The running lights and license plate light have all mysteriously quit on my 96 Outback Wagon. The headlights work. The turn signals and flashers work. All fuses look intact. Can anyone tell me if there's a simple (or not so simple) solution to this? (This is my first posting on what looks like a really good forum. I love the internet for this kind of thing.) Thanks.

The 12 volt power wiring diagam I have shows a tail & illumination relay. I don't have the diagram for the parking lights.

 

Maybe this relay is in the fuse panel or under the panel below the steering column. My wife has the car, or I would go out and check.

Just found my diagram.

 

If you still have your instrument panel lights and all other illumination, then the relay is working.

 

Do they come on with your parking light switch on top of the steering column?

If so, the 12 volts for the lights go thru that switch in the OFF position when the normal lights switch is turned on. After going thru the switch it goes thru Fuse No 5 to the front and rear lights.

 

Maybe your parking light switch is stuck in the middle? Cycle it a few times and see what happens.

Thanks Tiny, you're absolutely right: the relay switch was still working because I did have the dashboard lights; and the parking light switch on the top of the steering column was just barely engaged, which apparently caused the link to be broken through that circuit. The switch must have been inadvertantly brushed by me or my wife just enough to not be fully engaged or disengaged, if that makes sense. I don't mind looking like an idiot for such a simple solution! Thanks for the reply. I have my running lights back! (If only all problems were fixed this easily....)

Hmmmm, I believe that 'Langhammer" may be the BBs first documented 'Subaru semi-virgin'

 

Still LOL