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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 14 of 17

#130 of 169 Re: radio emits static full volume, electrical system problem? [maggieoutback] by ldizzo

Mar 23, 2011 (11:48 am)

Replying to: maggieoutback (Oct 23, 2009 4:36 pm)
Did you get this problem fixed? I have a 2009 Legacy that is doing the exact same thing. It is so frustrating. I just had the audio panel replaced but it is still doing it.
Thanks.

#131 of 169 Signal Lights think they are emergency flasher by bigdan4

Jun 20, 2011 (7:20 pm)

I have a 99 forester with 80,000 miles. Turning the any signal light on results in all 4 lights flashing and th 4 way flasher lighting up. In the connector at the right side of the dash, below glove box, the light green/black wire and the red/green wire seem to be shorted. I cannot find where they go so that I can replace them. I have all the Schematics but cannot find the wires anywhere.
Ed

#132 of 169 serious unresolved electrical problem by lostwooutback

Sep 28, 2011 (9:37 am)

Three days ago I was driving in the rain in the highway, suddenly the speedometer and rpm dial needles started going crazy, up and down, and the wipers were going slower than normal. The abs light and others in the dashboard came on. Although the car never lost power completely, we decided to tow it home (30 miles), to avoid further damage to the car, and left it at my trusted mechanic. The mechanic charged the battery and checked it and the alternator. All was fine. He says he cannot figure out what caused the battery to lose power and what could be wrong. The RPM & speedometer went crazy again yesterday. We had to leave the car in a parking garage. What could this be? Is my dear, dear car lost forever?

#133 of 169 Re: serious unresolved electrical problem [lostwooutback] by lostwooutback

Sep 28, 2011 (9:40 am)

Replying to: lostwooutback (Sep 28, 2011 9:37 am)
I forgot to add, the car in trouble is a 2001 Outback Legacy (I love my car!)

#134 of 169 Re: serious unresolved electrical problem [lostwooutback] by ateixeira

Sep 28, 2011 (10:37 am)

Replying to: lostwooutback (Sep 28, 2011 9:40 am)
Not sure, but I recall a discussion about a single point ground, to solve issues like that. It was common enough that people came to use the acronym, SPG, by itself.
 
Google it and see what you can find, I'm sure you'll get plenty of hits.

#135 of 169 Re: serious unresolved electrical problem [lostwooutback] by grahampeters

Sep 29, 2011 (1:58 am)

Replying to: lostwooutback (Sep 28, 2011 9:37 am)
G'day
 
I would go looking for a short circuit to earth in the wiring loom in the steering column or under the dashboard, anywhere that the loom passes over bare metal. The described behaviour sounds like a live wire is touching earth, affecting ancillaries. It would not change behaviour of engine unless you managed to fry the computer
 
The most likely point is probably the wiring to wiper controls as you were using these at the time. After that, look to the ignition switch, light controls, horn and cruise control, all of which are mounted where cables need to flex. If nothing obvious there, move onto cables passing through metal brackets near fuse block.
 
As a last resort, try the wiring for trailer plugs which are often fitted after market and often not insulated properly. Similarly if there are any wired after market accessories, look at the insulation on clips, and ensure that the attached wire has been terminated and insulated.
 
Cheers
 
Graham

#136 of 169 Re: Signal Lights think they are emergency flasher [bigdan4] by bigdan4

Oct 01, 2011 (11:35 am)

Replying to: bigdan4 (Jun 20, 2011 7:20 pm)
I solved the problem. I had a short in the main wire that goes to the brake lights. The fuse did not blow, it melted (never buy fuses from Harbor Freight). The wire got so hot that it melted through to the signal and other lights. I had to trace it all the way to the engine compartment and tape all the exposed connections. The original problem was that the wires that go from the body into the rear hatch had failed from fatigue. (poor wire in that is was just a few strands of heavy wire.
 
Ed

#137 of 169 Re: serious unresolved electrical problem by bigdan4

Oct 01, 2011 (11:52 am)

I would start by looking at where the wires go from the Car body into the rear cargo door. These stranded wires are of poor quality in that they consist of a small number of strands of large gauge wire rather than a large number of smaller strands) This causes them to break and eventually even the vinyl covering fails. When two or more wires make contact they do all kinds of strange things. Before I discovered this, my park lights would come on for no reason, dash lights went off when I stepped on the brake, speedometer pinned at high and ABS brake lights came on randomly. The most common problem is the large white brake light wire can get so hot it melts the vinyl off of the smaller wires. They make contact turning things on and off. Fortunately non of them are ground wires so the engine should never stop. If you replace fuses make sure they are quality fuses. I had used fuses from Harbor Freight and one melted, the two fuse contacts came together and all hell broke loose. I now test fuses by taking one from the package and put more and more current through it until it fails. If the plastic softens don't use that brand of fuse. Just shorting the fuse across a battery will not work as current is so high that fuse fails instantly and plastiuc does not have time to heat up.

#138 of 169 Re: serious unresolved electrical problem [lostwooutback] by fibber2

Oct 03, 2011 (8:50 am)

Replying to: lostwooutback (Sep 28, 2011 9:37 am)
This sounds like a job for Mr. Peabody and the "Wayback Machine"!! OK, it helps if you were a child of the '60's and know what that even means.
 
Does this sound familiar?
 
If you encounter a customer complaint
of the speedometer needle jumping, dash
warning light(s) on/glowing dimly, or an
engine driveability problem, etc., check
the alternator.
 
It is from a 2003 EndWrench article, and was also the topic of a TSB covering 2000-2002 models. Alternator failure results in a depleted battery, slow running wipers and dim lights, the electronic instrument cluster screwing up, ABS system operation issues, etc. It is an intermittent problem, and most often happens in damp weather. Probably related to insulation breakdown. You may need to replace the alternator.

#139 of 169 Where is the shorted wire? by nhrob

Nov 11, 2011 (8:03 pm)

Hi all, great site.
   
I have a 2004 outback with an after market stereo. The stereo worked for over a year. My car was bumped in the driver side front fender and shortly after that the stereo, the dome light and the lights between the visors won't come on.
 
The fuse box near the coin holder has power to all slots. I even replaced fuses that looked fine. Any idea what has happened?
 
Thank you.

Messages Page 14 of 17

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