I NEED SOME HELP.I bought a 2004 legacy sedan a few mos ago.Subaru dealer told me inhibiter switch is the reverse/backup light switch...$80 for the switch,my mechanic(very good independent mechanic) put it in,checked fuse,replaced bulbs....still no backup lights.We are stumped and need your help.Thanks

I read wrong earlier and didn't see that you had already installed a new switch. You probably have a wiring problem of some sort if a new switch didn't help. I don't know if there is a relay involved in the reverse light circuit on that car. If there is then it could be bad.

Edited July 31, 200916 yr by Fairtax4me

Looking at a 2004 factory wiring diagram, things are a little confusing. It shows three different versions -- manual trans, and both 4-speed and 5-speed auto. I had thought that the 5-speed auto wasn't yet available on the 2004. The 5-speed uses a relay to switch the back-up lights. I'm going to assume that you have a 4EAT, and my following suggestions are based on wiring for that.

 

When in reverse, is 12 volts at the back-up lamp sockets (brown/yellow wires)? If so, check socket ground connection (black). If not, check that 12 volts is getting to inhibitor switch (pin #1, red/white wire of 12-pin connector T7). If 12 volts isn't at the inhibitor switch, check connection at other end of red/white wire (pin #9 of 12-pin connector T3 which mates with B12) near front of trans, becoming green/blue wire. If the problem doesn't get resolved with that info, let us know what you find -- I can post some more details based on what you report back.

I have this prob on 98 OBW. confirmed the reverse switch on the MT is functioning by accessing the connector in the engine bay. Applying 12V with a wire to the white/red wire has the back-up/reverse lights alight. Checked every fuse in the side panel - all ok. the wire diagram doesn't show a relay....but somewhere the brown/yellow (in the engine bay) must convert to the white/red under the dash (and to the rear)........... f*****in wiring!! how much needs to be pulled apart?