Legacy estate 2.5

Legacy estate 2.5

Author
Discussion

rene7

Original Poster:

535 posts

84 months

Monday 14th December 2020
quotequote all
Hey guys
After 8 years of warning light free motoring, driving my gen4 2.5 legacy sport wagon - Yesterday my airbag warning light came on? Anyone know what may have caused this - and how do I cure it? Other than this car runs perfectly;) Any Ideas??
TA
Rene

TEKNOPUG

18,977 posts

206 months

Monday 14th December 2020
quotequote all
Does it have airbag seats?

rene7

Original Poster:

535 posts

84 months

Monday 14th December 2020
quotequote all
TECKNOPUG
Good Q - Just checked there's an SRS Airbag tag on side of front seats - Any Ideas?
TA
Rene

TEKNOPUG

18,977 posts

206 months

Monday 14th December 2020
quotequote all
There are connectors under the seats and under the airbag in the wheel. Any of these could have become disconnected or damaged. Or there is a break in the wiring somewhere. The airbag light is triggered by a break in circuit continuity.

rene7

Original Poster:

535 posts

84 months

Monday 14th December 2020
quotequote all
Teknopug
Thanks for that will check the connections
Rene

gforceg

3,524 posts

180 months

Monday 14th December 2020
quotequote all
My Legacy was part of a safety recall a couple of years ago to replace the (ISTR) passenger side bag. Maybe worth checking if it had the work done. Do you remember getting a letter from Subaru or getting it done?

rene7

Original Poster:

535 posts

84 months

Tuesday 15th December 2020
quotequote all
Teknopug
I've checked all seat connections all look OK - light is still on though - Do I need to reset the system? if so how do I do it? On the wifes VW Beetle which is prone to warning lights I have to plug in a 'thingy' to do this - Is the subaru the same?
TA
Rene
>
gforceg
AFAIK my car was not recalled for any seat airbag problem
Rene

TEKNOPUG

18,977 posts

206 months

Tuesday 15th December 2020
quotequote all
What year is it?

rene7

Original Poster:

535 posts

84 months

Tuesday 15th December 2020
quotequote all
Teknopug
Thanks for reply
2005
>Rene

bern

1,263 posts

221 months

Tuesday 15th December 2020
quotequote all
Worth reading the codes.

Do you know the trick with the two wires under the dash? Worth asking in case i don't have to type it out!

rene7

Original Poster:

535 posts

84 months

Tuesday 15th December 2020
quotequote all
bern
thanks for reply - no I don't know about the 2 wires under the dash - please tellsmile
It's been 8 years of trouble free motoring so far a great carthumbup
Rene

TEKNOPUG

18,977 posts

206 months

Tuesday 15th December 2020
quotequote all
You can reset the airbag light but if there is an actual fault, it will just come back on again.

I have a 2002 and 2005 Impreza and the wiring and connectors are all very reliable from my experience. So I would suggest that there is a loose connection/damaged wire somewhere. Under the seats is the usual suspect as they are the most vulnerable from things being kicked underneath and getting trapped on the runners.

Have you removed the wheel airbag to check the connection? Sometimes the clock ring can get damaged. If you can identify where the fault is, it should be easy to fix. Alternatively, you can just fit a resistor into the connection which fools the Airbag sensor that all is fine and turns the light off. They cost pennies. You need to find where the fault is first though.

Assuming that a 2005 Legacy uses the same system as a 2005 Impreza, you need these resistors: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Carbon-Resistor-0-25w-1...

Bend the wires back and then insert them in the 2 holes from the disconnected airbag connection. If the airbag light goes off, that's where the fault is. It maybe easier to remove the seats.

rene7

Original Poster:

535 posts

84 months

Tuesday 15th December 2020
quotequote all
teknopug
>
OK I'll take the seats out - not today though it's Raining heavy at the mofrown
TA
Rene
ps what's the 2 wire under the dash test mentioned by 'bern' any ideas?
Rene

TEKNOPUG

18,977 posts

206 months

Tuesday 15th December 2020
quotequote all
On older cars there are test connectors under the dash, which when connected flash the CEL light in orders which identify any error codes.

bern

1,263 posts

221 months

Tuesday 15th December 2020
quotequote all
rene7 said:
bern
thanks for reply - no I don't know about the 2 wires under the dash - please tellsmile
It's been 8 years of trouble free motoring so far a great carthumbup
Rene
No worries.

Open the flap under the dash to the right of the steering wheel, where the immobiliser panel is. Tucked up there are two (green from memory) wires with a male and female plug on each end. It is sometimes easier to find them by removing the end panel from the dash if they have never been used before they may be still taped up to the loom. Once you've found them;

• Connect the wires together.
• Then turn on the ignition so the dash lights up but not so far that the engine turns on.
• As the dials do their sweep press the trip reset butting on the instrument cluster.
• The trip mileage display will change to show any active codes.
• P codes are for powertrain (engine gearbox) and C codes are for the chassis.

You can’t reset them but in my experience with my Legacy if you cure the problem the lights gout by themselves.

rene7

Original Poster:

535 posts

84 months

Tuesday 15th December 2020
quotequote all
bern
many thanks for that - will try to find them wires when the bloody rain stops smile
TA
Rene

MDMA .

8,917 posts

102 months

Tuesday 15th December 2020
quotequote all
bern said:
rene7 said:
bern
thanks for reply - no I don't know about the 2 wires under the dash - please tellsmile
It's been 8 years of trouble free motoring so far a great carthumbup
Rene
No worries.

Open the flap under the dash to the right of the steering wheel, where the immobiliser panel is. Tucked up there are two (green from memory) wires with a male and female plug on each end. It is sometimes easier to find them by removing the end panel from the dash if they have never been used before they may be still taped up to the loom. Once you've found them;

• Connect the wires together.
• Then turn on the ignition so the dash lights up but not so far that the engine turns on.
• As the dials do their sweep press the trip reset butting on the instrument cluster.
• The trip mileage display will change to show any active codes.
• P codes are for powertrain (engine gearbox) and C codes are for the chassis.

You can’t reset them but in my experience with my Legacy if you cure the problem the lights gout by themselves.
The panel on mine (same car) where the wires are is the lower trim (footwell) panel.

rene7

Original Poster:

535 posts

84 months

Friday 18th December 2020
quotequote all
Guys thanks for your help so far - Unfortunately its still bloody raining so I've been unable to try all your suggestions, will do so hopefully soonsmile
TA
rene

TEKNOPUG

18,977 posts

206 months

Friday 18th December 2020
quotequote all
rene7 said:
Guys thanks for your help so far - Unfortunately its still bloody raining so I've been unable to try all your suggestions, will do so hopefully soonsmile
TA
rene
I don't think the codes will tell you anything more than there is an airbag fault.

rene7

Original Poster:

535 posts

84 months

Monday 15th February 2021
quotequote all
Sorry for the long delay in replying - Finally got this sortedsmile
After several weeks of frustration, all it turned out to be was a knackered alternator which also managed to knacker [one cell of] the 6 year old battery. I simply wouldn't believe that a knackerd alternator/battery combo would light up my ABS & airbag lights - but hey that's modern electronics for yousmile
>
For anyone with similar symptoms - the key is to check the battery voltage after leaving it standing overnight - it needs to be at least 12.5 Volts + when under load [connect a old headlight [main beam] unit to it and leave it on for a few minutes] - If not swop the battery, for a new one - also check:-
The alternator output voltage needs to be 13.5 Volts+ with the engine at tickover, if not then you need a new alternator too [my shiny new alternator output voltage is 18Volts] smile - Easy to check both of these with a volt meter thumbup
Once again thanks to all who helped on this thumbup