Have a big snowstorm here. A lot of spining trying to get out where the snow's piled in the medians. Check Engine Light, ABS Light on, Cruise Flashing. R 55 where trip meter is. Car seems to run ok although rough idle a little. Checked with my code reader and nothing. Drivetrain covered in ice. Any ideas? Is it safe to drive?

 

John

It's an '05 fergawds sake, make Subaru find out what's wrong and fix it. AND give you another one to drive while they're screwing around with yours.

We would just take it to the dealership but we've had a big storm and everything is shut down. Tomorrow is Christmas eve and we don't know if they'll be open. Trying to find out if it's safe to drive.

We would just take it to the dealership but we've had a big storm and everything is shut down. Tomorrow is Christmas eve and we don't know if they'll be open. Trying to find out if it's safe to drive.

From that I would say no. Stay put and have a good Christmas. When the dealership opens up, take it to them and make them fix it. Do not do anything that could void your warranty (like driving in severe conditions) in the meantime. . .

Can you get it out of the weather and thawed out? I suppose all the AutoZones and Checkers and so on are closed so you can't get the codes read. I'd pull the negative battery cable off for an hour and reset the computer (battery dance) and see how it is when it starts up again.

 

1. Pull negative cable off.

2. Let sit at least 1/2 hour.

3. Reconnect cable and restart without touching the gas pedal.

4. Let idle for fifteen minutes or so.

 

Go drive it and see if it's straightened out.

 

The drivetrain covered in ice? I don't know. We've driven our '00 Legacy in a foot of unplowed snow, and in temps down to -27F and never had a problem, or even felt like it was doing anything out-of-the-ordinary.

Call the dealership. Advise them of your loss of use of car, have them flatbed the car to the dealership. You might ask that they provide you a loaner and have the flatbed drop it off and pick it up with the exchange of your car. Why should you be inconvenienced in the least. If this happened away from home, I believe their warranty coverage might provide you compensation for lodging. Take the missus via taxi to a nice local lodge, celebrate Christmas and send SOA a bill. Might as well enjoy the eggnog as long as you're taking a taxi!

I have an OBD Reader and it didn't have any codes stored. No way to get it in anywhere. Our 1 car garage is full of stuff, since we have no basement. I'll try the battery cable tomorrow. Supposed to be 2 degrees tonight.

 

See what tomorrow holds.

 

John

Man, it's colder down there in the south than it is here in Montana 25 air miles from the Canadian border! Our lowest so far was last night at +10F.

 

Go out and unhook the batt now and leave it off all night. Can't hurt, might help.

 

Kick back, light up a blazing fire and have a snifter of brandy.

 

That's what I'm gonna do as soon as I get home (after picking up the '95 with new CV).

Appears to be the gas cap was not tightened. Tightened it, reset the computer by disconnecting the battery. so far the lights have not come back and car seems to be fine.

 

 

John