Help, No Power! (power mode, that is)
 

Well, I finally got around to removing the remote car starter (that I thought was an alarm) that I mentioned in the Power Mode Selection thread, and it didn't make a difference.

Here the summary of what's not working:

1: The gear indicator lights in dash don't light up. All bulbs except "D" are good.

2: Power light / mode. I'm sure the bulb is good, but it doesn't even come on momentarily when I start the car. I have never seen the bulb light up, and have not noticed any significant change in shifting when I "mash the gas"

3: Manual light / mode. I have played with the manual button and shift lever several times and it doesn't seem to make any difference no matter what combination I try. I know the bulb is good.

4: a few other random illumination bulbs (defroster, cruise, etc). I think these are just blown bulbs, but I figured I would note it anyway.

5: the air bag light is on.

6: the security system. the light comes on when I push the button but I can't get it into programming mode so I'm not sure if my keyfob works. I don't think the electric locks work either. I haven't thoroughly tested this since removing the remote starter.

Most everything else electrical seems to work.

While I had everything apart to remove the remote starter, I swapped the door lock timer and the Time Control Unit from my parts car to see if that made any difference, but it didn't.
I do notice now that there is a relay clicking behind the glove box when I move the driver lock, but the passenger one doesn't move.

Any ideas? I'd really like to get power mode working, and it would be nice to get the other issues straightened out.

Thanks!

Re: Help, No Power! (power mode, that is)
 

I'd bet the gauge cluster is not making a good connection to the harness on the back of it. Either that or the wiring from the TCU to the harness that eventually leads to the gauge cluster.

Power mode will work whether the light lights up or not. My '97 doesn't have a power light on the cluster at all and the switch still makes power mode work like normal.

Re: Help, No Power! (power mode, that is)
 

All these lights and their functions.
1.The gear indicator lights.
2. Power light / mode.
3.Manual light / mode.
Have to work for their functions to work.
First put the FWD fuse in to see if the FWD light comes on. If it doesn't check fuse No. 15 in the under dash box. If the FWD light does come on, then it is the Dimmer Control that is the problem.

Harvey.

Re: Help, No Power! (power mode, that is)
 

The FWD light does come on when I put in the fuse. I did a quick search on the Dimmer control, but I'm not entirely sure what / where it is. I noticed several black boxes under the dashboard when removing the remote starter. Is it one of those?
Thanks!

Re: Help, No Power! (power mode, that is)
 

I don't know mate, it looks like it is in the Dash somewhere. It shows up in the Diagrams, included in the Combination meter, Instrument panel.

Harvey.

Re: Help, No Power! (power mode, that is)
 

What diagrams are you using?
I can't seem to find any comprehensive ones...
Thanks

Re: Help, No Power! (power mode, that is)
 

Work Shop Manual book 6, Electrical.

Harvey.

Re: Help, No Power! (power mode, that is)
 

Any chance there's a digital version of that on the site somewhere? :D

Re: Help, No Power! (power mode, that is)
 

Tracing out the plugs and wiring, it does look like the Dimmer Circuit is probably just an IC on the dashboard. It is fed by the center plug that plugs into the dash.

Harvey.

Re: Help, No Power! (power mode, that is)
 

Great! I will check that when I get a chance. :)

Re: Help, No Power! (power mode, that is)
 

Well, I found the dimmer control. This is what it looks like:
http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/atta...1&d=1331148800

And this is why it didn't work:
http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/atta...1&d=1331148800

So I soldered the broken path back together and put it back in and now it's blowing the Meter/SRS light fuse as soon as I turn the key.
I guess there must be a short somewhere in the dimmer control circuit, so I am working on testing the transistors on the board to see if any of them are bad.

Or maybe someone has one of these dimmer control boards that they want to sell cheap :D

Re: Help, No Power! (power mode, that is)
 

This may help you - some info on the IC

C1251C is Dual low power Op AMP

Pin 1 Output A
Pin 2 Inverting Input A
Pin 3 Non-Inv Input A
Pin 4 GND
Pin 5 Non-Inv Input B
Pin6 Inverting Input B
Pin7 Output B
Pin8 V+

Could use uPC1251 from "www.necel.com"

if you take photo of rear - then I could get you a nice schematic - as PDF (unless you already have one ?).

I am a PCB Designer ..... have been for past 30 years.

Re: Help, No Power! (power mode, that is)
 

Thanks! I don't know much about ICs. Do you think that might be the problem? I'm not even sure how to test it...

I don't have a schematic. Here are two pics of the back side of the board. Sorry they came out kinda dark.

http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/atta...1&d=1331151581
http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/atta...1&d=1331151581

I did test the big transistor and it seems to be good. At least, it's not shorted.

Thanks a lot for your help!

Re: Help, No Power! (power mode, that is)
 

I'll get on to it this weekend

In the mean time here is the pcb mirrored - so it lines up with the component overlay.

Re: Help, No Power! (power mode, that is)
 

Ok, thanks. I may start pulling out components and testing them, but it seems like the resistors and capacitors would show some outward sign if they were bad.