Trouble/Warranty Denial Report Thread: Electrical (Lighting, ECU, Sensors, Etc.)

[North Ursalia]

I had a discussion with Nick a few weeks back, and in an effort to consolidate the troubles people are having with their cars, which will in turn make the issues more apparent and/or harder to ignore (not to mention making this forum neater ) we decided to make sticky threads where people can report their troubles and/or denied warranty stories by problem area, much akin to my http://www.deniedmywarranty.org website, only with a much larger audience. SOA knows about I-Club.com and Deniedmywarranty.org, but the lack of coordination of trouble reports here on I-club (of course it's going to happen... a 'net forum is a stream-of-consciousness kind of thing) and the lack of the sheer number of them on the Deniedmywarranty.org site makes the actual impact far less than what it could be. We decided to utilize these stickied threads to organize and emphasize what is going wrong. I want to emphasize that these threads are not solely for Impreza WRX owners, nor just Impreza owners. We want to hear from everyone in these threads who is having issues. You can use these stickied threads to report warranty denials or simply to say that something's broken that you didn't submit for warranty repair. To keep these threads neat, there will be a standard format used, as found below (I will place an example reply below this post):



Name:

Make:

Mileage:

Time Out Of Use:

Problem And Likely Cause:

Modifications:

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No):

Reason Given For Denial:

Your Story:



Replies deviating from this format will be deleted, no questions asked... sorry, but this has to remain neat and easy to read to be effective. In addition, please do not use this as a chance to bitch about a dealership or SOA- keep it professional and to-the-point, and this will help us all out in the long run .


Brian
http://www.northursalia.com
http://www.imprezamods.com
http://www.scoobymods.com
http://www.deniedmywarranty.org

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[North Ursalia]

Name: Ramana Lagemann

Make: 2002 Impreza WRX

Mileage: 100's of stage miles

Time Out Of Use: 1 week

Problem And Likely Cause: Broke right rear suspension hitting a rock

Modifications: Mods that could have contributed to the issue (ie: my turbo blew and I have aftermarket boost control). Please be honest- it helps nobody to say "it just happened."

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): Yes

Reason Given For Denial: Fill in only if above was "yes" and you were denied warranty coverage

Your Story: I'm a driver for Rally Team USA... it goes without saying

[chri3]

Name: Chris

Make: 2002 subaru outback sport

Mileage: 25000

Time Out Of Use: none

Problem And Likely Cause: Broken dome lightswitch due to bad design

Modifications: nonw

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): yes

Reason Given For Denial: they said something hit the light and busted it.

Your Story: One day the switch flew off when i was turning the light. I put it back on, but it just pushed the thing it was attached to further up. They said it would be $50 to get a new switch, so i took it apart and fixed it myself. It still doesnt work quite right.

[blukestrel]

Name: Roy Bridgman

Make: 2002 Impreza WRX

Mileage: approx 8,700

Time Out Of Use: 0

Problem And Likely Cause: intermittent oil temp guage in add-on guage package. It's a bad design, in which the sensor is on the oil drain plug, which perplexes monkeys, and appears to be susceptible to damage during oil changes.

Modifications: None

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): yes

Reason Given For Denial: Result of cheap-ass oil change

Your Story: They said to demand the "Express Lube" place pay for repairs.

[tnbd]

Name: tnbd

Make: 2002 Impreza WRX

Milage : at time 36000ish

Time out of use : car 1 day
window 2 weeks

Problem and Likely Cause : Front driver window would not wind down - originally diagnosed as a bad motor

Modifications : none

Submitted for warranty work : yes

Your Story : Driver's power window stopped working. After two weeks of waiting for the dealer to order and get a part and then schedule an appointment it turned out to be a loose connector.

[ITWRX4ME]

Name: Jim Goodwin

Make: 2002 Impreza WRX

Mileage : 15K when noticed, 20K when reported

Time out of use : none

Problem and Likely Cause : Fog lights flicker when headlights are on and fog lights are off. Happens intermittently over bumps(e.g. freeway expansion joints)

Modifications : none

Submitted for warranty work : Yes, but the dealer couldn't replicate the problem and therefore could not diagnose it.

Your Story : When this happens, I can hear the switch or a relay clicking. The sound comes from the vicinity of the fog light switch and sounds exactly like the switch being toggled on and off. Makes me think that the switch is defective.

The annoying thing is that it appears as if I'm flashing my lights at the car ahead of me. Must drive with fog lights on whenever headlights are on.

[AgentFixer]

I'm happy that i'm finally searching throught the forums more into detail...now i've found a thread that deals with the problem I have just recently encountered.

Name: Mark

Make: 02 WRX

Mileage: around 13.5k

Time Out Of Use: couple hours

Problem And Likely Cause: Low beam headlights do not work, although high beams work. Probably a dirty or bad connection.

Modifications: Aftermarket hyper-white bulbs, GFB blow off valve, Apex'i N-1 Catback, intake silencer removal.

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): Yes

Reason Given For Denial: The installation of aftermarket bulbs caused damage to the wiring harnass. Whole harnass must be replaced. Not covered under warranty because the bulbs are an aftermarket part.

Your Story: I take my car to the dealership (Sierra Subaru in Monrovia, CA) to have them take care of my headlight situation while i'm off at school. After coming back from school, the guy taking care of the service desk tells me that the mechanics believe that the cause of the problem is a shorted harness, due to the fact that the aftermarket headlights heat up the wires much hotter. His suggestion is to buy a new harness (estmated cost is $650 for the harness, $490 for labor). My friend and I thought "this is ridiculous, they probably just saw the color of the headlights and came up with that solution. They probably didn't even take a serious detailed look at my problem. Let's just try to figure it out ourselves." So, we take it back to his house, screw around with the wiring. We cleaned out all the leads and pop my stock bulbs back into place...now everything is up and running properly. I'm a little disappointed at the conduct of the service area people. At least I don't have to shell out a grand to fix a problem that can be done with some rags and a little help and patience.

**Gumball 3000 -- a bunch of overly wealthy people with too much time on their hands driving extremely exotic cars across the United States....I'm so jealous **

[tnbd]

Name: tnbd

Make: 2002 Impreza WRX

Time out of use : Repair

Problem and Likely Cause : The autodiming rearview mirror was failing. Not all of the surface of the mirror still dimmed.

Modifications : none

Submitted for warranty work : yes

Your Story :The full surface of the mirror no longer dimmed. Part replaced by dealer.

[SW00P_G]

Name: Bryan Mundy

Make: 2002 WRX

Mileage: 48000

Time Out Of Use: N/A

Problem And Likely Cause: Who knows

Modifications: HKS cat back Injen Cold air intake

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): Yes

Reason Given For Denial: Over revving

Your Story: My check engine light comes on every time I rev my car past 6k RPM. I have taken it to the dealership 4 times and everytime it was the cam postion sensor. They revving my car to 6k RPM is abuse therefore it will not be fixed. My friend bought his WRX the same time as me and has the same problem as well. I have tried multiple dealerships and get the same answer. I talked to SOA and they also gave me the same answer. I guess Subaru is happy with selling customers junk. The WRX was a great hyped up car. It's too bad that quality control will ruin their buisness. And U can't use the lemon law when they state that you have abused the car. The dealership as well as SOA stick together on this. If you have had simlar problems E-mail me at [email protected] we need to stick together as well and get something rolling.

NameMO$

Make: 2002 WRX Wagon

Mileage:4500

Time Out Of Use: So far 1 week

Problem And Likely Cause:Headlight on drivers side is dim or off completely. Repiared harness two times already. Subaru sucks!!

Modifications: Nothing to the headlight system

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No):Yes

Reason Given For Denial:Covered under warenty although it took 3 months to order the last harness!!!!

Your Story: Lemon this POS if it happens again.

[wrxxed]

2002 Wrx Sportwagon dealer pulled same code 4 times finally reflashed ECU,but code returned while driving home! Mods; sway bars,wheels,end links,shifter knob.
Any advice or suggestions would help!! Going back to dealer 4-21-03 .Thanks.


Sorry I couldnt find the correct template to follow.

[Jard]

Name: Jared Lantzy

Make: 2003 Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS

Mileage: 1000

Time Out Of Use: Since day 1 (about a week)

Problem And Likely Cause: Cruise Control Not Working

Modifications: Aftermarket Head Unit, Amplifier

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): Yes

Reason Given For Denial: None

Your Story: I took the car to the dealer today and sat there for about an hour while they looked at it. Service manager told me they need to replace the cruise control module, and ordered the part. They replaced it and it still didn't work. Service manager tried to blame my aftermarket head unit even though the problem occured the day I picked the car up brand new.

[CTKAG]

Name: Keith

Make: 2002 Impreza WRX

Mileage: 12K

Time Out Of Use: 1 week

Problem And Likely Cause: EGT sensor failed. Car would enter 'limp mode' after approximately 100 miles & ECU reset.

Modifications: Vishnu uppipe, MRT turboback

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): Yes

Reason Given For Denial: aftermarket uppipe, aftermarket exhaust

Your Story: Dealer was not interested in repairing vehicle - would not even test/remove sensor to determine if indeed it was bad. I wound up bypassing sensor with resistor. Car has run fine since.

[turbothisgirl]

Maybe I'm not the only one here...

Name: Erin

Make: 2003 WRX

Mileage: Less then 8K at the time

Time Out Of Use: Few hours/Probably one day

Problem And Likely Cause: Cruise control wouldn't turn off - aka my car tried to kill me (twice)

Modifications: only a BOV under the hood

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): Yes

Reason Given For Denial:

Your Story: While driving from California to Arizona I attempted to use my CC since it is at least a 5 1/2 drive. I came thisclose to having to choose between a minivan on my left, a semi in front, or the desert on my right (at 75 mph). Stomping on the brakes and turning CC off did nothing to slow down or stop my car. The dealer couldn't find a problem and couldn't duplicate it (can they ever?), so they've decided just to replace the brake switch in the cc system. I haven't been able to take it in yet but it'll take a leap of faith for me to try it again - at least when there are other cars around. Why did my Subaru try to kill me?

[CarTuned]

Well, I can't say for certain that this will work for anyone else, but I tried everything to fix the CEL P0171 when it came on. At first, I thought it was the octane booster I had added that messed up the wideband O2 sensor. Then, I figured it may be a dirty injector. Until, one day, I decided to change my AEM CAI back to the stock box since I kept reading that everyone else who had this CEL did the same thing and got rid of it. But after two hours of having gone back to the stock filter box, I couldn't take it anymore, so I started to reinstall the AEM CAI. Thats when I happened to take a close look at the MAF sensor diode, or whatever it's called, and noticed it was really dirty. I guess the oil from the filter made its' way up the intake on started to build unto the MAF sensor itself. At this point, I took a clean rag, and carefully wiped away all the built up grime. After that, I finished reinstalling the CAI and turned on the car. At first, I expected the light to come right back on, like it had three times prior to this, but it didn't. Now it's been three days and still no CEL has come on.

Hopefully, everyone else can get rid of that P0171 CEL with a simple wipe, but I can't make any promises that it'll work.

If anyone else tries this and it works for them, let me know...thanx

[cann]

got a p0171 with a very cold start and 7k rev until 3rd gear

got an obd2 code reader and erased it, let the car idled for 10 mins, the cel/flashing cruise is gone

didn't look into the maf sensor yet

[pigeonfarmboy]

Name: Nathan

Make: 02 WRX

Mileage: 22000

Time Out Of Use: none

Problem And Likely Cause: CEL is lit so i took it to the dealership to diagnose the problem. Front O2 sensor in/next to the header failed. $343 dollars estimate to fix.

Modifications: Perrin Uppipe, Prodrive Cat Back, Rallispec CAI

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): n/a

Reason Given For Denial: n/a

Your Story: Not covered by warranty because of the aftermarket parts. Is it possible the resistor for the EGT bypass has anything to do with this? Thanks for the help

[PhatheadWRX]

Name: French

Make: 2003 Imprezza WRX

Mileage: 17,500 (11 months old)

Time Out Of Use: none

Problem And Likely Cause: Stock speakers blew!!! Who knows?

Modifications: None to sound system

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): Not submitted, just asked

Reason Given For Denial: Speakers only have 12 month/ 12K mile warranty

Your Story: I run the stock speakers at -2 bass, +1 treb; don't run the volume past 12 and listen to mostly DMB/Phish w/ occosional rap or techno.

[T-WRX]

Not intending to preach to the choir, but what the heck does mileage have to do with speaker usage?

Rant off. Consider it an opportunity to install some decent speakers. Heck, if you really want stockers, I'll give you mine for free. I upgraded my speakers on mile 10.

[PhatheadWRX]

Originally posted by T-WRX
Not intending to preach to the choir, but what the heck does mileage have to do with speaker usage?

Rant off. Consider it an opportunity to install some decent speakers. Heck, if you really want stockers, I'll give you mine for free. I upgraded my speakers on mile 10.

Thanks for the kindness, but I have done exactly what you mentioned. Thank goodness it is near christmas = whole new system

I also found out the the dealership lied and they have a 3 yr / 36K mile

[Ahzlon]

Name: Jonathan

Make: 2000 Impreza 2.5RS Coupe

Mileage: 65k

Time Out Of Use: None

Problem and Likely Cause: Drivers side headlamp plug melted. Viewed the wires going into the clips... 1 of 3 wires was nearly out of the clips. IE bad connection heated up the connector and melted the plug

Modification: Lowered Suspension, Borla Heads, Magnaflow Axle Back

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): Yes

Reason Given For Denial: Connection plugs to headlamps and others not covered under the "Classic Warrentee" Connextion plugs not considered part of the wireing harness.... ((( huh? i have never gotten a wireing harness that didn't include the plugs )))

My Story: Soob Maintenance Depts dont give a hoot... and give any copout excuse not to fix a problem

[STiOnTheFly]

Name: Josh

Make: 2004 STi

Mileage: 2379

Time Out Of Use: 2 DAYS (!)

Problem and Likely Cause: fuel level sender malfunction, read 1/4 tank until the tank ran dry (doh); cause unknown

Modification: stereo

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): Yes

Reason Given For Denial: n/a; dealer provided rental car, fixed the problem, but it hardly made up for the inconvenience of being stuck 400 miles from home for 2 days

[afritz]

Name: Andrew Fritz

Make: 2000 2.5 RS

Mileage: ~28K at the time

Time Out Of Use: 0

Problem And Likely Cause: Check engine light, caused by map sensor failor/problems - Subaru has defective map sensors in general.

Modifications: factory STi exhaust + OZ wheels + K&N factory replacement filter.

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): Yes

Reason Given For Denial: Oil from the K&N got on the map sensor and ruined it!?!?

Your Story: I started having a check engine light on and off. When it was on the car had much less power. I took the car in. They diagnosed it, which involved calling the Subaru tech line (the ECU wasn't giving useful info apparently). According to the tech at the dealer, one of the first questions after they determined it was a bad map sensor was about oil type filters (like K&Ns) and that was all. Sorry, your K&N ruined your map.

My main question was, ok, the crank case vents go into the intake manifold, and they spew vaporised oil to some degree on any car and especially on older car. How is the car supposed to run once it has a little blow by? No answer. Subaru just didn't want to give up the $300+ for another defective map sensor.

In the end the dealer waived half the diagnostic labor ($150 total to $75) and the rental cost. Very cool of Gilman.

[4ontheFloor]

Name: Jay Harris

Make: 2000 2.5 RS

Mileage: ~33K

Time Out Of Use: 0

Problem And Likely Cause: Whichever 02 sensor wasn't recalled decided to go faulty as well.

Modifications: K&N air filter, Ganzflow CAI.

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): Yes

Reason Given For Denial: Not covered under the extended warranty and the car was outside of the 3 yr one. Supposedly the extended only covers drivetrain issues. (Sensor went fautly 6 months after the 3 year mark.)

Your Story: I started getting a check engine light and took it into a dealership to have the error code read.
If I buy another Subaru, the extended warranty isn't worth the cost. $1k for the warranty and I still had to pay $150 for the new sensor.

[subeluvr]

Name: Steve S.

Make: 2002 Outback Sport

Mileage: 34,000

Time Out Of Use: 0

Problem And Likely Cause: Impreza bug-eye headlight lenses are hazing over. Poor choice of material for headlight lense.

Modifications: NONE

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): YES

Reason Given For Denial: normal exposure to the environment

Your Story: At around 1500 miles I noticed the headlight lenses showing a light "fog" on the out side. As time went by it became more noticable. Mentioned it to the dealer who said "not under warranty" and told me to buy plastic polish and clean the lenses.

Now, at 34.000 miles it's worse and I made an appointment to have it looked at again before the initial warranty expired. Dealer said "not under warranty".

I'm pissed, I bought the car in good faith, purchased the Gold 7/100k extended warranty and now subaru is telling me that headlight lens maintanance is routine. The regional Subaru rep spews the same drivel. Yesterday I met a guy with a 2002 WRX that has 3100 miles on it and he keeps it in the garage. No "environment" in there except the air and the dark ... his lenses are doing the same thing. Every bug-eye Impreza/WRX I see (and I'm looking for them) has the same problem to some degree.

I'm not looking forward to the outrageous cost of replacement headlights as I planned(?) to keep this sube for a long time and now I have to reconsider that decision.

With the Subaru dealers and regional reps blowing off the customers who ask about this problem do the engineers at the home office ever find out they have a problem?

The headlight lens material is not up to the job for which it was chosen and the car owners should not have to pay the price for Subaru's poor choice of materials. Call 1-800-SUBARU3 and complain ... better yet go to:

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/ to file a complaint with the NHTSA

Don't roll over ... complain and force Subaru to see the LIGHT!