Subaru wiring harness OBD2 - Subaru Vanagon Engine Swap Part 5

[@Bintumani88]

Thank you for making a video of the wire harness creation. I'm curious about how to address a OBD2 code reading. 1507 (idle speed fail safe) comes up repeatedly. I have a 2.5 from a 2003 outback. I didn't do the install, but I would like to understand how to correct these problems when the light up my dash oxygen light. Is there a good set of guidelines on correcting false signals? You do a wonderful job explaining the harness. Much appreciated!

[@theeasternfront6436]

Really want to do a 2.5 swap on my cherry 89 westy but this looks pretty intimidating!

[@Busaru]

+The Eastern front Just one bolt at a time :)

[@trevorstevens3096]

Hey I'm stoked I found this video with the links! You are a life saver and one of the only places to find the pin outs so thank you! Im doing a 99sub legacy outback 2.5l into a baja bug and im keeping the subaru trans by doing the subarugears swap. My question is, do I need to save more wires and stuff that would go to the tranny? thanks again!

[@Busaru]

You're welcome! I would talk with SubaruGears and see how the Subie trans needs to be wired. You will probably have to keep the TCU and the wiring for it.

[@wesleymcbrayer5882]

That does help thank you I am a good ways into it now I am kinda stuck on a couple of wires I have the small car conversion kit. But on b21 connector wire 9 and 10 went back into some connectors that aren't used. I'm not sure what to do with those. it's a 98 forester harness. Thanks again

[@Busaru]

+Wesley Mcbrayer Hi Wesley, your best bet is to get the Input/Output chart for your ecu and find out if those wires are needed. Post up what pin 9 and 10 are for and I'll try and offer some guidance.

[@ramifakhoury6325]

Hey your video helps a lot but I am still stuck on the neutral safety switch , speed sensor and reverse ..... Auto to manual swap on a 2.5 rs 2002 wires coming out of manual tranny can be spliced into auto harness ? I just don't know which wires to splice together any help will be nice thanx !!

[@johnarnold2104]

Rami I realize this is old but did you figure this out? I have the same issue

[@johnarnold2104]

I have the ECU pinouts, for my 02 auto 2.5na, but do you have a list of what wires I will need? Its going into my 84 westy w/manual trans cheers for your videos and photo step by steps, they are the BEST

[@jamesgroves4346]

Can a stock intake manifold be reversed? So you will not need a throttle body reverser. This is on a 98 Forester 2.5 DOHC

[@lFluxx]

Did this Harness include an immobiliser? If not how would you go about incorporating the wiring for the immobiliser?

[@Busaru]

Hi Dubway, no immobilizer in this harness. Your best bet would be to find a wiring diagram for your model. That will give you an idea of how to wire one in.

[@Tassilo1977]

First of all thanks a lot for all your videos, this is pure gold :-) What are you actually doing with the Immobilizer? Is there any clever way to bypass it, or do you leave it just connected with switch and key somewhere hidden in the engine bay? Do you know if it is possible to extend the wire between Immo-ECU and Key-Antenna in order to place the Subaru ignition switch at the Vanagon Dashboard?

[@mstehelin]

Thats for Canbus motors. You can buy emulators from agtengineering.com.au/canbus.html and from subarugears.com/subatronics/index.html

[@New777World]

Hey buddy your video is much apreciate to get an idea what we would be getting into! But i have one special request! Try to record from start to finish the procces of stripping the unnesesary wire ive seen you youtbers recording two hour content! And what is your most recomended ecu wire harnes to install in a splity ? My splity is a 1967!

[@Busaru]

+Isaac mondragon Thanks Isaac, have you seen my entire playlist on wiring harnesses? I think there are 14 or so videos doing exactly what your requesting. As far as the splitty, I think any modern Subaru would work great but I prefer 1990-2004. Cheers!

[@zippysautorepair797]

Thanks For the video, very helpful. I am doing a swap from a 1998 legacy outback and I have my harness about done minus a few little things I was wanting to know which wires you ran from the ecm to the dash and which ones you went ahead and did a away with. Also was there any wires from the engine harness with the 3 square plugs and o2 sensors that you cut out. thanks again!!

[@Busaru]

Well, each harness is slightly different but I usually don't ave to run any wires up to the front. Usually water temp, oil switch, RPM, and ignition/battery sources can be found in the engine bay. As far as cutting wires from the engine connectors, usually all of those are needed so I don't cut. Good luck!

[@dubnut63]

I saw the pinout pages in the video. could not find the exact one in the links. Were those for a 2000 forester 2.5l?

[@Busaru]

The 2000 Impreza will work for the 2000 Forester. Just print that out and make sure to trace out a few wires to make sure they match.

[@dubnut63]

Busaru Thank you..great info..

[@Volkswear]

You make it look pretty easy. I must admit this is the most intimidating part of the conversion for me. How many hours do you estimate it takes to build one of these harnesses? Thanks again for the great video. JC.

[@Busaru]

It's pretty intimidating at first, I agree. Just take it in small chunks and its less so. Just focus on weeding out the wires you don't need at first. Once thats done, then start playing with lengths and where you'd like to mount your computer. Once you've figured that out you can then start lengthening wires to meet that location and then finally start taping it up. Let me know if you have any questions on it, its a fun process for me now.

[@陳啟仁-t1b]

Busaru 子愛

[@juanka1053]

Have you done a SVX conversion? Do the harness set up is similar? Thanks

[@Busaru]

+Juanka Yes, very similar.

[@boyettedesign]

Hey Bro... BJ here... again. My question is probably pretty weird I guess. The question is... I have a 91 Subaru 2.2L engine installed in a 82 Volkswagen Vanagon L. Being a 91, it is an OBD-1 engine. I would really like to convert that to a OBD-2 ECU/ECM . I have just rebuilt the engine and it is absolutely "rock solid". When re-installing it I was faced (again) with a pretty butchered OBD-1 wiring harness. Is it possible to replace an OBD-1 wiring system with an OBD-2 wiring system. Or should I just start all over with a 2.5L OBD-2 era engine and wiring harness. Really LOVE my 2.2L but the wiring issues are just a P.I.T.B. Just curious... ya know?

[@jimkvarnberg7399]

I have two EJ22 engines. I pulled one from a 1990 Subaru Legacy along with a wiring harness and ecm. I pulled the other one from a late 90's or early 00's Subaru Impreza at a Pick n Pull because it looked much better in shape. I thought that both the two EJ22 engines are interchangable, but then I realized that the latter is a bit different interior and it might need an appropriate ecm. I plan to put this one in my 1985 VW Westfalia. I just pulled a wiring harness and ecm from 2001 Subaru OutBack at a Pick n Pull to go with it. I wonder ... do you have any information on the "interchangable" issues among EJ22 engines from some different years and models of Subaru? I looked at this online and apparently I couldn't find clear information. Maybe me too dummy for that? lol smallcar advised that both engine and wiring harness with ecm must come from the same car. Any advice?

[@Busaru]

In 99 the 2.2 switched to a 36 rise timing trigger setup (phase 2). The early 90’s 2.2 uses phase 1 timing. The 2.5L engines switch to phase 2 right around 01/02. Tell me what exact combination you’d like to run and I’ll try to offer some suggestions.

[@Busaru]

So rereading your post it sounds like you’d like to have the Legacy Outback ecu drive the Impreza 2.2. It’s possible - take a look at both engine blocks and see what timing gear they’re using (behind the harmonic balancer) they should both have 36 “triggers” on the cog for that to work. Shoot me some pics if you’re unclear - I’ll try to help. [e-mail]

[@moemeditumelo1011]

Interesting,I'm putting ej20G from sf5 forester into impreza wrx 2007,I wanna know if I modify the harness like you did will it work? Then il just tap the gauge wiring to wrx cluster,

[@vl639]

You do some nice work!

[@forthwithtx5852]

Thank you, thank you! I got it from here! :-) I don't want to get ahead of you, Mick, but I have one each of the two types of expansion tanks (early and later). Both are cracked and I want to get one on order. From your Boxerswaps site, it shows an early one, I think (larger upper hose connector). In fact, the one in your pictures appears to be cracked worse than mine. Do they need to hold pressure? Not to get too detailed here, but I see that many conversions move the tank to the old airbox location, but perhaps that is for packaging efficiency when reversing your coolant manifold? I have not done this, but rather following your lead. Maybe you can cover this briefly in an upcoming episode. If you're not too far along... Many thanks again for putting all of this together!

[@Busaru]

Hey Forthwith, I think you can get the harness, it's not as hard as people make them out to be. As far as the expansion tanks, they are definitely pressurized. You can pressure test yours if you're concerned. I usually mount the tanks on the heat shield at the back of the bay for ease of transitioning the coolant output to the radiator tubes. I normally don't reverse the manifold. It's slick, and looks good but I am on the side of Outfront motorsports - they recommend keeping the coolant system stock, and so do I. It doesn't matter too much which expansion tank you use, just specify to KEP which original engine you have (1.9 or 2.1) and they'll send the correct petcocks. I tend to like the early versions though, and you'll see that in an upcoming video. Hope the swap is coming along well!

[@forthwithtx5852]

Busaru I keep finding things to do. Too much time on The Samba = More parts ordering. Decided to go with the Westy Adventures starter adaptor and the VW TDI starter. The starter in the Vanagon is over 12 years old and with all the other parts I've replaced so far, it didn't seem like a good idea to keep it. As for a replacement, it was either buy a potentially marginal (for the Subaru engine) stock Vanagon starter or use the higher torque TDI starter.

[@jerrye5969]

hello I'm building a 71 super beetle with a 04 subaru wrx ej20 motor and like to figure out what harness I need and what sensor connectors I really need to get rid any help or suggestions u have would be greatly appreciated thanks

[@Busaru]

+Jerry E Hi Jerry, ideally you would pull a harness from the donor you got the engine from. If that's not an option then the next best thing is to pull a harness from that year WRX. Then you can get an ECU pinout chart and go down the list like I show in the wiring harness playlist (look in my channel to see the playlist). Since you're a turbo you will have a couple more items but that should give you a good idea of what you need. Let me know how else I can help.

[@Carb0nFiberB0y]

Can you do SVX Harness? How much?

[@joshuawiley7200]

no diagnostic or check connectors? can it all be done with the OBD2 and the 2 pairs of test mode connectors?

[@kpdvw]

Please elaborate on the 22 Ohm resistor, exactly what "Gauge" is it supposed to make more accurate? Fuel? Rpm?

[@Busaru]

+Liberty Patriot Hey Liberty, I've since moved to a 33ohm resister and it is for the water temp gauge - it'll read just below the middle at normal temps.

[@annehoffman960]

What do you do with the speed sensor? Is there a work around?

[@Busaru]

Hi Anne, no workaround that I know of. Starting in 96, Vehicle Speed Sensors (VSS) are mandatory, and I've heard they help the earlier engine management as well. I use the Smallcar VSS. It's inexpensive and works great, bolting up to the transmission and using the CV axle for the rotational side of things. Here is the link: www.smallcar.com/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=29880

[@annehoffman960]

Busaru thanks for the info. Just got a 96 2.5 dohc engine and trying to figure out the easiest/best way to get it into a bug.

[@waynet1881]

Hi, my name is Wayne, and I've been watching your videos over and over about Subaru conversions. I'm going to convert a 1985 Vanagon for a 2002 EJ 2.5 engine, so should I use the MAP sensor or the MAF sensor? Also, how do you wire a MAF or MAP sensor?

[@Busaru]

I would leave the engine stock, the way Subaru designed it (at least at first). This means using your donor cars wiring harness which will include the wiring for all of the sensors.

[@joshuawiley7200]

getting ready to do this exact harness 00 forester to 87 Vanagon. Quick question. what are the 2 connectors there near the ECM the green and white connectors?

[@taza11659]

Is the ignition wire normally a thick wire? I'm trying to strip down a 2000 Outback harness ej251 but the ignition wire is a thin green/red as per the wiring diagram. My constant positive is a black/red

[@Busaru]

The ignition on is thin gauge, green/red was a commonly used ignition on wire color. Battery positive is black/red on some models but beware - some of the grounds are also black/red (Subaru is crazy for this in my opinion). Good luck with your harness.

[@niknazrihassan2908]

Hi there...I hv an ELM327 connected to wrx STi Version 4 1998 installed in my van....elm doesn't read at all...could u advice me on the obd connector wiring....tried elm on my wildtrak Ranger...works well....TQ Brother

[@Busaru]

+NikNazri Hassan If it's a JDM harness you may have issues as I don't think Japan required the same protocols at that time. Try to find the service manual for a similar year USDM harness and see if your pinout matches.

[@niknazrihassan2908]

Busaru TQ....I certainly will check on USDM models...happy driving

[@wesleymcbrayer5882]

I have done a ej22 swap in my bug I used the shop talk forum thread and your old boxer swaps Web site. I am now doing a 2.5 98 forester swap now I got all the pinouts from ecu to sensors,etc. but I am at a lost to what to do with all the power supply wires and grounds. Any suggestions?

[@Busaru]

+Wesley Mcbrayer For power supply there are 3 needs: Start signal from the starter solenoid wire, Ignition ON from the key switch, usually a black wire that went to your coil, and Battery 12V constant from battery. The start signal is self explanatory, the Ign ON signal splices to the Ignition source wire on your ECU, and B+ will go to 2 of the 4 wires on your main ignition relay, you'll have to decipher which ones get the battery connection and which ones are the supply to your sensors and ECU. Hope that helps!

[@MrElguapo45]

I have a 1977 vw bus and I'll like to install a subaru engine and I'll like to know what year and engine side can I use and what kind of wire harness can I use

[@Busaru]

The easiest way to do this is to pick up a donor car that has the engine and wiring harness that is meant to go together. Anything from 1990 and up can be used but I'd recommend going with a non-turbo model.

[@MrElguapo45]

I really appreciate your advice I was thinking a 96 or above 2.5 or 2.0 what do you think. Thank you

[@Busaru]

I would say that they're both great engines and are essentially the same aside from the displacement. If you want the extra 50 horsepower, I'd go with the 2.5. If economy is more important, go with the 2.0. Good luck!

[@MrElguapo45]

Thank you I'll probably go with the 2.0l

[@ydeardorff]

your link is dead... Do you have a list of the stuff needed for the engine to run on the schematic? Im installing an EZ30D into a vw based kit car.

[@Busaru]

+ydeardorff Thanks for the heads up on the old link. For an EZ30 your best bet is to try to find the factory service manual or ECM pinout sheet. Take a further look at my channel and you'll find a playlist on how to do an entire wiring harness, you'll find some resources there or you can go here: busaru.com/services/resources

[@ydeardorff]

hey, thanks for that. I have the JDM manuals for H4 and H6 on pdf. Just trying to get a second look on my thoughts as to what we need to grab and connect before start up of his 99-03 EZ30D engine. I am going a different route using a complete and uncut harness on my car. He wants a more stripped down version (electrically). He also wants to use the BUG fuel tank so finding a work around for the fuel system would be helpful too.

[@Busaru]

+ydeardorff for the fuel tank sensors just use resistors, I have a pretty complete code killing resistor box that'll solve lots of problems with the old aircooled stuff. I'm probably going to open source it if people want to build their own for cheap. Hit me up in a little while once the test duration is complete and I should have an assembly ready, or I can get you the resistor values.

[@ydeardorff]

yeah I have a monster box of resistors. give me a list of items and what resistor when you get a chance

[@craigvwdude]

Why will the check engine light always be on?

[@Busaru]

Unless you put resistors in to trick the ecu into thinking it has the fuel tank sensors you will have engine codes. These days I build “Code Killer” resistor boards for the harnesses I convert.

[@craigvwdude]

Do sell the resistor board?

[@carslover3509]

genus work

[@marklchristensen]

putting a 97 single ohc into my 96 bus, can you configure my harness??? $$$ thanks sir.

[@Busaru]

+Mark Christensen I'd be happy to help. Email the details to me at [e-mail]

[@glassblastcollision]

Well this was somewhat helpfull thanks!

[@PullStartStables]

About 10" from my ECU plugs is a blue 7 pin/9 wire flat plug, any insight on what that is for... or can it be trimmed off?

[@Busaru]

+Kevin Alberts Sounds like sensor grounds. Trace some of the wires out to see where they go.

[@PullStartStables]

When I sent this one... I thought. Then I realized I might as well follow the pinout and figure out what is what. Sometimes it helps to type it and read what I sent to help myself figure out the resolution.

[@AsmatKhan-iv9fw]

hi i want th comptr subaru car

[@timoteocordova4573]

Quiero la traducción a español

[@Busaru]

+Timoteo Cordova yo tambien, pero mi espanol es muy malo.