[Soca]

Curious: why put a light on the door that will be blocked when you access the rear of the vehicle? It's better to put at least one light on the header bar across the top of the vehicle's door frame. No need to pull extra panels off the rear hatch, no need to run longer wires. Yes, it may need to be surface mounted but this is where Subaru should put a light, not that crap on the driver's side rear.

Agree'd.

As a someone who directs, shapes, and modifies light for a living (photographer) it made no sense to me to put a light behind directly behind my head pointed towards the floor to look into an all matte black cargo area which contains a black baby stroller and black cargo organizer. I'd cast a shadow at whatever Im looking at. But I've heard good results form those that have done it.

A few posts up (Post #14 and #15) I have test mounted an LED strip (warm LED with frosted lens) at 12 o clock I got off Amazon for $12. USB powered but I am awaiting my 12v dimmer and some free time to install. Will document when installing. 12v dimmer will be installed below the 12v outlet and be protected from cargo.Will tap into the power wire of the current cargo light. Definitely won't have the OEM look, but its almost invisible to me when mounted. And having a dimmer function is really nice for tailgating, etc. If I was doing night photography/camping I'd add an additional red one (led brake light) too.

 

[Soca]

For what it's worth, here is a photo I took of the Subispeed light at night. I adjusted the brightness of the photo down on my phone while looking at the trunk light with my own eyes to make it a more accurate photo representation of the brightness.

Thanks for the shot!

 

[lassetjus]

Curious: why put a light on the door that will be blocked when you access the rear of the vehicle? It's better to put at least one light on the header bar across the top of the vehicle's door frame. No need to pull extra panels off the rear hatch, no need to run longer wires. Yes, it may need to be surface mounted but this is where Subaru should put a light, not that crap on the driver's side rear.

This concern has been discussed in previous threads. The original installer of this light did not find that his shadow affected the lighted area. On that basis, I purchased and installed the same light, and have come to the same conclusion.


I like the fact that it looks like a clean install and it looks like it really belongs there like it was meant to be there. I'm also the guy who spent hours running wires under the floor to connect a rear dash cam to a front dash cam. So if someone doesn't feel like running wires, or peeling back trim, and is OK with a surface mounted look with visible wires, then that's their prerogative.

 

[Patrick G.]

Broke a white panel clip getting the headliner back in during this install today. Where can I get a replacement headliner panel clip? Are they universal, or do I need one specifically for the Ascent?

 

[Robert.Mauro]

Broke a white panel clip getting the headliner back in during this install today. Where can I get a replacement headliner panel clip? Are they universal, or do I need one specifically for the Ascent?

There's some difference between some of the clips, so, I'd look it up on parts.subaru.com - you can order it from your dealer or online. It's usually free shipping if delivered to the dealer, but price may be a little more depending on your dealer, so, check both prices.

 

[Patrick G.]

Broke a white panel clip getting the headliner back in during this install today. Where can I get a replacement headliner panel clip? Are they universal, or do I need one specifically for the Ascent?

There's some difference between some of the clips, so, I'd look it up on parts.subaru.com - you can order it from your dealer or online. It's usually free shipping if delivered to the dealer, but price may be a little more depending on your dealer, so, check both prices.

Thanks! And I was surprised that one end of the Subispeed harness, the end that connects under the headliner, did not have a connector - just bare wires. Was this the case for everyone who bought?

 

[Cannibal869]

Thanks! And I was surprised that one end of the Subispeed harness, the end that connects under the headliner, did not have a connector - just bare wires. Was this the case for everyone who bought?

I believe mine came like that too, although I found the other half of the connector elsewhere in the packaging (might have been plugged in already). Had to slightly bend out the tiny retaining tabs on the bare wires and then push back into the connector to get them to “stick” in place correctly, if that makes any sense...

 

[Patrick G.]

Well, I just realized today the power rear gate button on the inside edge of rear gate no longer works after installing the light, which does work. Ideas?

 

[Patrick G.]

Well, I just realized today the power rear gate button on the inside edge of rear gate no longer works after installing the light, which does work. Ideas?

Yeah, disregard. I forget to hook it back up before putting the gate panel back on. Move along. Nothing to see here.

 

[Stillmotion]

Just had the opportunity to disconnect my trailer under the hatch light last week and it was perfect. Light over the exact area I needed it. I have still been happy with the turn out of the light.

 

[Patrick G.]

Install pics

 

[Soca]

Nice! When you power the switch off on the oem light does it turn off the overhead hatch light too?

Or are they independent?

 

[Stillmotion]

Nice! When you power the switch off on the oem light does it turn off the overhead hatch light too?

Or are they independent?

They work together

 

[zulater]

Nice! When you power the switch off on the oem light does it turn off the overhead hatch light too?

Or are they independent?

Just installed today
Mine are independent. They get power when the trunk is opened. You can have the side one on or off but you cannot turn on or off the newly installed one.

 

[Robert.Mauro]

I think that's installed incorrectly... you should practice and do it again...

Install pics

That's terrible. Pretty sure that's all wrong. You should practice by doing it again... on my car... with the one that's still sitting in the box uninstalled. :grin: :tango_face_wink:

Seriously, if trickery won't work, I'm at the point I'd pay someone to install mine. I just don't have the time.

Looks great! Glad to see it was a good buy, and can't wait to finally see mine leave the box. lain:

Any tips to make it a quick install? Or anything I should watch out for? Or do you live near NY Metro area and wanna earn some cash or a steak dinner or something?

 

[zulater]

I did not have to remove any panels on the left inside of the car. You can just take the screws and 10mm bolt then pop the panels just enough to run the wires.
Find the fuse and get some extras if you can find them. My first one blew and I couldn't find any of the same size so I cut out the fuse that came with it and installed a mini fuse like what's in the car's fuse box and put a 7.5 in there.
I will say I did this the same day I replaced the timing belt on my 09 Impreza. The timing belt took about an hour, the light install took almost 2 lol.

 

[lassetjus]

They work together

Just installed today
Mine are independent. They get power when the trunk is opened. You can have the side one on or off but you cannot turn on or off the newly installed one.

Nice! When you power the switch off on the oem light does it turn off the overhead hatch light too?

Or are they independent?

That's terrible. Pretty sure that's all wrong. You should practice by doing it again... on my car... with the one that's still sitting in the box uninstalled. :grin: :tango_face_wink:

Seriously, if trickery won't work, I'm at the point I'd pay someone to install mine. I just don't have the time.

Looks great! Glad to see it was a good buy, and can't wait to finally see mine leave the box. lain:

Any tips to make it a quick install? Or anything I should watch out for? Or do you live near NY Metro area and wanna earn some cash or a steak dinner or something?

Something to note... if you leave your trunk open for a long time, all interior lights will turn off automatically except that new lift gate light from Subispeed. It has happened to me twice now, when I forgot to close the trunk, both hands full unloading stuff, car is in my garage, and next morning the car battery is dead. Was able to jump start car, but the dead battery really messed up the car that morning. Eyesight became disabled, check engine light turned on. Thankfully, in the evening, everything was back to normal.

 

[zulater]

Something to note... if you leave your trunk open for a long time, all interior lights will turn off automatically except that new lift gate light from Subispeed. It has happened to me twice now, when I forgot to close the trunk, both hands full unloading stuff, car is in my garage, and next morning the car battery is dead. Was able to jump start car, but the dead battery really messed up the car that morning. Eyesight became disabled, check engine light turned on. Thankfully, in the evening, everything was back to normal.

Odd. As I was putting things back together the light turned off by itself.

 

[Irimis]

If it has not been mentioned, the install is much easier if you remove one of the rubber conduit pieces. Feeding a wire from the top in to the hole is hard enough, then feeding it down the bend, forget that.

You can pull the rubber off, feed a wire to pull the cable though then the white clip comes out really easy using a small flat head to release the 4 clips holding it in place. Once its off it is easy to replace the rubber then slide it back in the place. Took me about 45 mins after reading this and that was some time wasted in trying to feed the cable down the rubber in one shot.

I did a dumb and blew the fuse in the line though. So stopping at home depot later on to fix that. I am thinking about removing the middle connection and just soldering the wires together then shrink some wire cable on it to make it really clean.

 

[Soca]

Just finished installing this, took a bunch of pictures for future reference that I’ll post once I put some text on them. Appreciate the tips others have left so I’d like to contribute

Overall the kit is ok, needs something more secure than the spade connectors so I sealed in self fusing silicone.

Pros: Decently bright, maybe 70 actual lumens. I was wearing my Gen 1 Surefire Saint Headlamp to install it and its max 100 honest lumens (not the EBay and Amazon seller lumens).
The headlamp was almost as wide and a bit brighter.
Allowed me to swap out license plate bulbs to LED since the panel was off
Easy plug and play.

Cons:
As I suspected at my height (6’) with my head being right up against the light it blocks a large portion of the light when using the trunk.
As I was cleaning up, I needed my headlamp to see which was the whole reason I did this to begin with.
6000k color temp (I prefer warm for interior LED)
Harsh undiffused light.

Would I buy it again? No

Will be going forward with my cargo headliner project when I find a 12V warm led strip with frosted cover. The one I previously purchased is perfect but got extremely hot once I put 12V to it, as it was designed for 5V. I was hoping it was one of those 5-24V LED strips ?