Hi,

 

New to this site.

 

On our '03 LLB Outback , we have a flickering FWD light while driving.

 

At a stop, the light will:

 

1. Sometimes stay "steady" on, or "steady" off.

 

2. The flickering speed appears to be dependent on wheel

rotation/driving speed.

 

I searched this site and could not find anything related to the

'03 model year all wheel drive.

 

The car seems to drive normally, butwe cannot tell if the AWD is/or

is not engaged.

 

Thanks,

 

Gerry

have alternator checked?

That is an odd one.

 

As a first stab, pull the fusebox lid under the hood and make sure there isn't a loose fuse or something else in the FWD fuse position.

 

Dave

installing the FWD fuse under the hood grounds out the wire and therefore it grounds out a pin on the tcu. so my guess would be a wear spot on a wire in the harness somewhere that is grounding out.

 

good luck.

That is an odd one.

 

As a first stab, pull the fusebox lid under the hood and make sure there isn't a loose fuse or something else in the FWD fuse position.

 

Dave

 

Dave,

 

That's the first thing I did.

 

When I installed a fuse in the FWD slot (15A), the FWD light on the dash stays on all the time, as it should.

 

I did not find any debris in the fuse box, or in the FWD fuse socket.

 

This does appear to be wheel rotation dependent, as I can coast the car, with engine on, and the light will flicker very slowly.

 

Gerry

installing the FWD fuse under the hood grounds out the wire and therefore it grounds out a pin on the tcu. so my guess would be a wear spot on a wire in the harness somewhere that is grounding out.

 

good luck.

 

John,

 

With a fuse installed in the FWD fuse panel, the light is always on, as it should be.

 

Is it ok to drive the car with the fuse (15A) installed?

 

Not sure about a wear spot on a wire as this issue is definitely wheel rotation dependent.

 

I'm aware that AWD systems are very tire size/pressure sensitive.

 

The tire pressure is 30 psi on all corners.

 

Are there some type of sensors that engage the AWD as needed?

 

Please check my other responses.

 

Thanks,

 

Gerry

have alternator checked?

 

I did check the alternator=14.76V charging.

 

The battery+12.74V static.

installing the FWD fuse under the hood grounds out the wire and therefore it grounds out a pin on the tcu. so my guess would be a wear spot on a wire in the harness somewhere that is grounding out.

 

good luck.

 

John,

 

As per my responses, I can't really find anything, but did install the FWD fuse (15A).

 

If I understand this fuse correctly, it dis-engages the AWD.

I hope that does not cause an issue.

 

Follow-up questions.

 

Could a slipping A/T belt bring about this issue?

 

Where can I get an electrical diagram for this car?

 

I'm a retired engineer, who has fought/beat a few electrical gremlins on our 911.

 

Thanks again,

 

Gerry

Edited February 3, 201115 yr by Annie's LLB Outback

John' date='

 

As per my responses, I can't really find anything, but did install the FWD fuse (15A).

 

If I understand this fuse correctly, it dis-engages the AWD.

I hope that does not cause an issue.

 

Follow-up questions.

 

Could a slipping A/T belt bring about this issue?

 

Where can I get an electrical diagram for this car?

 

Thanks again,

 

Gerry[/quote']

 

this link is as close as i can get you to a wire diagram for a 2003:

you will have to look around a little.

 

http://www.main.experiencetherave.com/subaru_manual_scans/2000+_Legacy_FSM/

 

my best guess is that some thing is grounding out the wire that feeds/leads to the FWD fuse holder. that does not seem to fit with your statement that it is wheel rotation sensitive, but an intermittent grounding would cause the FWD light to come on 'at times'.

 

i do not know of any other situation that would cause this. that does not mean there is not one.

 

is there a time/ situation when the FWD light stays on for a while. if yes, i would see if both sides of the FWD fuse holder has continuity to ground when no fuse is present. if the light goes out before you can check, it will very difficult to confirm.

this link is as close as i can get you to a wire diagram for a 2003:

you will have to look around a little.

 

http://www.main.experiencetherave.com/subaru_manual_scans/2000+_Legacy_FSM/

 

my best guess is that some thing is grounding out the wire that feeds/leads to the FWD fuse holder. that does not seem to fit with your statement that it is wheel rotation sensitive, but an intermittent grounding would cause the FWD light to come on 'at times'.

 

i do not know of any other situation that would cause this. that does not mean there is not one.

 

is there a time/ situation when the FWD light stays on for a while. if yes, i would see if both sides of the FWD fuse holder has continuity to ground when no fuse is present. if the light goes out before you can check, it will very difficult to confirm.

 

John,

 

I can create that anomaly, and will check both of the sides of the fuse holder to ground in the am.

 

By the way I don't think your link covers the '03MY.

 

Thanks,

 

Gerry

Edited February 4, 201115 yr by Annie's LLB Outback

John' date='

By the way I don't think your link covers the '03MY.

[/quote']

 

 

this is true, but there is not going to be a significant difference between 00 and 03. some difference perhaps but not a lot. that's the way subaru does it.

Is the FWD light connected to anything besides the fuse?

Is it ever used as a warning light without the fuse in place?

 

Does it even come on (for anyone) when the key is turned before the engine starts?

 

Dave

Is the FWD light connected to anything besides the fuse?

Is it ever used as a warning light without the fuse in place?

 

Does it even come on (for anyone) when the key is turned before the engine starts?

 

Dave

 

Dave,

 

The light does not come on until the car is driven just a few yards.

Then as the car's speed is increased the light will start to flicker.

 

Not sure how to post pictures on this site.

 

Here's what I sent John...........

 

The reason why this appears to be a logic issue, as opposed to my wheel rotation theory,

is that after I turn the car off, the light does not come back on.

 

As per the attachments, there is definitely a ground continuity at the fuse when the light FWD light is on.

 

All measurements were made with the -probe to the negative battery terminal, and the +probe to the fuse pins, with the car parked/running, and the FWD light on (steady).

 

Is the purpose of the light to advise the driver or technician that a fuse has been inserted for towing/troubleshooting?

 

Also, this might be a wild guess, but if this is a logic issue, what about disconnecting the battery to bleed any residual current from the microprocessors?

 

Or, would I need to reset any of the computer codes?

 

Is the AWD still engaged with the flickering light?

 

I need to find the schematic in the FSM that you sent, and reference the circuit.

 

It is a very lengthy manual. Any idea on the location for the schematic?

 

Thanks,

 

Gerry

Edited February 6, 201115 yr by Annie's LLB Outback