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Subaru Outback/Legacy Electronic & Lighting Problems

169 messages,  Last post on Oct 26, 2012 at 11:33 AM

You are in the Subaru Legacy & Outback Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Legacy, Subaru Outback, Lights, Electrical, Sedan, Wagon

Messages Page 1 of 17

#1 of 169 Subaru Outback/Legacy Electronic & Lighting Problems by caliberchic

Sep 11, 2007 (8:20 am)

Post your related questions here.

#3 of 169 night driving by subaru43

Sep 10, 2007 (6:17 am)

Hello . my 91 legacy has a dash light problem. when i am on a bumpy road my dash lights flicker, sometimes they go out. When i am not moving i move the stearing wheel up and down the dash lights flicker, when i hit the stearing wheel they go out tail lights are not affected by this can some one help?

#4 of 169 Re: night driving [subaru43] by ateixeira

Sep 12, 2007 (9:01 am)

Replying to: subaru43 (Sep 10, 2007 6:17 am)
Hmm, ages ago a buddy had his dash lights go out, and they shared a fuse with the tail lights. So I think it was a good idea to check that.
 
Sounds like an alternator issue to me. Perhaps the external lights just get first priority.
 
Do you have an underdrive pulley? That would make the alternator spin slower and some people reported dimming lights with those.

#5 of 169 Re: night driving [ateixeira] by paisan

Sep 13, 2007 (3:41 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Sep 12, 2007 9:01 am)
My guess is a loose dash-light connection. Hightly doubt the alternator or fuse.
 
-mike

#7 of 169 abs light, headlights by sorlikowski

Sep 14, 2007 (5:16 am)

Lots of electrical issues with my 2001 outback. Abs light is on and there is a "clicking" sound under the console when I step on the brake. Also the headlights go out when I pull the parking brake. Funny smell occasionally in the car. Low beams burned out (both) and the high beam light on the dash goes on when I put the driving lights on. Also when the abs light is on the wipers (front and rear) go faster than normal. All these things started at the same time. What's up!

#8 of 169 Re: abs light, headlights [sorlikowski] by ateixeira

Sep 14, 2007 (7:20 am)

Replying to: sorlikowski (Sep 14, 2007 5:16 am)
headlights go out when I pull the parking brake
 
The daytime running lights will turn off when you pull up the parking brake, that's normal, if that's what you mean.

Funny smell occasionally in the car
 
Change deodorant?
 
Just kidding. What type of smell? Fuel? Burning? Rotten Egg?
 
Under what conditions do you sense the smell? Hot days? Cold? Rain? Long trips?

#9 of 169 Re: abs light, headlights [ateixeira] by sorlikowski

Sep 14, 2007 (11:33 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Sep 14, 2007 7:20 am)
What's deodorant? The best I can describe the smell is the stale air from inside an inner tube. It happens at various times, usually worse when it sits for a couple of days. I have no low beams at this time and when I turn on the driving lights, the high beam indicator on the dash lights up. Also abs light is on frequently and when it is, the wipers go faster than usual

#10 of 169 Re: abs light, headlights [sorlikowski] by ateixeira

Sep 14, 2007 (11:41 am)

Replying to: sorlikowski (Sep 14, 2007 11:33 am)
Try new headlight bulbs first, to see if that helps. They tend to go out at around the same time.
 
IIRC mine failed within a week or two of each others, this after 7 years of use! Yours could be a coincidence, too.
 
Do you have a cabin filter in the HVAC? Maybe it's in need of change, and that could be causing the smell. Once a year is the interval I seem to recall.
 
ABS light? Maybe the brake fluid is low? Check just in case.

Messages Page 1 of 17

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