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low battery and locked transmission


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We have a 1998 Outback Limited. Except for a minor oil leak it has been great.

 

 

 

Driver’s door was left ajar overnight with keyless locking activated. Next day car would not start. Cabin light is dim, there is low power to heating system and windows, some of the dashboard lights but apparently not to radio. Sounds like the battery is low. I was surprised it drained overnight just from an open door but it is old (original). I plan to replace the battery but I am wondering if there will be any problems with the security system?

 

 

 

Right now the transmission is locked in park. Security system light sometimes flashes fast and erratically. Sometimes there is no light but instead there is a clicking sound from the same area that starts slow and speeds up. Flashing light and clicking can be cleared by turning ignition key or hitting locks, but after a while starts again. I disconnected the battery to stop this. Will a new battery fix all this?

 

 

 

Anyone been through this before? Any hints? Thanks.

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i have a 98 OBS and my battery went to hell a few months after i bought it (iearly last year). i dont think replacing the battery will do anything wrong to your security system but i could be wrong. i have a viper, but i put it in there after a plopped in an optima. i do a lot of stereo work so my batttery is disconnected a lot. if you dont fgure it out by the time i disconnect it again (next couple days) i'll let you know if my alarm still works.

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We have a 1998 Outback Limited. Except for a minor oil leak it has been great.

 

 

 

Driver’s door was left ajar overnight with keyless locking activated. Next day car would not start. Cabin light is dim, there is low power to heating system and windows, some of the dashboard lights but apparently not to radio. Sounds like the battery is low. I was surprised it drained overnight just from an open door but it is old (original). I plan to replace the battery but I am wondering if there will be any problems with the security system?

 

 

 

Right now the transmission is locked in park. Security system light sometimes flashes fast and erratically. Sometimes there is no light but instead there is a clicking sound from the same area that starts slow and speeds up. Flashing light and clicking can be cleared by turning ignition key or hitting locks, but after a while starts again. I disconnected the battery to stop this. Will a new battery fix all this?

 

 

 

Anyone been through this before? Any hints? Thanks.

My wife and I also have a 1998 Outback Limited (as well as our 99 Legacy GT wagon). The battery on her '98 finally died last year (6 or 7 years on the original battery is actually quite good) with the same symptoms you describe. If your car has the Subaru "security system upgrade" (not some other brand--just the Subaru upgrade) that was available for 1998 model year, there are specific instructions for restoring security system operation after a battery disconnect. The instructions are on the security system upgrade installation and instruction guide (which is sort-of an owner's manual supplement--it's just a couple of pages long) that the selling dealer should have left in the glove box or inserted into the owner's manual. These same instructions are on a stick-on label that should have been applied to the positive battery cable or to the top of the radiator core support (front of engine compartment). The Subaru security system upgrade for our '98 is listed on the original window sticker, but back then the upgrade kit was shipped with the car, and the dealer installed it when it arrived there. That means that label location and component location may vary slightly from car-to-car because of dealer installation.

By the way, if you need to get the vehicle out of "P" to move it (in a situation where jump-starting is not an option), the shifter top trim cover can be removed relatively easily to access the shift-lock over-ride lever, which is just forward of the shift lever. By pressing the lever down with a screwdriver, the shifter will unlock, and the vehicle can be moved.

If your vehicle does, in fact, have the Subaru security system upgrade and you can't locate the instruction sheet or the label, write me a private message.....I can fax you a copy of ours if you'd like.

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