Client was driving to work when all the gauges on the instrument panel started to move sporadically back and forth. He then noticed that his car was loosing power and it came to a stop. Towed car in. Battery was still full. Here are a list of symptoms:
1) Car turns over but will not start.
2) OBDII computer when plugged in does not recognize that the car is plugged into it.
3) When you remove the key, all the warning lights on the instrument panel stay on with full battery. With weak battery you can turn the key on and off and remove and instrument panel lights will turn off but it will not turn over.
4) Disconnecting the key ignition switch at connector does not turn dash warning lights off.
5) Only way to turn off lights is to disconnect relay (ignition switch relay far left below fuses on drivers side left and below steering column) When you plug it back in instrument panel lights stay off.
6) Removed carpet to look at ECM. Looks like connections are good and no water around. No burnt smell.
7) Odometer and time stays on regardless of battery state. Not sure if they always stay on or if that is a Subaru thing.
8) With weak or strong battery OBDII will not recognize connection to car.
9) We had an unusual amount of rain or multiple storms the few days prior to the car coming in (salt lake city, utah).
10) Last work done was a tune up or recommended maintenance about 20k ago.
1) Car turns over but will not start.
2) OBDII computer when plugged in does not recognize that the car is plugged into it.
3) When you remove the key, all the warning lights on the instrument panel stay on with full battery. With weak battery you can turn the key on and off and remove and instrument panel lights will turn off but it will not turn over.
4) Disconnecting the key ignition switch at connector does not turn dash warning lights off.
5) Only way to turn off lights is to disconnect relay (ignition switch relay far left below fuses on drivers side left and below steering column) When you plug it back in instrument panel lights stay off.
6) Removed carpet to look at ECM. Looks like connections are good and no water around. No burnt smell.
7) Odometer and time stays on regardless of battery state. Not sure if they always stay on or if that is a Subaru thing.
8) With weak or strong battery OBDII will not recognize connection to car.
9) We had an unusual amount of rain or multiple storms the few days prior to the car coming in (salt lake city, utah).
10) Last work done was a tune up or recommended maintenance about 20k ago.
Sep 3, 2014 at 5:39 PM
