The only downside to the mod is that the window lock switch is not illuminated but that’s the way Subaru designed it.

I hope by posting this guide some other forum members can install these switches and enjoy the missing little feature that should have been included on our XV’s.


Happy modding!
 
#7 ·
thanks for posting this! super useful.
according to cars101.com the 2015+ WRX and STi all have illuminated switches.
according to parts.subaru.com, the chrome-tipped switches are on all 2015+ WRX/STI models, except the 2015 WRX base model which uses part 83071VA010 for the master door switch and 83071AJ260 for the other 3 doors, with non-chrome tips.
hope that helps if people do or don't want the chrome switch tips
 
#9 ·
Without the other switches illuminated I also hit the rear window switch without looking. Now that I have all the switches illuminated that problem has gone away. Since it looks so good all lit up I now take a quick glance down before I operate the driver-side window. Now I hit the right switch every time! Another bonus!
 
T
#12 ·
Could the one touch up and down for the driver's window be swapped for the switch for the passenger's window to give one touch for that too?

Ok parts list at salvage yard: MFD, wires, and hood from Forester as well as window switches and steering wheel from WRX. Now if someone can just tell me the parts for the salvage yard turbo retrofit I'd be all set...
 
S
#13 ·
looking on car-parts.com i found the Master switch cluster for $75 and all other switches for $35 each. not bad. how does that compare to your ebay prices?
 
#16 · (Edited)
At this point, I'm just fed up with the Crosstrek all around. It's power is killing me, most of the "Limited" stuff is garbage (why are WE having to light up the window switches on "Limited", MFD eh...)? It's got one good point: better off road suspension than the WRX ... which does no good if you have no power to get up the hill(s).
...tick-tock Crosstrek guts. It's about to get an entire WRX driveline--buhbye CVT, buttons, stickers...blah... (amazing how many 14-15-16 totaled WRXs are out there).

Sorry for the rant OP. Great How-To...thx. This will be at the bottom of my bucket list.
 
#18 ·
I enjoy modding and upgrading my XV. I also enjoy sharing my upgrades with other forum members. Thanks for the praise on my How-To and it's ok to rant.

If we had all of the features of a WRX the Total MSRP of the Crosstrek would roughly increase $5000 for a base model, $6500 for a Premium & $7000 for a Limited plus whatever option packages you opt for. So your paying for a turbo and they throw in a few extra features. Subaru produces vehicles to make a profit so that's why they leave these little items out of the lower priced vehicles. I'm sure the little stuff is omitted in other car companies products as well.

Before I purchased the XV Crosstrek I knew it wasn't a powerful go fast WRX but a fuel efficient all wheel drive vehicle that would handle poor road conditions on and off the highway. I think the reason there are so many totaled WRXs out there is that their owners couldn't control a turbo powered car which means the Impreza would have been the better choice for them. It's a good idea before purchasing any new car to research it to determine if it fits your needs and driving abilities.
 
#19 ·
I just had to check. I thought for sure my window switches lit up at night. I was partially correct; the driver's express up/down window switch is illuminated, but none of the others. You can pretty much feel the other buttons when you go to press that one, though, so I don't even think about where the switches are. I don't need to see them to know they're there.

It is a bit weird that Subaru doesn't illuminate the passenger door window switches, though. I mean, there's already current going to the switch; why can't they just throw an LED in there? :huh:
 
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#22 ·
Is this mod Only for the Limited version, or is there power " Plug and Play" remove old switches and plug in the lighted to have all 4 door switches illuminate ?

Interested

Troutbum

2015 Touring ( premium trim)
 
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#23 ·
I got the idea from a Forester owner Nomad06 and It looks like he did it on a 2014 Premium Forester. My mod was on a '15 Limited Crosstrek. Not sure if a Touring (Premium trim) Crosstrek would be any different. Here are the original switch part numbers that I removed - 83071FJ110 (power window main switch), 83071FJ170 (front passenger power window sub switch) and 83071FJ180 (rear passenger left & right power window sub switches) x2. The U.S. '15 & '16 Premium & Limited Crosstreks use the same chrome tip switches. If you have the same switches I'd think the mod should also work on your Crosstrek.
 
#24 · (Edited)
Will have to keep checking E-bay for used, as of this date there are None showing for this year make-model, seems once this mod out in the open lot's of folks picked up what might have been
available from the bone yards...

Will check Subaru on-line parts and See what Benny has to say, with price and avail

Yup even discounted through Subaru-online parts Master Sw (Sale Price) US $ 131.39, plus 3 single w/sw @ $ 64.96, = 340 US before duties and taxes

Will call around to Bone Yards as well on this side of the Border

Troutbum
 
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#27 ·
Just to clear my own confusion (stupidity), the new switch pods have the lights built in. Then by reconnecting the factory harness to send power to the switches to control the glass, that power feed is what illuminates the switches?

This is a nice upgrade. I followed the footsteps of another forum member and have a red led coming soon to the front cubby so this added red accent in the interior would add a nice effect. Cheers all.
 
#28 ·
You are correct. The new switches have LED circuit boards and they get power from the factory harness. If someone was creative enough they could make your their own LED circuit boards and solder them into the existing switches. Are there any super modders out there want to give it a try?
 
T
#37 ·
Just tried this on my 2015 Impreza Sport Premium and the front passenger connector is different from the door harness. The driver switch worked (with all switches illuminated), but the original passenger switch wouldn't work with it at all.

So back to the original switches and sell these off.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
 
#37 · (Edited)
For 2012-2015XV owners... perhaps someone might find this information useful.

I purchased the full interior of a 2019WRX and fitted the seats front and back and...'wow' what a difference! The seats no longer feel like a lounge :)
Not long ago I finished doing the upgrade to the window switches (chrome tipped and illuminated) from 2015 WRX to the 2013XV and also used the WRX door trims which incorporate the window switches that are a different design to the XV (picture below). The switches are different design being longer but still have 5 pins. Easy as IMO once you know what you are doing. In a nut shell, the wiring colours and functions are identical between the XV & the 2015 WRX.
The positions of three wiring pins need to be swapped over on the Front Passenger side plug and the same methodology needs to be applied to the rear window switch plugs.
The front main power switch plug wiring pin layout on the 2015WRX is completely different to the 2013XV and I assume 2012-2015XV (not sure about 2016-2017XV). All that has to be done is undo the main window switch plug and the small 3 pin plug and re-arrange the pins to match the 2015WRX plug locations as per pictures below (I had to do it the hard way via the workshop manual). If a 2015WRX plug is available to look at it's the simplest way to copy the locations, else they have to be determined via the workshop manual or refer to the photos below. Just make sure you use the 2015WRX main power window switch and for the other window switches and throw the origingal XV ones in the bin! If you try to use a 2019WRX main power window switch, it will not work with the other windows except with the drivers side.

This job requires some patience and be methodical so that it's done right the 1st time but it's easy as to do.
Buy some de-pinning tools from ebay or somewhere. It's extremely important to be able to de-pin easily.
No cutting, no soldering rqd, at all.

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That black wire you see on the connector below, comes from the 3 pin connector shown above. De-pin it from the original 3 pin connector and relocate it to the large connector position 1. Easy as to do.
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Pin 1 on the 3 pin plug is Blue/Red trace (if the wires in pin 1 & 2 are swapped around the driver window will go up and partially only go down, GET THIS RIGHT)
Image

Image


This is the passenger side switch pin relocation guide. Once the passenger side is done, the same 3 pins will have to be relocated to the new positions for the rear window switches. No overthinking required, just change the pin locations for the same 3 pins as done on the passenger side.
Image


83071VA250 are the switches that I'm using on the passenger and for the rear windows.
Image

Also as a bonus, if you made it this far, you might have the automatic folding mirror factory wiring already fitted in your XV. While the door cards are out and going through this mod, put in a 2015WRX mirror on the driver side mirror harness connector and press the button to fold. On my 2012/13 AU delivered XV the wiring is already there and can actually fit folding mirrors!!!

In addition, this is a good time to fit the 'DOOR SOUND SKINS' to address the complaints of 'road noise' with this generation of XVs which should then make it better than the 2018+ XVs in that department and stereo should sound better also.
 

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