Strange warning light on 2009 2.5 XT Outback

[vizSub]

My 2009 Subaru 2.5 XT Outback intermittently flashes an orange symbol on the dash that could be either "hatchback open," "engine open," or "Parking Brake On," with an exclamation point.  Not sure what this warning is?  I do not see the same warning symbol when I search the internet.  Since I thought it was the hatchback, I replaced the rear wiring harness because it had some broken wires on the passenger side boot.  Same warning lights.  I hoped that was the issue with a short and/or bad ground.

The other night, when this first happened, another warning flashed: "Run Mode System Check."   When that happened, I had no headlights, and the car ran, but it sometimes would not let me get it out of park and put it in gear. 

I replaced the turbo 40,000  miles ago. 

I have the datalog from today taken with a Cobb Accessport, hoping to decipher what is going on.

When I ask the Accessport to read codes, it says it finds no codes.  I reset the ECU and started the car (it took three times to start after resetting the ECU, which I think is normal)

Today, when test driving it, after replacing the rear wiring harness, the same warning lights.  More importantly, when I had the car parked and revved the engine, the boost on the Accessport showed negative, and it looked like there was no boost.  * This might be due the car being in limp mode, or the turbo is toast?  I have recently heard a little bit of whining that might be from the turbo.  I will disconnect the exhaust downpipe and see what kind of play there is.  Does the ECU throw codes when the turbo is bad? 

I checked the fuses and did not find any blown fuses.  When the issue first happened a few days ago, and the car has been in the garage ever since except for today's test drive, here were the symptoms:

• No headlights
• Warning light that is either parking brake on, hatch open, hood open, or?
• Battery Light on
• The speedometer did not work
• Tachometer did work
• Warning on the instrument panel: "Run Mode System Check"

As I read what I am writing down here, my first thoughts are:

1. Check parking brake
2. The battery is failing (I have it on a charger now). It measured 14 volts on the Accessport when the issue first happened. Today, it only measures 11.8 V
3. If these do not cure the issue, check the turbo spindle for wobble via access by removing the exhaust downpipe.

I have attached a photo of the instrument panel warning light ( parking brake?) and battery warning light.

I have attached a link to a video of the Accessport while I rev the engine (no boost -- might be due to limp mode?)

I have attached the log file from today's Accessport while testing after replacing the rear wiring harness.

Any suggestions are appreciated.  Perhaps there are multiple issues going on at once.

Thank you!

 

 

 

SubaruOutback2009_XT_AccessportLog.xlsx

[KZJonny]

- That dash is a little unfamiliar to me, since mine is a manual, and pre-facelift, so the older style, but I definitely would assume that is a parking brake function warning. Looks very much like a..... parking brake handle.

- Again, not sure if things are different for '09, but I doubt it, and you will not build boost if revving the engine in park. I am pretty sure it's a safety thing in the programming, and you'll have 100% wastegate if not in gear and moving. At least that is definitely normal for the GT/XTs I've seen/worked on, all of which are pre-facelift.

[vizSub]

Thank you for your reply and information.

I took it out for another test drive, and the measured boost was fine; there was no strange noise from the Turbo.

I read somewhere else on another forum that a person had the parking brake indicator light come on when the alternator was going bad, along with other lights. 

Since the Accessport measures battery voltage of ~ 12 V while running, a multimeter measures 13 V at the battery when the engine is off and 11.8 V with the engine running and the headlights do not come on, I am going to replace the alternator and see if that was the issue.

Thank you for your help.

 

[KZJonny]

47 minutes ago, vizSub said:

Thank you for your reply and information.

I took it out for another test drive, and the measured boost was fine; there was no strange noise from the Turbo.

I read somewhere else on another forum that a person had the parking brake indicator light come on when the alternator was going bad, along with other lights. 

Since the Accessport measures battery voltage of ~ 12 V while running, a multimeter measures 13 V at the battery when the engine is off and 11.8 V with the engine running and the headlights do not come on, I am going to replace the alternator and see if that was the issue.

Thank you for your help.

 

NP. And yeah, low voltage will cause all sorts of problems.

If you can, it's sometimes worth haninging on to the OG alternator, and just replacing the reg/rec board inside of it. They OE ones are well made, and rebuild kits are very affordable. They come with new bearing and a control board. All very plug and play to take apart and rebuild.

https://www.maniacelectricmotors.com/alternator-rebuild-kit-2006-2010-impreza-2006-2010-forester-2005-legacy-2005-outback.html

This is the kit I got, but I suspect the '05 alternator is different than yours. Just an example, and a link to a company that provides all sorts of rebuild stuff for alternators and starters. For $45 or so, having a properly rebuild factory alternator is often a better deal than the mystery "rebuilt" stuff you can get at the parts store, unless you happen to have new parts money just lying around. hah!

[vizSub]

Thank you.  Yes, I like that idea of rebuilding the original alternator.  I do have one on order from the local parts store, $200 plus core.  I will see how fast I can get the rebuild kit.

 

[silverton]

You should replace the battery too.  11.8v resting isn't good. I do understand its had a weak alternator charging it, but that does kill the cells.

[vizSub]

Yes, I was thinking the same thing. Thank you!