My 97 legacy is on the road after new valves and timing tensioner. New problem is the headlights turn off but i have to disconnect the battery to get park and tail lights to turn off. Please help

I'm new to the forum and Subarus but have had unfortunate electrical with others in the past. Could be one of a multitude of issues. Anything from a faulty switch to a wire that got "nicked" during the repairs. Stripped wires can backfeed through anything they touch.

You do know about the parkling light switch on top of the steering column, right? In the "on" position, your parking lights stay on after the key is turned off.

 

(This is probably the single, most-asked-about situation in the history of this forum.  Trust me on this.)

Is your 3rd brake light illuminated too? If so, it can actually be a failed brake light switch to an issue with the brake pedal retaining a semi-pressed state.

 

Most cars have the switch behind or near the pedal stem, and are a simple press button switch that either creates a circuit or breaks the circuit. Most have a single wire connector. Unhook it and check if the lights went out. If they do, replace the switch.

 

If you MUST drive the car, leave it unhooked and use your headlight switch and turn it to "park" every time you stop. That'll at least let people know you are stopping, OR rig a switch to that wire and press it every time you stop. That can get you to work until you fix it, but can be dangerous so use with caution and fix ASAP.

 

If it's your actual lights, it might be the head light switch, though it's more likely the brake switch is faulty. I've seen this several times with other cars. Brake lights will also work with key out of ignition.

 

EDIT: NVM. Missed the part about the parking lights. Thought it was just in the rear for some reason. CCRinc has the issue pegged. Turn the "Park" switch off.

Edited October 5, 201510 yr by Bushwick

Like I said.... New to Subies and the forum. Already learned something new. Had no clue about that switch. Thnx

You aren't the first person to have run into that It's a strange feature by US car standards where the parking light is always operated by the headlight switch. I forgot mine even had it until CCRINC mentioned it.

With the parking switch off, hold it in down with a short piece of sticky electricians' tape.

Do that, and it will never happen again!