Need help identifying electical issue

[WRXorcism]

Below is a picture of something, I believe may be a flasher but need confirmation. When the headlights are turned to off on the stalk this thing clicks like crazy non-stop but as soon as I turn the headlights to on the clicking goes away. I'm assuming this means it needs to be replaced? My high beams don't work at all and I'm having other random electrical issues and I was hoping this may be the cause.

Edit: After looking at parts online it appears to be either the ABS Modulator relay or the Cruise control relay...any thoughts?

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[Cougar4]

I think those are relays you have shown. They do use relays in the headlight circuit. The sound you are hearing may be coming from the relay but the trouble is most likely with the switch contacts being dirty. Try disconnecting the switch an see if the sound stops.

[WRXorcism]

I disconnected the stalk(that's what you meant by switch, right?) and the clicking continued. I did take the stalk apart a long time ago and cleaned the contacts thinking that was my issue but obviously that wasn't the problem.

On a side note, I was wrong it is actually the lower relay not the one I pointed too...

[Cougar4]

I'm not sure what the relay is used with unless those are the left and right side headlight relays. Try disconnecting the relay and see what happens to the headlights. It may also be for flashing the high beams so check that also. You could also try swapping the two relays and then see what happens.

[WRXorcism]

I unplugged the relay and started the car, and a relay in the passenger foot well area started clicking...the car also ran like complete crap and threw a code.

Nothing changed concerning the headlights with the relay unplugged.

[Cougar4]

I can't seem to find out what those relays are used for. You stated the bottom one changes rapidly with the headlights off but stops when they are on, yet the relay has no effect on the lights and the engine runs poorly. We need to find out what those relays by the fuse panel do.

[Seahawk]

What electrical mods do you have? I see two wires coming from two different fuses in the picture.

[WRXorcism]

Seahawk - those are just for the gauges, the issue was there before I installed the gauges.

Cougar - I cleared the CEL that came on because at the time I didn't have access to a tactrix but I just got mine back and of course the CEL isn't coming on now when I unplug that relay. However, with the relay unplugged now the headlights/cluster/dome light is flickering on and off so there is some weird electrical thing going on for sure.

I am going to try and get the CEL to come back on so hopefully that will give me some idea.

edit: With the headlights switch off, the headlights/cluster/dome lights flicker AND the idle fluctuates(drops like there is a loss in voltage/current or something) with the flickering...with the headlight switch on none of the other lights flicker.

2nd edit: I popped the hood with the headlights flickering and I can hear both of the headlight relays clicking and the fan is cutting on and off soooooooooooooo yea I have no idea

[Subbiespeed]

i don't think this is right but if the diagram is the same as my 2000 rs then the top one is front fog light relay and the bottom is power window relay but its setup the same on mine...ill be working on the car for a while tomorrow ill take a look again and see if it comes out the same...flasher should be apart of ur emergency lights so i know its not that

[Cougar4]

This problem is a strange one. From what you state about what happens when the bottom relay is pulled out it makes me think of two possible causes. Either excessive AC ripple voltage from the alternator or bad grounding at the engine. To check the alternator remove the connection on the back side of the alternator to disable it. Then start the engine and see if the things you mention change at all. If they don't then the alternator isn't causing the trouble. Shut the engine off and reconnect the alternator connector. For the next test we will need a jumper wire tied between the negative battery post and a good ground point on the engine block. See if that changes anything doing that.

Thanks for the input Subbiespeed. You may be correct on what you say there and that can help.

[WRXorcism]

Ok I'll try both of those tests this weekend, thanks for the help.

[WRXorcism]

Okay, first I swapped the relays and had the same result.

With the relay unplugged:

I grounded to the engine at the intake manifold where there was already a ground, is this good or should I try somewhere else? The ground did not change anything.

I unplugged both the power and electrical connector from the alternator and the lights flashed for a second right when I started the car and then it did not do it again.

Plugged the relay back in with the alternator disconnected and the relay started clicking again.

[Cougar4]

So are you saying the lights quit flashing and the fans stopped turning on and off when the alternator was disconnected? If so, then the alternator may need to be replaced. There may be a second problem causing the relay to click.

There is a set of single wires with plugs on them that are used when trouble shooting needs to be done. They may be close to the ECU. Normally they are left disconnected when not needed. Make sure those connectors are seperated.

[WRXorcism]

Are you referring to the green connectors? If so, I am familiar with them and no they are not connected.

Yes I just re-confirmed that with the alternator disconnected, the fans/lights turning on and off no longer occurs. I guess I will start with replacing that and then go from there.

[Cougar4]

Replacing the alternator should clear up those problems at least. It is most likely producing too much AC ripple voltage which is effecting some blocking diodes possibly. As for the clicking relay issue it may be that they are really circuit breakers and not relays. Circuit breakers are usually used for the wiper and power window circuits in case there is a temporary overload problem and so the circuit will reset in a short amount of time and work again. Check to see if those systems still work when the one that clicks is removed from the socket. If one of those systems doesn't work we will have pinned the function down.

I was refering to the diagnostic connectors. Glad to hear you know about them.

[WRXorcism]

This is the part: http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/de...3-1635858.html

Not that that tells me what it is used for but apparently it is a multipurpose relay...The ABS light comes on when I unplug the relay so I'm thinking it is the "ABS Modulator Relay" (This relay is on RockAuto's website and looks just like the relay I have)

Denso 056700-5260 is the part number

edit: After googling around a bit I found this forum discussion: http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulle...77/index2.html

In this thread someone says that one of the relays is for the blower motor and the other is for accessories....I'm getting more and more confused the more I look

UPDATE: I decided to start pulling fuses and I pulled the fuse listed as "Back" and it was blown. I swapped in another fuse and with the relay unplugged the high beams worked! Now the issue, I plugged in the relay and when I tried to turn on the high beams the fuse blew again...please tell me this helps you somehow lol

[Cougar4]

Good work. We are making progress on this. Since the ABS light comes on when you pull the relay out it would seem that the relay is tied to the ABS system somhow. Why it is causing a problem with the headlights is still a mystery to me but it seems the two circuits are crossed somewhere. Are there any mods done to the headlights? If so that would be something to check out.

I'm not sure what the BACK fuse is tied to unless it is for the backup lights possibly and other areas. Do the backup lights work if that fuse is removed?

[WRXorcism]

The previous owner had aftermarket HIDs installed when I got the car and I took those out and went back to the stock setup. I suppose I may have taken something out/disconnected something when I was taking that out but the problems didn't start until a few months after I did that.

The reverse lights have not worked since I got the car, the previous owner said it was because of the 6 speed swap but I thought the reverse lights typically still worked as long as everything was hooked up right. I swapped a working fuse in the back spot and the reverse lights still did not come on.

After reading another thread about a kinda similar situation(I think you actually commented in the thread Cougar) someone said to disconnect the neg battery cable and connect a test light from the neg battery post to ground and if the light comes on then there is a draw. I did this, but used a multimeter instead, and there was a voltage there...not sure if this helps/means anything

[Cougar4]

I am farily certain the BACK fuse supplies power to the rear lights along with other things. It may be the license plate lights that I am thinking of instead of the reverse lights. I don't know why replacing that fuse allowed the high beams to turn on. I don't have access to my service data to refer to.

You should be able to get the reverse lights to work but they need to be tied to the switch in the transmission.

I don't think checking for a current draw is going to help us too much with this problem. There is always some amount of current draw normally. We need to see how that relay is tied to the ABS system and why it is causing a problem with the high beams.

Just to verify things, do the DLR lights work with the lights OFF and the low and high beams work ok while the fuses are in place and the relay is disconnected?

[WRXorcism]

I ordered a service manual so hopefully I will be able to look at the transmission wiring and see if everything is hooked up correctly.

With the relay disconnected, the daytime running lights(that is what you meant correct?) turn on when I drop the e-brake. When I connect the relay, the lights are on as soon as I turn the key to the on position.

Yes the low beams and high beams work with the relay disconnected and the BACK relay in place.

[Cougar4]

After looking at some data for an '04 model it looks like the two models may be real close in design. The data shows that the ABS system is also tied to the high beam relay along with a lot of other things. The fuse position in your picture would be the one on the bottom row second from the end on the right side, which is fuse #18 according to this data. Does pulling that fuse make the high beams stop working? If so you should be able to replace the relay and not cause the BACK fuse to blow.

Here is another thought. Lets try disconnecting the ABS module, which may be under the hood, and then see if the relay stops clicking and the high beams work ok then.

[WRXorcism]

I swapped the relays, both plugged in, and replaced the BACK fuse and voila the high beams are working and the relay is no longer clicking...I'm not positive what the top relay in the picture is for but I'm guessing I should just go ahead and order a replacement.

Still no reverse lights but I'm not sure that issue is actually related. You sir are a saint and I greatly appreciate you spending the time helping me with this issue.

[Cougar4]

Well I must say I don't understand why swapping the relays cleared the trouble unless there is a difference between the relays. I suggest you do replace that relay just in case there is something going on with it.

I also think the reverse lights are a seperate issue and you should be able to figure out what is needed to fix them when you get the manual.

You're welcome for the help and glad you got things working again. If you have any more issues we'll be here to help you out. There are a number of good technical folks here that help others keep their Soobs running good.