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I know some of you are pretty good with electrical workings.....

I want to make my windows constantly powered instead of powered only when the key is in the ignition. This seem like it could be really easy to do.

So... who's got a wiring diagram? Which lead is the main power lead for the windows, and what would be a good constant 12v powered wire to hook it to instead?

And possibly more importantly, Is there any reason why I shouldn't do this? I can't really think of a good reason not to.

You should be able to short the contacts of the window/sunroof relay... I seem to recall it being under the driver's seat but I'm not sure.

A potential security problem arises when you realize how easy it is to get a rod into the car around the frameless window and press down on the power window switch. Some cars come from the factory with power windows that operate for something like 30 seconds after the car is shut off to allow you time to roll up windows that you accidentally left open.

I thought about the security risk, but I figure it's probably pretty minimal. If anyone is jamming a bar in my window to get in the car, they will probably be getting in anyway. Hell, I'd rather they use the window button as opposed to breaking the window or door if they are gonna break in.

Under the seat eh? Sounds like it should be easily acessable if that's the case. I suppose I will need to find a copy of the Subaru Legacy "Bible" to get a wiring diagram in that kind of detail eh?
I saw some on Ebay in CD form... Are those just bull$#!t? They kinda look like they might be.

Thanks for your time...

Give me a couple days and I'll see if I can get you scans from the FSM about where it is and details about the wiring.

About those CDs on eBay -- it seems that some people happened upon the bright idea of subscribing to, purchasing, or pirating Mitchell On Demand, purchasing or pirating Acrobat, creating PDFs out of all the Mitchell data for each car, burning them onto CDs, and selling them on eBay.

You could spend the money on them, but you'd be giving the money to the wrong people and paying them for pirated content. They're not the factory service manuals; Mitchell's stuff is generally similar to Haynes and Chiltons but a little more specific in some parts.

Thanks again. I sure would appreciate the help. I know it sounds like a sorta pointless modification, but I think it will be easy once I know what wire I need.

I have an idea, have the windows powered from the ACCESSORY key position like they should have!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, here's the info on where it is:

http://www.graphics.cornell.edu/~v/pics ... _relay.png

I imagine that after removing the driver's seat and peeling back the carpet you'd be able to find it pretty easily.

I think that when I get around to pulling my driver's seat I'll probably wire the windows so they work in accessory like ciper says, but also any time a door is open. I think that would be a pretty useful but pretty secure setup.

So wire up the dome light connection to the relay input maybe?

Yup. Well, almost -- a pair of diodes so the coil can be powered by either the dome light or a source of accessory power.

Thats what Ill do as well. Instead of digging under the seat for the relay couldnt we find where the line terminates under the dash where the other connections are easy to find?

In principle, yeah... but I remember trying to figure that out once with the factory service manual's diagrams and couldn't find a good place. Maybe I'll try again and let you guys know.

Well.. My car got rained in really bad, so I tore out the interior to dry it out.

While I was at it I poked around and figured out which wire seems to be the one that works. It is red with a black stripe. I clipped it, and attached it to the power for the door locks.
As soon as power is applied, you can hear a solenoid or something inside there go "click". I'm hoping that having it constantly powered like that won't kill it early. I have good faith that it will be okay. Also, the little green LED on the driver's power window button is constantly lit. It has been like that for a couple weeks and hasn't seemed to have any ill effects.
Just thought I'd update and sort of "complete" this thread.

<<< On the floor beneath driver's seat. There IS a black stripe on the wire that can't be seen in the picture.>>>

The relay should be okay being constantly powered, but your battery may not survive the parasitic load. You should short the contacts of the relay, not force its coil to be powered.

You should short the contacts of the relay, not force its coil to be powered.

Eh ? ... I think that flew over my head.

The thing that's clicking is a relay. HowStuffWorks has a good explanation of what they do:

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/relay.htm

That should make it clearer what I mean.