Strange electrical issuse

Codyman · 09-12-2010, 07:51 PM

Ok, so I have a '05 wrx with 60,000 miles. manual tran. My parking brake light is on as well as my abs light. at times, when i am stopped, my speedo goes to 20mph and back to 0. And if im clutched in coasting to a stop sign, my speedo goes to 0. I can get my Speedo to go to 0 also if I hit my A/C. Along with these issues, My cruise control doesnt turn on, only my day time running lights engage, so my high beams do not work.

Now, I have a squeeking sound coming from my rear passenger wheel. Im thinking a brake pad or parking brake dragging. Could that have overheated a speed sensor, abs sensor thing? Also, Both times this has happened I have towed a light boat. would the wiring harness short something? if so where can I find the fuse. Not sure what to check, but rather do it myself than pay for it if I can help it.

Thanks

Codyman · 09-17-2010, 12:20 AM

bump. Nobody?
Thinking its the alternator or rear abs speed sensor.

ProdriveDreams · 09-17-2010, 06:22 PM

i would start with checking all the body grounds with the effected circuits, sounds like a loose wire, and possibly some blowwn fuses. Ground connection issues cause REALLY weird symptoms. Whats been done to the car electrically? any gauges, mods, extra lighting etc.?

Cougar4 · 09-18-2010, 02:44 AM

Try cleaning the battery connections and the chassis ground from the battery. If that doesn't help you may have a bad alternator that is causing excessive ripple voltage due to bad diodes.

Hashidiya · 09-19-2010, 08:39 AM

I had/have an elusive problem as well. My symptoms include headlight/gauge flicker, radio cuts in and out, occasional clicks with turn-over. All of this happens at higher rpms in 2nd and 3rd gear only after start-up. After the car has been driven around, the problems dissipate. The alternator has been replaced twice by Subaru, as has the battery, clock module, clutch switch and a few associated items. The battery terminals are clean and the grounds are tight. So far they can't determine the problem.

Cougar4 · 09-19-2010, 12:34 PM

The troubles you are having appear to be seperate issues. Check the things I mentioned in my first post on this. Hopefully that will solve the gauge issue. The other things like the cruise control and light troubles may require a wiring diagram to help solve the issues. You will be way ahead if you purchase some factory info on the wiring. Ebay is a good place to go for that or download the info from Subaru for a small fee. You should also have at least a test light probe to check power with.

200xpdi · 09-19-2010, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Codyman

Ok, so I have a '05 wrx with 60,000 miles. manual tran. My parking brake light is on as well as my abs light. at times, when i am stopped, my speedo goes to 20mph and back to 0. And if im clutched in coasting to a stop sign, my speedo goes to 0. I can get my Speedo to go to 0 also if I hit my A/C. Along with these issues, My cruise control doesnt turn on, only my day time running lights engage, so my high beams do not work.

Now, I have a squeeking sound coming from my rear passenger wheel. Im thinking a brake pad or parking brake dragging. Could that have overheated a speed sensor, abs sensor thing? Also, Both times this has happened I have towed a light boat. would the wiring harness short something? if so where can I find the fuse. Not sure what to check, but rather do it myself than pay for it if I can help it.

Thanks

I am having the EXACT SAME issue with my '04. My headlights and interior lights will not turn on and my ABS, brake, and "security" lights are always on. I recently installed a Defi boost gauge and ever since then I've had issues. I am a complete airhead when it comes to the electrical system. Let me know what route you take to solve this and I will do the same if I figure it out first.

NitroTrike · 09-19-2010, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 200xpdi

I am having the EXACT SAME issue with my '04. My headlights and interior lights will not turn on and my ABS, brake, and "security" lights are always on. I recently installed a Defi boost gauge and ever since then I've had issues. I am a complete airhead when it comes to the electrical system. Let me know what route you take to solve this and I will do the same if I figure it out first.

You kind of answered your own question on this one. Check and double check the gauge wiring - or better yet, take it all out. If the problem goes away, you know you that you tapped into something you weren't supposed to, and the gauge is now acting like shunt and putting power to a ground, wrong circuit, etc.

Codyman · 09-20-2010, 12:51 AM

Ill try some checking. I checked the alternator, puts out steady voltage, 14. soemthing. all stock,, no guages. New battery so terminals should be good. didnt see any corosion. latest thing is that my drl's dont go out with my parking brake on. Really need my car working, so before it gets worse i think im going to take it in. Let you know what i find out.

Cougar4 · 09-20-2010, 09:29 AM

The DC output voltage appears to be ok but there may be excessive ripple voltage coming from the alternator due to bad internal diodes. With the engine running around 2,000 RPM and using a digital voltmeter set up to measure AC voltage, check the voltage across the battery. If you have more than .1 AC volts there is a problem with the diodes.

Codyman · 09-23-2010, 11:47 PM

Ok, so turned out that the number 18 fuse was blown... def didnt check all those. on a positive note, cost less than i was expecting.

09-12-2010, 07:51 PM	#1
Codyman Scooby Newbie Member#: 178801 Join Date: Apr 2008 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Vehicle: 2005 subaru WRX wrb	Strange electrical issuse Ok, so I have a '05 wrx with 60,000 miles. manual tran. My parking brake light is on as well as my abs light. at times, when i am stopped, my speedo goes to 20mph and back to 0. And if im clutched in coasting to a stop sign, my speedo goes to 0. I can get my Speedo to go to 0 also if I hit my A/C. Along with these issues, My cruise control doesnt turn on, only my day time running lights engage, so my high beams do not work. Now, I have a squeeking sound coming from my rear passenger wheel. Im thinking a brake pad or parking brake dragging. Could that have overheated a speed sensor, abs sensor thing? Also, Both times this has happened I have towed a light boat. would the wiring harness short something? if so where can I find the fuse. Not sure what to check, but rather do it myself than pay for it if I can help it. Thanks

09-19-2010, 08:39 AM	#5
Hashidiya Scooby Newbie Member#: 185788 Join Date: Jul 2008 Chapter/Region: AKIC Location: Anchorage, AK Vehicle: 2006 Touge1 WRX Obsidian Black Pearl	Elusive electrical problem I had/have an elusive problem as well. My symptoms include headlight/gauge flicker, radio cuts in and out, occasional clicks with turn-over. All of this happens at higher rpms in 2nd and 3rd gear only after start-up. After the car has been driven around, the problems dissipate. The alternator has been replaced twice by Subaru, as has the battery, clock module, clutch switch and a few associated items. The battery terminals are clean and the grounds are tight. So far they can't determine the problem.

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09-17-2010, 12:20 AM	#2
Codyman Scooby Newbie Member#: 178801 Join Date: Apr 2008 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Vehicle: 2005 subaru WRX wrb	bump. Nobody? Thinking its the alternator or rear abs speed sensor.

09-17-2010, 06:22 PM	#3
ProdriveDreams Scooby Specialist Member#: 146819 Join Date: Apr 2007 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Boston / Ipswich, MA Vehicle: '02 WRB VF-39'd WRX W/06 STi Drivetrain swap	i would start with checking all the body grounds with the effected circuits, sounds like a loose wire, and possibly some blowwn fuses. Ground connection issues cause REALLY weird symptoms. Whats been done to the car electrically? any gauges, mods, extra lighting etc.?

09-18-2010, 02:44 AM	#4
Cougar4 Scooby Specialist Member#: 53443 Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Anchorage, AK Vehicle: 2001 LL Bean Outback Winestone	Try cleaning the battery connections and the chassis ground from the battery. If that doesn't help you may have a bad alternator that is causing excessive ripple voltage due to bad diodes.

09-19-2010, 12:34 PM	#6
Cougar4 Scooby Specialist Member#: 53443 Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Anchorage, AK Vehicle: 2001 LL Bean Outback Winestone	The troubles you are having appear to be seperate issues. Check the things I mentioned in my first post on this. Hopefully that will solve the gauge issue. The other things like the cruise control and light troubles may require a wiring diagram to help solve the issues. You will be way ahead if you purchase some factory info on the wiring. Ebay is a good place to go for that or download the info from Subaru for a small fee. You should also have at least a test light probe to check power with.

09-20-2010, 12:51 AM	#9
Codyman Scooby Newbie Member#: 178801 Join Date: Apr 2008 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Vehicle: 2005 subaru WRX wrb	Ill try some checking. I checked the alternator, puts out steady voltage, 14. soemthing. all stock,, no guages. New battery so terminals should be good. didnt see any corosion. latest thing is that my drl's dont go out with my parking brake on. Really need my car working, so before it gets worse i think im going to take it in. Let you know what i find out.

09-20-2010, 09:29 AM	#10
Cougar4 Scooby Specialist Member#: 53443 Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Anchorage, AK Vehicle: 2001 LL Bean Outback Winestone	The DC output voltage appears to be ok but there may be excessive ripple voltage coming from the alternator due to bad internal diodes. With the engine running around 2,000 RPM and using a digital voltmeter set up to measure AC voltage, check the voltage across the battery. If you have more than .1 AC volts there is a problem with the diodes.

09-23-2010, 11:47 PM	#11
Codyman Scooby Newbie Member#: 178801 Join Date: Apr 2008 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Vehicle: 2005 subaru WRX wrb	Ok, so turned out that the number 18 fuse was blown... def didnt check all those. on a positive note, cost less than i was expecting.