Weird switch

[shqipo]

I'm looking to buy a used '02 WRX from a dealer and there are two things that are throwing me back a little:

1. There's a switch (covered by a red metal thing) on the console (well, near the shifter). I thought the previous owner had NoS but the dealer is claiming it's to turn off the ABS. Could that be true? Would that avoid the warranty (car has 48K miles on it)? I check in the trunk but didn't see any holes if they had NoS before. I checked the wire and it went to the fuse box.

2. The "Break" light went on - and sometimes off - when driving. I thought it was the manual break and I tugged it a few times but the light's still there. Dealer's saying that maybe break pads are running thin. What do you think?

3. On the cabin frame part (driver's side) that separates windshield from window/door, there are 3 gages, one for boos, one for oil and I forgot what the third one's for. Is that stock/factory option or something that's been installed by the driver after?

Please help me out as I liked this car overall except for the two things above. Is $14,200 a good price? I've told them I'll call them tomorrow morning with an answer. I just don't want to buy a modified car that's been used to race.

Thanks!

[freakray]

Welcome

1. That's a new one to me, never seen a switch like that in any WRX I've seen, it's definitely not factory fitted. If it is to turn off the ABS, then I would suspect the car has been raced.
It could be a nitrous oxide switch, there are kits which don't require mods to mount and a well mounted kit wouldn't leave any conspicuous (sp)remains anyhow.

2. I don't think the brake pads are running thin, Subaru's pads have wear indicators in them that squeel when they get beyond a certain point. Sounds like something was modded before. If it is the brake pads(which it isn't), you'd think the dealer would offer to replace them to secure the sale?

3. Those are A-pillar gauges, they're not a factory option at all, the factory option for those same gauges is in pod above the radio and A/C controls.

Personally, I don't think you want this car, everything you're describing throws up a red light to me that it's been raced.
BTW, that price is on the low side which is another flag to me.

[shqipo]

Thanks Ray!

So... someone would turn off their ABS to race? Hm... .

I didn't feel anything (warning signs) that you mention with the brakes but the dealer did offer to replace brake pads.

What I don't understand is why would the break light go on if it's been raced/modified?

[Right_LiRrr]

Man, that sounds like such a dodgy deal! Glad for people like Ray to tell the truth....I hate shady salesmen.

[LjasonL]

It's POSSIBLE that the switch turns off the ABS, but why would you want a switch like that? It's easy enough to just pull the ABS fuse out of the fuse box. Even if you did want a switch, why such a flashy conspicuous one? So it goes to the fuse box.. where? Is it just plugged in with a fuse somewhere? If so, it's most definately NOT an ABS disable, it's to get power for something... If it's spliced in line with one of the wires going in the box, then it might be ABS disable, but that means someone went through the trouble of figuring out which wire to splice into and all that when they could have just pulled the fuse. Sounds REAL fishy to me... I have a switch like that on my center console by the shifter, but I'm running nitrous

If it is ABS disable, it doesn't NECESSARILY mean it was raced, it's a good way to get extra stopping power on icy roads if you know how to handle it...

I've ran my brake pads all the way through the pad and onto the metal backing before, it made the most god awful sounds when I stopped, and it never set off the "brake" light. I don't think that light has anything to do with the brake pads...

Between the guages, switch, and light, I'd bet money that the car has been raced a lot...

[SabreKhan]

Well, if the switch *is* to disable the ABS, that may be what's setting off the brake light.

[LjasonL]

^ true

Does it have 2 wires running into the fuse box, or just one? If it's one, it's not an ABS disable...

[shqipo]

I *think* I only saw one wire... but I'm not 100% sure.

But I'd like to thank all of you for your help so far!!!