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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 7 of 18

#53 of 169 2002 Outback Tic Tac Noise behind the Ignition Switch by yuyax

Jan 31, 2008 (8:47 am)

This morning when I started my car I noticed a Tic Tac sound coming from behind the ignition switch or lock cylinder, .
 
- This sounds repeats itself approx every 5 seconds.
 
- The car does not have to be running for this sound to occur. Just having the key turned to the ON position will start the sound
 
- I can notice a slight interruption of the blower/fan and the light on the ignition lock when the Tic Tac occurs
 
- Car seems to run fine and do not notice any irregularities besides this sound
 
Anybody experienced this before?
 
This is on a 2002 Subaru Legacy Outback with 90,000 miles
 
Thanks in advance

#54 of 169 Re: 2002 Outback Tic Tac Noise behind the Ignition Switch [yuyax] by paisan

Jan 31, 2008 (8:49 am)

Replying to: yuyax (Jan 31, 2008 8:47 am)
Is the electric fan under the hood also turning on and off with the tic/tack/relay sound?
 
-mike

#55 of 169 Re: 2002 Outback Tic Tac Noise behind the Ignition Switch [paisan] by yuyax

Jan 31, 2008 (8:54 am)

Replying to: paisan (Jan 31, 2008 8:49 am)
It doesn't quite turn on/off. It is more like a 'brown out'. Like a drop in power.
 
Another thing, the radio was removed by the dealer (warranty work) two weeks ago but there were no tic tacs back then. I could be wrong but I don't think this is related to the sound.

#56 of 169 Re: 2002 Outback Tic Tac Noise behind the Ignition Switch [yuyax] by paisan

Jan 31, 2008 (8:59 am)

Replying to: yuyax (Jan 31, 2008 8:54 am)
Sounds like someone connected the test circuit wire and put the car into closed-loop mode. It's hard to describe which wires need to be disconnected but when they are connected these symptoms are what you get.
 
-mike

#57 of 169 Re: 2002 Outback Tic Tac Noise behind the Ignition Switch [paisan] by yuyax

Jan 31, 2008 (9:08 am)

Replying to: paisan (Jan 31, 2008 8:59 am)
Thanks Paisan.
 
If that was the case, wouldn't the Tic Tac happen right after I picked up the car instead of manifesting itself today?
 
Also, when the car was in for warranty work (another long story) I don't think there were any computer checks or diagnosis performed on it. The radio/tape player was removed and sent to Subaru for repair or replacement and that should have been it.

#58 of 169 Re: 2002 Outback Tic Tac Noise behind the Ignition Switch [paisan] by yuyax

Jan 31, 2008 (1:49 pm)

Replying to: paisan (Jan 31, 2008 8:59 am)
I went to the car again and it does sounds like when you hook up a code reader.
 
I also noticed that the daylight driving lights also dimmed when it clicked/clacked.
 
Very puzzling... ??

#59 of 169 Re: 2002 Outback Tic Tac Noise behind the Ignition Switch [yuyax] by yuyax

Feb 05, 2008 (8:57 am)

Replying to: yuyax (Jan 31, 2008 1:49 pm)
UPDATE
 
I worked on my car on Sat. The sound was coming from the power window circuit breaker which is located under the dash, next to the steering column.
 
It is a little white rectangular tab like box with two wires going to it. The source of the sound was the circuit breaker tripping due to some electrical overload. The breaker was doing its job.
 
Every now and then, the circuit breaker will not click/clack and electrical power was normal and the windows became operational.
 
I took the car back to the dealer in Northern VA on Monday so they could complete a warranty repair/replacement on the stereo. I left them a detailed note of my findings. According to them, once the radio was re-installed, the problem went away. Very interesting.
 
So far, so good but I wonder, why re-connecting the radio solved the problem?

#61 of 169 2000 Outback Wagon - rear driving lights do not turn on by ohzee00

Apr 23, 2008 (8:44 am)

My Outback rear driving lights fail to turn on. The front turn on fine, turn signals, brakes, flashers, headlights all work, but the rear driving lights do not turn on.
 
I am wondering if there is some module in the rear somewhere which regulates those lights ? I for the life of me can not figure out what it is, fuses all check out fine.
 
Any help or pointers would be VERY much appreciated.

#62 of 169 Re: 2000 Outback Wagon - rear driving lights do not turn on [ohzee00] by paisan

Apr 25, 2008 (6:08 am)

Replying to: ohzee00 (Apr 23, 2008 8:44 am)
Are your front marker lights (The Yellow Ones) on?
 
-mike

Messages Page 7 of 18

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