stokie7

I bought a cheap Autel MaxiScan MS309 on T-Mart.com for about $25 NZD incl free worldwide shipping to New Zealand (that's about $17 USD I think) and it gives "Linking Error" on both my 1998 Subaru Legacy and my 1998 Toyota Prius, both with OBDII ports and supposedly compatible. I tried it on my 2004 Mercedes Vito and it actually worked. It gives lots of info, not just codes, and I'd be very pleased if it actually worked for the cars I need it for. So, not all readers work on all cars.

Hi there, I've been baffled by a similar problem with my 1998 Legacy Outback (The Japanese call them Lancaster), when turning my AC on my engine fan would come on and the idle revs changed slightly, no change in air temp though. Also the mechanical clunk from the compressor wasn't happening. I topped up the 134A with a can and built-in gauge, but nothing changed. I jumped the compressor clutch with 12 v and it kicked in as expected. I pulled the AC relay from the main fusebox under the bonnet and swapped it with a similar one from my fog lights. This fixed it! The faulty relay was a RC-5001 12v NO OXO. I'll look out for a replacement one, but as it's a hot summer now I'll keep the fog light one in until then.

Yes, I'd like to try this, have you got any suggestions as to how I'd find or access this wire? The multi plug that goes into the transmission has a few wires into it, would you know which one I'd be looking at? I'm thinking of connecting 12 v to the one going to the solenoid to see if it clicks in or out. I'm thinking it may be stuck in the bypass position.

Hi Dave, I know this is a 10 year-old post, but I joined Ultimate Subaru after reading some very helpful info from you. Here's hoping you're still around... I've got a 1998 AWD Legacy Lancaster auto (I think it's the Japanese version of an Outback) and I have front wheel drive only. I've tried putting the FWD fuse in, I get the FWD light on in the dash, but no change. One clue is that if I accelerate hard I occasionally get a thump and a quick momentary change of attitude in the car, almost as if the rear drive kicks in for a second. I can't see or hear any evidence of mechanical damage inside the transfer case, and the driveshaft turns the rear wheels fine by hand. When one side of the car is jacked up and I put it into (any) gear, only the front wheel turns. Any advice to get the 4WD working again would be greatly appreciated. I suspect someone has figured out a way of switching something to enable 2WD on the road, saving fuel, and 4WD off road. Cheers, Rick.