johnnyispy Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 A few days ago I notice that my front marker lights and my tail lights were no longer working. However my turn signals, head lights, and brake lights are working perfectly fine. I took the car in for a 1 hour diagnostic and the Subaru dealership has not worked on a Legacy Wagon of my vintage in a while and they were not sure how long it would take to find out where the short may be. So now, the race is on to source out the short before I make the 700 kilometre trip back home on the 1st of May. If anyone has a diagram I could purchase a copy of and download so I can look at the wiring nightmare with a point to point methodology it would be a real Life saver for my trip home for summer work. All the best and thanks again for any answers in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dj7291993 Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 Don't have one I can send you, but there is a fuse 5 in the main fuse box, and fuse 20 in the fuse and relay box. One is before the relay, one is after. Also, if the dealer told you they couldn't figure it out 'cause it's old, you need to find a different shop. How do they know it's a short? Have they narrowed it down to in the harness, because the rest shouldn't be too hard. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyispy Posted March 24, 2015 Author Share Posted March 24, 2015 Don't have one I can send you, but there is a fuse 5 in the main fuse box, and fuse 20 in the fuse and relay box. One is before the relay, one is after. Also, if the dealer told you they couldn't figure it out 'cause it's old, you need to find a different shop. How do they know it's a short? Have they narrowed it down to in the harness, because the rest shouldn't be too hard. I left with the sweet girl with them for 2 hours and the diagnostic was only to be a hour. I finally broke down and called them and they said the tech that was working on it would need a lot more time to pin down the problem and unfortunately he had to go home a hour after he started trying to source out the problem. This was with Richmond Subaru in British Columbia. I decided then after this response I would a find the resolution here on USMB or go drive back home during day time driving hours and go to my service award winning Subaru specialist in Calgary. Many thanks for your feed back always! Johnny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyispy Posted March 24, 2015 Author Share Posted March 24, 2015 Don't have one I can send you, but there is a fuse 5 in the main fuse box, and fuse 20 in the fuse and relay box. One is before the relay, one is after. Also, if the dealer told you they couldn't figure it out 'cause it's old, you need to find a different shop. How do they know it's a short? Have they narrowed it down to in the harness, because the rest shouldn't be too hard. Ok I should look those two fuses and see if they are blown I take it - will do as soon as possible. I have never tried to sort out this kind of problem however if I have a good guide I can do anything in the ways of fixing my car. Cheers and thanks for such a swift reply. Johnny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 Flip the parking light switch on top of the steering column a few times and see if they start working. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyispy Posted March 24, 2015 Author Share Posted March 24, 2015 Flip the parking light switch on top of the steering column a few times and see if they start working. Many thanks for the suggestion, I went out and turned her on and unfortunately no dice... however I think you may be on to something that it may be something in the steering column... I did find that the parking light switch was half way on when I noticed that lights were not reflecting in the window at work the other day when I turned her on.. Cheers, Johnny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ocei77 Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 Unfortunately the powers that be don't allow copy and paste functions. Nor did they wish to make a separate sticky for fsms. In the new gen faq page 2 under my name, there are links to the fsm. Lists 97 and 99, but 98 is the same body style. O. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmdew Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 Do you have the Security System installed? It ties into the marker lights as if the battery is disconnected, when it's hooked back up they will flash until you reset the security system. The black box is usually under the drivers side dash panel. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyispy Posted March 24, 2015 Author Share Posted March 24, 2015 Unfortunately the powers that be don't allow copy and paste functions. Nor did they wish to make a separate sticky for fsms. In the new gen faq page 2 under my name, there are links to the fsm. Lists 97 and 99, but 98 is the same body style. O. many thanks I will check this out after work today! J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyispy Posted March 24, 2015 Author Share Posted March 24, 2015 (edited) Do you have the Security System installed? It ties into the marker lights as if the battery is disconnected, when it's hooked back up they will flash until you reset the security system. The black box is usually under the drivers side dash panel. No electrical security system on my girl but thanks for taking the time in letting me now about this. All the best, J Edited March 28, 2015 by johnnyispy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 Do the parking lights work if you flip the top column switch On? Even when that switch is off all the power for the parking lights goes through a set of contacts in that switch, which makes it a common point for a power problem. If you've verified all of the fuses are good, pop the trim off of the column and see if you have power getting to the parking light switch. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyispy Posted March 25, 2015 Author Share Posted March 25, 2015 Do the parking lights work if you flip the top column switch On? Even when that switch is off all the power for the parking lights goes through a set of contacts in that switch, which makes it a common point for a power problem. If you've verified all of the fuses are good, pop the trim off of the column and see if you have power getting to the parking light switch. This is a great piece of information and Man alive the confidence on this message board is beyond what I got from Richmond Subaru! I will let you know when I have a moment to check it out! Cheers and God bless all of you because you know you're saving me 125.00 per hour for the use of professionals that don't this vehicle even though they are certified Subaru mechanics ! Johnny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloyale Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Parkin switch. Replace or just bypass and they will work 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyispy Posted March 26, 2015 Author Share Posted March 26, 2015 Parkin switch. Replace or just bypass and they will work Thanks for your Input - on my next day off I will go in there and sort it out. Best Regards! Johnny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilesFox Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 I have encountered this problem on a 96 legacy sedan where I ran a jumper between the headlamp fuse and the tail fuse thrust a switch. Advise your technician to troubleshoot a the headlight switch/ park lamp switch and it's grounding at the steering column . He should be able to call up a schematic on the subaru tech info system on the computer networks. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilesFox Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 I have encountered this problem on a 96 legacy sedan where I ran a jumper between the headlamp fuse and the tail fuse thrust a switch. Advise your technician to troubleshoot a the headlight switch/ park lamp switch and it's grounding at the steering column . He should be able to call up a schematic on the subaru tech info system on the computer networks. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
upnorthguy Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 If anyone has a diagram I could purchase a copy of and download so I can look at the wiring nightmare with a point to point methodology it would be a real Life saver for my trip home for summer work. Wiring diagram for your wagon can be found here: http://jdmfsm.info/Auto/Japan/Subaru/Legacy%20Outback/1998/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyispy Posted March 27, 2015 Author Share Posted March 27, 2015 Wiring diagram for your wagon can be found here: http://jdmfsm.info/Auto/Japan/Subaru/Legacy%20Outback/1998/ many thanks... this will work perfectly! warmest of regards to everyone who is helping me with this repair ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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