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grindy

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Posts posted by grindy

    90 Legacy tail lights won't shut off, help pls.

    in 1990 to Present Legacy, Impreza, Outback, Forester, Baja, WRX&WrxSTI, SVX

    Posted

    Oh, Man! As Click and Clack would say....."doesn't anyone screen these calls".

    OK, has anyone worked on the car recently for any reason, especially in the electrical system? Body work? Ummm....

    Are parking lights "normal" when you turn the light switch, like are they the "same brightness" as the two rear lights that's not supposed to be on? Somehow, the rear bulbs are getting juice when they are not supposed to. Light switch short?

    Umm...?

    Indeed, the rear bulbs were getting juice (pretty obvious there, eh?)...

    Anyway, I found the solution in the "compilation FAQ"...

    Allow me to introduce you to the "Subaru Virgin" switch.

     

    There is a rocker switch on the top of the steering column. It is labeled with a P and some dashes indicating lighting. This switch turns on the parking lights even if the ignition is off, headlights are off, etc. This is a code/regulation requirement in other countries. What usually happens, is that the unsuspecting owner will bump this switch while cleaning the dash.

     

    Don't feel bad, it's happened to many.

    Yesturday I cleaned the dash..... duh

    90 Legacy tail lights won't shut off, help pls.

    in 1990 to Present Legacy, Impreza, Outback, Forester, Baja, WRX&WrxSTI, SVX

    Posted

    That depends what you mean by "tail lights".

     

    If just rear lights, it's probably the brake lights that are on, and likely that your brake light switch is either misadjusted or stuck.

     

    If we're talking parking lights, then the front ones could be on as well, and that might just be the "P" switch on top of the steering column (near the dash) got turned on.

    I believe it's the tail lights... If I press the brake pedal then I get brake lights as usual. Releasing the brake pedal goes back to the tail lights being on. The parking lights in front are not on..

    90 Legacy error codes, question pls..

    in 1990 to Present Legacy, Impreza, Outback, Forester, Baja, WRX&WrxSTI, SVX

    Posted

    that was my first thought. what's the car doing?? why did you check the codes in the first place? did the light come on or did you notice a difference in how it runs / drives?

     

    leave the battery cable off over night, run the car for a day and then check the codes. anything that comes up then will be current.

     

    I have no idea if the t-belt jumped timing, but guess I'll have to have a Subaru dealer check that...

    I checked the codes because the Check Engine light was on/off/on/off while driving. It can come on with the engine fairly cold and when hot. Doesn't come up as soon as the car is started.

    thx

    bob

    90 Legacy error codes, question pls..

    in 1990 to Present Legacy, Impreza, Outback, Forester, Baja, WRX&WrxSTI, SVX

    Posted

    Well, it depends on the problem you're having. Out of those listed, I'd say that 23 is the worst. It can keep your car from running at all. Try to find one from a junkyard as Air flow sensors that are new are extremely expensive.

     

    In order to reset the ecu, you can either pull the ECU/TCU fuse for 45 minutes or pull the negative terminal wire for 45 minutes. After that, reconnect the fuse or wire and turn the car on without any accessories on for 10 - 15 minutes (or if it gets up to operating temperature faster do that). Don't touch the throttle and have it in neutral (MT) or Park (AT). Then you will have retaught the ECU.

     

    To clear the codes, you'll need to do something a little different.

     

    Josh (Legacy777) wrote up a very good article on how to handle ECU stuff.

    http://www.surrealmirage.com/subaru/engine.html

     

    Thx much, both of you... Forgive my ignorance, but what is the difference between "re-setting the ECU" and "clearing the codes"? Isn't that the same thing?

    90 Legacy error codes, question pls..

    in 1990 to Present Legacy, Impreza, Outback, Forester, Baja, WRX&WrxSTI, SVX

    Posted

    I really appreciate the info on this forum regarding the ECU trouble codes and how to access them. I did exactly as instructed and managed to get 4 error codes from the Check Engine light.

     

    My problem is that I'm not sure which of these problems to address first, and would really appreciate some advice here.

    The error codes (from my '90 Legacy) are:

    11 Crank angle sensor.

    13 Cam angle sensor.

    23 Air flow sensor.

    35 Canister purge solonoid valve.

    ** Edit** How do I clear the codes? The same thread/sticky? that gave me the procedure was unclear on how to clear them.

    Thx in advance for any/all advice.

    bob

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