legacycentral bbs

Ok, I noticed 2 issues the other night.

1). When I open the hatch on the Forester, the rear light does not come on. I think it used to, but not any more. Kind of inconvenient. it DOES come on when I select the "on" position, but not the "door" position.

2). The Reverse lights are intermittant. Sometimes the work, sometimes not. This is a saftey issue, and I want to fix.

I understand electronics to a point, but I don't know as much as I would like to.

Help? Insight? I also still need to fix my rear wiper

Phil

Sober up first before trying to fix any of this stuff

The reverse lights are probably due to an old and tired reverse light switch in the tranny. My Legacy does the same thing, and my XT didn't have any reverse lights at all until I replaced that switch.

I am actually quite sober now.

The reverse light switch isn't universal is it? Is there a way to verify that this is the problem? Where can I find Forester part numbers?

The reverse lights come on when the shifter is at the top of the gate, but when it is all the way at the bottom of the gate, the reverse lights do not come on. I'd like to know the part number, as my tranny is coming out this week to replace my clutch.

BAC5.2 wrote:The reverse light switch isn't universal is it? Is there a way to verify that this is the problem? Where can I find Forester part numbers?

Don't hold me to it, but I'm inclined to say that all new-gen Subaru MT's have the same reverse light switch. I have no idea where I got that, and I could be entirely wrong, but they're pretty basic and wouldn't really need to be changed a whole bunch. It's just a button that I presume gets pushed by the shift rod attached to the reverse gear. It can be tested with a multimeter, the Haynes manual has procedures for testing it. Honestly, I'd say just get a new one, they're only like $25 new from the dealer, they're not expensive. I don't have the part number, I'm afraid.

Switch is the same, its the connector and length of wiring attached to it that changed over the years. So any switch will work if you feel like soldering. Its also the same switch as the neutral position switch.

mikec wrote:Its also the same switch as the neutral position switch.

What do you mean by that? Yes they are the same type of switch, and yes they are very close to each other on the transmission and can easily be confused (been there, done that). But they are separate switches.

the tailgate light its probably the switch that the tailgate presses. I had a few of my door lights get annoying because they got gummed up. Take a ohmmeter to that bad boy.

subyluvr2212 wrote:

mikec wrote:Its also the same switch as the neutral position switch.

But they are separate switches.

Thats what I meant... Sorry for any confusion

Hmm, so the one from my 91SS should work, eh? Good to know. The reverse switch is the rearward switch, eh? I don't mind soldering.

Good call on the multimeter Scott. Mine got borked from being in my trunk and it melted. I'll bust one of the schools out and trace that motherfucker down.

I pressed both switches on the hatch, and neither did anything to the light, though the light DOES get power (because it works in the ON position).

I'll look it over when I get a chance over the next few days.

You could try just removing the switch and reinstalling it with a thinner sealing washer (or filing down the washer that's already on there). That should make up for the worn down plastic nub on the switch. It worked on my friend's Outback Sport.

When the tranny is out tomorrow, I'll pull the switch and see how it looks.

I just realized.... I doubt it's the switch on the hatch. When I open the hatch, the front light comes on.

Also, sometimes when I would close the hatch, the "door open" light would not go out, and I'd have to open it again and close it again.