MY05 Legacy 3-litre auto: Dash lights came on this morning
Discussion
Had a bit of a shock driving to work this morning. The engine management and the traction control lights both came on, along with the cruise light which is blinking on and off.
Any ideas? The car seems to drive normally although I did wonder whether the transfer box has given up, or something. Haven't tried testing whether I have drive to the rear yet - and did actually wonder whether it was a "normally RWD" car where the transfer box provided front drive anyway.
I've tried starting the car since arriving at work, and it fires-up normally. Haven't taken it for a drive yet though.
Any ideas? The car seems to drive normally although I did wonder whether the transfer box has given up, or something. Haven't tried testing whether I have drive to the rear yet - and did actually wonder whether it was a "normally RWD" car where the transfer box provided front drive anyway.
I've tried starting the car since arriving at work, and it fires-up normally. Haven't taken it for a drive yet though.
I called Crossroads Subaru - they advised it was likely something trivial like a lambda sensor. Car drives OK and starts up with no extra cranking so I think you're right.
I have a VAG-COM cable and that SSM software. I'll give that a look later - I am not sure where to look to be honest but it can't be that hard, can it?
I have a VAG-COM cable and that SSM software. I'll give that a look later - I am not sure where to look to be honest but it can't be that hard, can it?
Thanks very much for the explanation - I'm not too far from Northampton (Redditch, Worcestershire) but I'll probably not be able to get there this side of Christmas.
I have some experience with other user-connectible ECUs like the Emerald so the concepts are understood but I'm careful because I'm not familiar with the layout of freeSSM and I know only too well how easily you can make a change permanent.
I'll have a look over the weekend. Thanks again.
I have some experience with other user-connectible ECUs like the Emerald so the concepts are understood but I'm careful because I'm not familiar with the layout of freeSSM and I know only too well how easily you can make a change permanent.
I'll have a look over the weekend. Thanks again.
ScoobieWRX said:
The only changes you can make are to timing and idle (carry overs from ECU Explorer), and they are just temporary changes while the software is live on your laptop. As soon as you disconnect from the ECU those settings revert to what's normally on the ECU.
There are no permanent changes you can make to the ECU using FreeSSM or that VAGCOM cable so nothing to worry about, they are not tuner tools like EcuTek or OS Type. It's very intuitive and easy to use, you'll be fine
Well that's great to hear. I will now act like a kid in a sweet shop. There are no permanent changes you can make to the ECU using FreeSSM or that VAGCOM cable so nothing to worry about, they are not tuner tools like EcuTek or OS Type. It's very intuitive and easy to use, you'll be fine
Great advice - I thank you for that..!!
RB Will said:
Had this with my Spec B. This is what I posted back then
"Hi all. I have a 2005 Subaru Legacy Spec B that has been behaving strangely lately.
I got an engine light and cruise control light flashing the other day. Cruise stopped working but nothing else was wrong. Exactly 48hours later the lights went out cruise is now working but the car kept stalling when coming to a stop.
I have had a friend plug a diagnostic unit into it and it came up with
PO420 - Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold Bank 1."
It did cure itself after 48 hours. Did it twice more while I owned the car.
Apparently it is the lambda playing up. It can just be caused by bad fuel not being burnt properly or things along those lines.
So it is possible your car is fine and it's just a bad tank of fuel or I would go with Crossroads and replace the lambda.
Wow, what's the likelihood of someone else getting this error..?? Fantastic."Hi all. I have a 2005 Subaru Legacy Spec B that has been behaving strangely lately.
I got an engine light and cruise control light flashing the other day. Cruise stopped working but nothing else was wrong. Exactly 48hours later the lights went out cruise is now working but the car kept stalling when coming to a stop.
I have had a friend plug a diagnostic unit into it and it came up with
PO420 - Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold Bank 1."
It did cure itself after 48 hours. Did it twice more while I owned the car.
Apparently it is the lambda playing up. It can just be caused by bad fuel not being burnt properly or things along those lines.
So it is possible your car is fine and it's just a bad tank of fuel or I would go with Crossroads and replace the lambda.
You know, I might try a tank of super next, just to see. If not, I was thinking maybe driving through the floods recently might have damaged the wiring. Just a thought.
I'll see what Crossroads can do - they're normally straight-up - if they can fix it instead of replacing something, they will.
Sorry for the late update...
I was running low on fuel - I tend to let the fuel light come on, then do another journey to work and back (60 miles) so it's properly empty. Thing is, the petrol station was out of SUL so I filled up again with normal UL. I get through it in a few days so didn't worry.
Went to work (30 miles), then when I started-up to go home the lights had all gone out. It's still OK (nearing the end of that tank and another 6 or 7 start-ups since).
Crossroads are having it tomorrow anyway (service) but I suspect "glitch" possibly related to poor fuel this time.
Thanks for the advice. I know a) not to panic next time, and b) how to resolve it.
I was running low on fuel - I tend to let the fuel light come on, then do another journey to work and back (60 miles) so it's properly empty. Thing is, the petrol station was out of SUL so I filled up again with normal UL. I get through it in a few days so didn't worry.
Went to work (30 miles), then when I started-up to go home the lights had all gone out. It's still OK (nearing the end of that tank and another 6 or 7 start-ups since).
Crossroads are having it tomorrow anyway (service) but I suspect "glitch" possibly related to poor fuel this time.
Thanks for the advice. I know a) not to panic next time, and b) how to resolve it.
I'm at Crossroads now. They've sent me out in an XV (Outback-style Impreza) to see how I'd get on with the diesel but I'm not sold on it.
I think I'll probably come back for a new top-of-the-range Outback 3.6 litre auto next year. Can't find a fault with it (and I can afford not to worry too much about fuel economy). It's every car I'd ever need.
I think I'll probably come back for a new top-of-the-range Outback 3.6 litre auto next year. Can't find a fault with it (and I can afford not to worry too much about fuel economy). It's every car I'd ever need.
ScoobieWRX said:
Just don't forget the 99RON!! 
They said the error represents itself as a catalyser failure/terminal inefficiency but as the problem appears to have gone away, they suspect either dodgy fuel or some "drying out" since I drove through the floods a couple of weeks back.They have done a spectacular job on my brakes which were juddering really badly.
AAAAAND the problem's back.
I think it's wise I look for some 2nd hand parts but could you confirm that if this is a catalyser issue then it will be a problem with those in the manifolds rather than the 3rd cat after the manifolds meet? I *think* there's only an O2 sensor in each of the manifolds, so they wouldn't detect an issue with the 3rd cat would they?
If you can confirm that I'll go searching for a pair of manifold cats and/or a pair of O2 sensors.
Anyone got any for sale, while I'm here?
I think it's wise I look for some 2nd hand parts but could you confirm that if this is a catalyser issue then it will be a problem with those in the manifolds rather than the 3rd cat after the manifolds meet? I *think* there's only an O2 sensor in each of the manifolds, so they wouldn't detect an issue with the 3rd cat would they?
If you can confirm that I'll go searching for a pair of manifold cats and/or a pair of O2 sensors.
Anyone got any for sale, while I'm here?
On the way to work yesterday the power steering failed and the battery light came on. I know a bit about cars so I considered it must be a belt and once I'd stopped, sure enough the multi-function drive belt was found to be hanging loose. I had no way of inspecting further (wearing my suit) so I wrestled it to my favourite garage for their diagnosis. CRIKEY it was heavy.
I was dreading them telling me that they couldn't find a cause for the belt having fallen off - there's nothing worse than fixing a problem when you're not sure what the cause was in the first place. Thankfully (I think) they found the tensioner had parted company so they ordered me a new tensioner pulley and belt (the old belt was relatively new but it's worth it for a tenner). I've no idea why the old tensioner fell off but having just collected the car I have found that ALL the dashboard lights have now gone off again.
So I'm left wondering if there has been a long-term issue with the tensioner and this is all related.
I really must go and interrogate the ECU. I wish I had more time (and fewer nags to do things around the house).
I was dreading them telling me that they couldn't find a cause for the belt having fallen off - there's nothing worse than fixing a problem when you're not sure what the cause was in the first place. Thankfully (I think) they found the tensioner had parted company so they ordered me a new tensioner pulley and belt (the old belt was relatively new but it's worth it for a tenner). I've no idea why the old tensioner fell off but having just collected the car I have found that ALL the dashboard lights have now gone off again.
So I'm left wondering if there has been a long-term issue with the tensioner and this is all related.
I really must go and interrogate the ECU. I wish I had more time (and fewer nags to do things around the house).
I did question whether it could have been put back incorrectly because it was a Subaru dealer that serviced it last (and they are spot-on for the work they do). The manager said it was the wheel only that fell off, implying a bracket remained. I didn't see it so I can't qualify that but no sense of impropriety was implied.
Dash lights still off - 3rd time I've used the car since collecting.
Dash lights still off - 3rd time I've used the car since collecting.
Yes, the lights came back. This time I searched for my cable (and failed) so instead I plugged-in my bluetooth OBD connector and fired-up Torque on my new Nexus. It's reporting imminent catalyser failure so I chose to reset the error and pretend I didn't see it.
I only have 2 months left with the car. I'm not going to buy anything new but if anyone does have any 2nd hand cats, I'd entertain buying them.
I **think** (if I read it right) that all 4 sensors are providing feedback to the app, which means I'm more confident in the assessment that it's the cats and not the sensors. My uncertainty arose from the fact that there are actually 8 feedback lines from the sensors (all green). I'll make a note of what they are next time and write it here.
I only have 2 months left with the car. I'm not going to buy anything new but if anyone does have any 2nd hand cats, I'd entertain buying them.
I **think** (if I read it right) that all 4 sensors are providing feedback to the app, which means I'm more confident in the assessment that it's the cats and not the sensors. My uncertainty arose from the fact that there are actually 8 feedback lines from the sensors (all green). I'll make a note of what they are next time and write it here.
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