hatchetman337 Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 Hi guys and gals, I recently got my first non-american car, an 07 Subaru Legacy 2.5i Limited. So far, I really like it. I do have one small problem with it though. It currently has 42k miles on it and there has been an intermittent problem since I got it. I noticed this a couple times a few weeks after I got it. The red airbag light would come on on the dash and stay on until after that trip. Then, the next time I would get in, it would be off. I've also noticed that the overhead console indicator for the passenger light is not always either "on" or "off". Sometimes it doesn't indicate one or the other, but just shows the words "passenger airbag". Then, I had an aftermarket car starter installed in my car last week. It works great, but I noticed that the airbag light comes on more often now. I also noted that if I start it and immediately press the brake and put it into gear that the light is more likely to be on. If I start it and wait, it may not come on. It doesn't always do it... Odd.... So I called my local Subaru dealer and, of course, I'm out of warranty for that, but he immediately thought that my overhead console was bad based on what I said about the indicator light up there. He gave me the p/n 84601AG03A0R and said it was about $50. I haven't been able to find ANY info on this p/n online, so I thought I would post up on here and get some input. Has anyone else seen anything weird like this? I did a search and saw that people have seen the airbag light come on for several different reasons, but I don't want to drop $50 if it's not going to fix it. Please offer up your thoughts on this as I'd like to get it fixed. My understanding is that if the red airbag light is on, my airbag system is turned off, which isn't good. Thanks for any help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatchetman337 Posted November 4, 2010 Author Share Posted November 4, 2010 Well after I wrote this thread, I looked around a bit more and found a used overhead console complete with sunroof controls like mine for $13 shipped on ebay, so I bought it. Hopefully that fixes it, but even if it doesn't, I feel a lot better about wasting $13 than $50 plus tax. I'll post again when I get it and find out if it fixes the problem. Until then, any ideas are still welcome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ehsnils Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 There may also be a contact in/under the passenger seat that detects if there is a passenger in the seat. You may want to check that too. If it's not working as it should the passenger seat belt light may be inconsistent. If you drive with stuff in the passenger seat it may of course also be the problem. My camera bag does sometimes trigger the passenger detector contact causing the seat belt buzzer to go off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatchetman337 Posted November 4, 2010 Author Share Posted November 4, 2010 Well, I occasionally have something in the seat, but nothing large or heavy. I haven't ever noticed the seat buzzer going off. I definitely have noticed that it's much more avid at reminding you when you don't have a seatbelt buckled than any of my previous cars. That's probably the very next thing I'll look at if the console doesn't fix it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatchetman337 Posted November 15, 2010 Author Share Posted November 15, 2010 Update on this. I got my console on ebay and took mine down to check it out and possibly swap. I noted that what is actually on the overhead console concerning the airbag is just a small LED pc board with 4 LED lights. I'm pretty sure that's not the problem because I don't think an LED circuit is going to throw my airbad light on the dash. I would have tried to just swap out the console and see, but the one that arrived didn't quite match the one in the picture on the auction. This one has several blemishes that I would consider unaccepable. I'm working with the seller now to settle this. I found a section in the forum about diagnosing the airbag light code, so I'm going to try that out soon. Hopefully i'll find the problem and it won't cost me an arm and a leg. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLAT4AWD Posted December 7, 2010 Share Posted December 7, 2010 let me know what it ends up being because im having the same exact issue... if i find anything out ill let you know! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator GT Posted December 23, 2010 Share Posted December 23, 2010 Ditto. Been having the AIRBAG light on and off just as O/P noted. I haven't modified anything on the car for over a year now, and it just started about 1 month ago. "If we are to guard against ignorance and remain free, it is the responsibility of every American to be informed." - T. Jefferson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liljonson Posted December 26, 2010 Share Posted December 26, 2010 I think alot of people have this issue. Mine is also on/off. I'm just too lazy and don't care as of now. Mine usually happens when its damp out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shutterbc Posted December 27, 2010 Share Posted December 27, 2010 Any electrical connections related to the airbag system can trigger that light since it does a diagnostic check every time you start the car. In my old Impreza, it was caused by a corroded "clock spring" / roll connector in the steering wheel. A side effect was that my horn didn't work. I think other common points of failure are related to the seats or the front sub sensor. All airbag wiring is bright yellow. Probably the best thing to do if you really want to fix it is to get someone to pull the code (DTC) for you, which will hopefully tell you where the fault is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2.5gtbx_44 Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 subscribed for a fix cause i too am having the same issue!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robhagopian Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 '05 wagon - center console passenger airbag light would sometimes display *both* on and off at the same time. Took the passenger seat out for examination of contacts and such - no luck. Dealer suggested center console display - they replaced it with no luck and put the old one back in and wanted to do more diagnostics the next day. Next day - it works fine and has ever since. I'm with those suspecting dicey contacts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatchetman337 Posted February 1, 2011 Author Share Posted February 1, 2011 Update - I had the code pulled and it says it's a fault with the passenger airbag harness, so eventually I want to check that out, but I haven't had an opportunity to do it yet. Maybe it's just an intermittent loose connection or something corroded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shutterbc Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 Hope you don't have rodent visitors like I did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator GT Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 interesting hatchetman. I tilted the pass seat back and checked all connections and didn't see anything loose. I did look into the LED status circuit board in the maplight console, but couldn't test any of them. Looking at the vaca pics for that part of my "trip", I did see that the signal goes through the LED before terminating at the ABS Control module. With the range of temps we're experiencing here in CO now (-35*F to 53*F), it is NOT consistent in it's operation. Sometimes the "OFF" light won't illuminate, sometimes the "PASS AIR BAG" light won't illuminate...all regardless whether or not my wife is in the pass seat. When it gets warmer out and I have more time, I'll take a look at the R150 Connector (harness that plugs into the LED status circuit board) on the CAR side, versus the board side, to see if the female connectors are stretched and loose. "If we are to guard against ignorance and remain free, it is the responsibility of every American to be informed." - T. Jefferson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatchetman337 Posted February 4, 2011 Author Share Posted February 4, 2011 A quick update for today. Last night I was driving home and noticed that the light on the overhead was out completely (and my dash light was on of course). Normally the "pass airbag" is lit but no "on" or "off". Just for fun I hit the overhead console and the "pass airbag" light blinked. I waited a few minutes and hit it again and it stayed on. Nothing else came on though. I got home and decided to pull the overhead down and check for loose connections. I unplugged a few things and wiggled a few things and had no luck getting anything to change. I put it all back together and called it a night. This morning I left the house and again everything was out. I hit the overhead again and both the "pass airbag" and "off" lights blinked. I hit it several times and they only flashed as I hit them. Then, a few minutes later, they both came on by themselves and stayed on for the rest of the trip. This is really strange and confusing..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatchetman337 Posted February 4, 2011 Author Share Posted February 4, 2011 I think I'm going to take the console down again and take a test light to the connector going to the LED lights to make sure they're getting power. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Searcher451 Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 Did anyone ever find a solution to this? My 2008 Legacy is having the exact same issue, though I'll admit to not yet resorting to pounding on the overhead to see if that makes it go on or off. It seems that some sort of easy remedy should be available ... right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naimouasta Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 i'm having the same issue too. wtf. just started this week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liljonson Posted October 7, 2011 Share Posted October 7, 2011 I wonder if it is the clock spring... mine makes a good amount of noise sometimes when i turn the steering wheel, like something is binding/rubbing. I'm going to wait till i get a hard code istead of this on/off stuff i get 4-5 times a year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanlucas13 Posted October 11, 2011 Share Posted October 11, 2011 Just took mine to the dealership to fix this issue. The part was $131.99 and it was the Lamp AY Map - part #84621ag41a. Pissed me off, but what you gonna do??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naimouasta Posted October 11, 2011 Share Posted October 11, 2011 what part exactly is the "Lamp AY Map"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanlucas13 Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 Not sure exactly what the part is...I think it's the light cluster that is in the roof that says On or Off...supposedly there was a loose wire somewhere. I am sure that it can be fixed without the dealer, I just didn't feel like messing with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nrhtx Posted November 17, 2011 Share Posted November 17, 2011 I know you got the part replaced. But did anyone figure out how to fix it. I own a 2008 OB LL Bean edition and sometimes I see that airbag light come on on my dash. To correct the problem I turn the car off and then on. The light turns off. I bought my OB Oct 5, 2011 and love it. Anyone know how to fix this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatchetman337 Posted November 17, 2011 Author Share Posted November 17, 2011 Found it on Subaruparts.com for under $100. Only problem there is if that's not the issue, it's not as easy to return as it would be from the dealer. http://www.subaruparts.com/cart/?pn=84621ag41a Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naimouasta Posted November 22, 2011 Share Posted November 22, 2011 i noticed that when the "airbag" is on in the gauge cluster, the passenger indicator by the lamp, its supposed to say "on" or "off" and it says neither, just "passenger airbag". so i assume my problem is the lamp also. i might just take it out and look for any broken wires. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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