Airbag light...sometimes. Console problem?

[Warp 9 Engage]

Crazy_Pilot, and everyone else who has posted to this thread in a constructive way, I created an account on this site specifically so I could thank you. I just bought a 2007 Legacy SE last week with this exact problem, went and bought a soldering iron, fixed it up in 10 minutes and can now drive with peace of mind knowing it's not my clock spring, or the airbag, or something I have to take in for a recall. The air bag dummy light is off, and now all of the overhead safety indicators are working like a charm Thank you all so much! =)

[paul85]

My light just came on yesterday. Found this forum post, touched up the ends of the resistors, and boom, light is out. Mine wasn't the 511, but the others had cold solder joints that had cracked between the bulbs. It was a little tricky getting the soldering iron in there, but managed to get the job done. Thanks!

[Jonathon Bloomz]

Tried it today - didn't work. Going to shop Monday

 

05 Legacy Wagon.

[jsmythe]

This is one of the first things I fixed on my car. I did all of the suggestions and nothing worked. Brought it to the dealership who found the wiring fault up the side pillar. Charged me $150 for labor. You have to go through the process of elimination unfortunately. I never would have found that wiring fault on my own.

[Jonathon Bloomz]

The shop had it for a week, a mechanic we've used for years, supposedly experienced with Subarus.

 

He kept it a week, and finally gave it back.

 

No fix - at least it was no charge either.

 

This sux, I am concerned for the safety of my son.

 

2005 Legacy Wagon

[DonnyJagaru]

I had my airbag replaced on recall and a couple of months later this pesky code came back. Curiously enough, it only comes on maybe one time out of fifty and never when it's hot outside. Does anyone know if the airbag recall calls for the replacement of the overhead indicator lights?

[ritcheyvs]

I'm pretty sure the recall did NOT replace the overhead display. Mine was wonky before and after the recall. The DIY solder fix worked for a time but I eventually bought a new display panel. About $100-150 as I recall.

[Jonathon Bloomz]

2005 Legacy Wagon with 1 LED above...

 

First mechanic kept it a week, gave up and gave it back

 

The 2nd mechanic has had it twice so far, first time soldered, no go. 2nd time ordered a new overhead module (which I knew wouldn't work, as I tried that with one I got on ebay then returned), also no go. So both mechanics, plus me, tried the solder deal.

 

Tomorrow it has to go back again when the owner, the electrical specialist, is there, so he can start tracing wires I guess.

 

"He's the one who said "Don't worry I'll find it"

 

I hope they sent that $239 module back.

----------------------------------

Well I got it back today, unfixed, after 3 trips there full day each time.

 

The guy, who I trust as a very good mechanic, could not find it. It throws error 26, but there is no airbag light other than the one below the tach. He said all his info said there should be a light (later models moved up above with the seat belt light) that should be above the radio, and there is no light.

 

There is the panel with the clock and MPG stuff - but no airbag indicator light. They replaced the overhead module with the map lights, even tho I told them I had tried that, and the part was $237. If this would have been a dealer I would have refused to pay for that, as I told them in the first place I had tried that. I made sure the part they ordered had only 1 LED, for passenger seat belt, and it did.

 

He charged me for less than an hour in spite of them spending lots more time on that. He is the owner, and a nice guy or I would have not paid anything - but I paid him $307 - for - no fix.

 

I just went out and looked and he's right, there is no indicator light where it should be.

 

Disappointed, and still wondering if that dash light on means no airbag protection, and he said he thought they should still work, but couldn't promise that.

 

Frustrated, big time. It's fairly obvious that this car does not have wiring for the airbag up in the map light module thingy. In 2006, they were all up there, but again this one only has 1 led.

 

He said the last resort was go to the dealer. And I'm sure that will be closer to $1000 - they're not famous for spending a bunch of time on a 16 year old car.

 

ADDED: I just read in another thread about SOA stepping up and helping with older cars. They should at least know where the frigging errant code 26 light is.

 

Maybe I should try that.

[csaari]

Not sure I can help too much..... the 2005 cars do not have the passenger airbag indicator in the overhead console, only the passenger seat belt reminder is up there. The passenger airbag light should be under the center cubby, in the display with the clock, I have never heard of an '05 car not having that light. I have attached a pic of my own car, as well as the page from the owner's manual showing it, just as a reference.

 

From my research, when the airbag light under the tach/temp gauge comes on in an '05 car, there is an actual fault in the system somewhere, and has nothing to do with the overhead console. In my case, I had the light come on a few years ago, and it was due to something with the airbag module in the steering wheel going bad. I don't remember exactly what it was, but the solution was to replace the module itself.

 

The light in the speedo cluster is tied to all the airbags and sensors in the system, as well as the front seat beat pretentioners, so the fault could be any number of things.

 

As for whether the airbags will still work or not, I was told years ago that if the warning light was on, that meant the system would be deactivated. However, the owner's manual indicates that the system is still active, but may not operate correctly:

 

"If the warning light exhibits any of the following conditions, there may be a malfunction in the seatbelt pretensioners and/or SRS airbag system. Immediately take your vehicle to your nearest SUBARU dealer to have the system checked. Unless checked and properly repaired, the seatbelt pretensioners and/or SRS airbags will operate improperly (e.g. SRS airbags may inflate in a very minor collision or not inflate in a severe collision), which may increase the risk of injury.

 

- Flashing or flickering of the indicator light

- No illumination of the warning light when the ignition switch is first turned to the “ON” position

- Continuous illumination of the warning light

- Illumination of the warning light while driving"

 

I would certainly recommend taking your car to a dealer; they should be able to pull any codes from the airbag system and track down what the problem is.

[Jonathon Bloomz]

Thank you so much @csaari

 

This seems to be what I've discovered, and your images highlight the issue.

 

Here's what I realized I've done, accidentally. I'm a dummy.

 

The code it threw was an error 26, btw

 

The upper middle cubby was broken, so I bought another one on ebay. The add said something like "Middle Cubby for Legacy Outback 2005-2009" At the time we could have kept the old clock multi info display, but thought, hey this one is newer. Very few realize the 05 is a bit of a bugger, and that stuff changed in 06 I believe. 05 being Gen 4 and the 06 Outback they changed to Gen 4. So Legacy is a year ahead.

 

So the clock I put in doesn't even have that airbag stuff. I've read for hours and hours and everyone talks about the overhead module with the map lights - but as noted, mine only has 1 LED up there istead of 4. The mechanic also said it was supposed to be beside the clock but he couldn't find it.

 

Well some dumbass put in the wrong clock/multi displany - that would be me.

 

And tho I didn't notice the airbag light on cuz I don't drive that car, for probably a couple months. And my son's 1st car, he doesn't know what warning lights are all about. So that's very likely the time the Airbag light came on.

 

I'll have the new clock unit next week, (I found one that most certainly has the airbag light on it - they had a picture of it powered up) for $53, and dang amd I hoping this is the case, but it makes complete sense.

 

So thank you very much for helping steer me in the correct direction!!!

 

Still interesting tho, that the working harness for that area fit perfectly, even with the wrong module there.

 

Anyone reading this thread, bear in mind if your up top lights don't have 4 LEDs, (only passenger seat belt)the solder fix doesn't apply to you.

 

I read every post in this 18 pages, as well as anything else I could find, until this helpful person pointed it out to me.

Edited October 16, 2021 by Jonathon Bloomz

[csaari]

Well, I am very glad you seem to have figured it out. I almost suggested that maybe your airbag warning light was on because the passenger airbag indicator had gone missing! I would have meant it as a joke, but I guess that’s actually what happened. Now it all makes sense.

 

Yes, it is often missed that the ‘05 cars are different from ‘06 and up when it comes to the passenger airbag indicator. As far as I know it applies to both the Legacy and Outback. Technically, both the 2005 Legacy and 2005 Outback are identical (well except for the suspension), but 2005 was the beginning of the 4th generation for the Legacy and 3rd generation for the Outback, as the Outback didn’t arrive until the 2nd generation of the Legacy...

 

There was a small discussion not too long ago about the differences between the 2005 and 2006 cars... Oh, here it is if you’re interested:

 

https://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/easy-spot-differences-between-2005-and-2006-gt-wagon-286304.html

 

It is interesting that you found out the wiring plug from the ‘05 car fits the ‘06+ clock unit.

 

I now see your posts from August about this, I must have missed them or I would have said something sooner. Good luck, and please post when you get the correct clock unit installed!

[Jonathon Bloomz]

I installed it today - the new one for 2005 only Legacy - and, drum roll.....

 

Airbag light went off!!!

 

I did look at the pins in the lower plug, the old one had only 2 in the top row, "new" (correct) one had 4 or 5 in the top row. Same harness of course, same plug, so they retro'd at least the wiring plug.

 

Thank you again csaari!

 

again, anyone poring thru this thread remember -- the solder fix does not apply to 2005 Legacy.

 

PS someone on the Outback forum told me Legacy was 1 year ahead of Outbacks, in that 2005 is Gen 4 and Outbacks weren't Gen 4 until 2006. Which is what you said above.

Edited October 27, 2021 by Jonathon Bloomz

[Jonathon Bloomz]

Now if I could just find decent dim headlight bulbs for him - I've tried 3 sets, Phillips each claiming 100-150% brighter, and 1 LED, all returned, and all of them are a crime.

 

I have not tried HID however, cuz I didn't want to mess with ballasts on each side, tho I still possibly may as the car is unsafe at night without brights on.

 

We did try polishing the plastic lenses, to not much avail.

 

His dims are absolutely useless, no better than running with parking lights on. (Brights are great)

 

I'm giving one more try to these, and I think I give up.

 

https://www.danielsternlighting.com/products/products.html

 

Reading that linked thread from the linked thread, I see 2006 housings look to have different lighting, but same shape, hmmmmm, I wonder if the bulbs and reflectors are better?

 

https://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/answers-2005-vs-2006-legacy-gt-differences-22636.html

Edited October 27, 2021 by Jonathon Bloomz

[csaari]

You're welcome! Very happy to hear the correct clock unit solved your issue!

 

I don't want to get off-topic in this thread, I'll reply to your headlight issue in the other thread you posted in.

[landark]

I've been struggling with this for a few years. I finally resoldered the R1 earlier this year and it seemed to help for a while. But it came back recently once temps were consistently below 50 degrees. So I decided to finally install the spare I had swiped from the junkyard and hope it works. Well, turns out the connector doesn't fit. I'm pretty sure I got it from a 2008. So then I gave up and decided to order one. Though now it seems like it is discontinued. So the only way to get a replacement is to get a used one. And, after another trip to the junkyard today I now suspect 2007 was a 1 year only connector. I tried a 2005 and a 2008 today and neither work.

 

It's frustrating that such an integral part of the SRS is getting so hard to find. I'd hate to see some of these cars heading to the scrapper for such a silly part.

Edited December 11, 2021 by landark

[silverton]

Might be anecdotal for the thread but, I was "chasing" an intermittent airbag light in my impreza. it was missing fender liners, the car was lowered, and i had rolled the fender lips. but turned out i didn't do it well enough. one of the airbag wires got pinched and de-sheathed and would ground itself intermittently causing my light. it eventually turned on and stayed on. One day I removed the driver side fender to replace it since it was damaged, and there i found the damaged harness.

[Jonathon Bloomz]

The shop had it for a week, a mechanic we've used for years, supposedly experienced with Subarus.

 

He kept it a week, and finally gave it back.

 

No fix - at least it was no charge either.

 

This sux, I am concerned for the safety of my son.

 

2005 Legacy Wagon

 

I posted this elsewhere - but finally after 2 mechanics failed, one at a cost of $350. (He bought a new overhead unit unnecessarily)

 

If you have an 05 Legacy - the solder thing doesn't work, because the airbag lights are down beside the clock. I tried solder, as well as both mechanics that gave up.

 

Because of a cracked bezel, I had changed the clock, and didn't realize it was from an 06 or later, where they moved it up top. Dumb me but who woulda thunk? It was thankfully poinited out to me on this forum

 

I got one from a verified 05, and bada boom, fixed.

Edited December 12, 2021 by Jonathon Bloomz

[mars_volta]

On my new 2009 legacy the red airbag light came on right after I bought it. Only 1 of the overhead LEDS worked. All 3 of the resistors had cracked solder joints. I reflowed everything with fresh solder and now all light lights work and the airbag light on the dash is off. Edited March 2, 2022 by mars_volta