Warning lights galore!

#1 02-02-2002, 07:10 PM

I recently bought a 92 LSL -cheap, it has 175k miles, needs a radiator, etc.
But, MOST of the warning lights come on when over 1500rpm. Then they go off at low idle or when I brake.
The previous owner said it needs a rear ABS sensor, but why would this cause all those lights to illuminate?
The driver side vanity mirror light- wire is cut.(pass. side works)
Could there be some electrical gremlin somewhere?
Any advice is appreciated!

Seraph · #2 02-02-2002, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dgf
But, MOST of the warning lights come on when over 1500rpm. Then they go off at low idle or when I brake.
The previous owner said it needs a rear ABS sensor, but why would this cause all those lights to illuminate?
The driver side vanity mirror light- wire is cut.(pass. side works)
Could there be some electrical gremlin somewhere?
Any advice is appreciated!

Can you tell us more on the lights -- which ones are blinking? It might be something you can fix with 5 bucks worth of stuff or it could cost you more but I(we) need to know more on the lights themselve.

As for the ABS light -- although I don't have ABS on mine -- if it is shot, the light will come on all the time. I have seen it on other cars before. It is not effected by speed of the engine.

The cut wire could be a problem for the lights misbehaving. If you don't want to fix it, cut it off cleanly and put some electric tape around the ends so that it does not short out the system.

As for the lights at 1500rpm, it could be engine related (check engine?) or alternator related (check voltage and preform a alternator mod), or something could be just shorting out somewhere. If that is the case, you are in for a long diagnostic process on the wires and hope you have a ton of free time. I am not trying to scare you. Working on the SVX does take time.

Good luck with the car for now and let us know which set of Chrismas lights are blinking on your dash.

Lwin

#3 02-02-2002, 08:35 PM

I don't have the car here, but I think the lights that glow are ABS, check engine, charging+-, brake, and power steering.

Sometimes I press the brake and I feel the ABS pulsate on dry roads! Maybe I should pull the ABS fuse?
Looks like quite a project car. But the previous orig. owner had most reciepts and records and it looks very nice. (black)
I have ordered a b+m trans cooler, but I have no idea how to install it. I have done a search, but most everyone has done something different. (parallel, bypass oem,different locations, with fan,etc.)

Seraph · #4 02-02-2002, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dgf
I don't have the car here, but I think the lights that glow are ABS, check engine, charging+-, brake, and power steering.

Sometimes I press the brake and I feel the ABS pulsate on dry roads! Maybe I should pull the ABS fuse?
Looks like quite a project car. But the previous orig. owner had most reciepts and records and it looks very nice. (black)
I have ordered a b+m trans cooler, but I have no idea how to install it. I have done a search, but most everyone has done something different. (parallel, bypass oem,different locations, with fan,etc.)

I'd like to see the lights. Where in MW are you at?
Lwin

#5 02-02-2002, 08:54 PM

I am near Orland park ,IL.
The car is not very driveable right now. I am waiting for a radiator in the mail and It might possibly have a blown head gasket. I am getting a little white smoke from the exhaust, but no coolant in the engine oil.
If necessary, I will put in a used engine. But I want to try to drive
it like it is and see what happens.
What does the Alt. wiring upgrade do?
The battery is old, could that have any effect on the warning lights?
Also, I think it has a power steering fluid leak. I don't know where it is leaking.

Thanks again.

Beav · #6 02-02-2002, 08:54 PM

How about steering, stop light, charge and pkg. brake/brake fluid light? If those are the lights coming on it could be a bad alternator, bad diodes on those circuits, or both. You might post Chris Debban and see if he knows of a common problem area here.

Beav

Beav · #7 02-02-2002, 08:58 PM

Check diagram in my locker

Beav

mohrds · #8 02-03-2002, 06:42 AM

Mike and I both had the exact same problem. It actually is a simple fix.

The stray lights are coming from a confused ECU.

Dissconnect both battery cables and touch them together to discharge the ECU. Reassemble and blinky lights are gone.

We are 2 for 2 on this method. I hope it works for you as well.

Doug

#9 02-03-2002, 09:11 AM

Thanks for the quick replies!
I will mess with the car on Mon. or Tues. and see if I can extinguish the offending lights.

Doug, I see you have a B&M cooler. Where did you mount it?
Did you run in parallel or bypass the original cooler? Have you had any problems? Any advice for the install?

Thanks to all.

mohrds · #10 02-03-2002, 06:54 PM

The cooler bypasses the radiator completely. It is mounted behind the fans and in front of the engine.

I do not have any issues with it besides it being very slow to lock up the torque converter when it is below 25 degrees outside.

Doug

1994SubaruSVX · #11 02-04-2002, 01:47 PM

make sure you put it in front of the condenser and radiator. it is the best location.

sounds like an alternator is causing the lights problem. it shoud drain your battery dead soon.

your powersteering pump maybe bad but i think there is a quick fix. something having to do with sort of rubber seal....beav will know.

buy your parts from subaruparts.com, the price they sell the powersteering pump at was $100 lower than my local mechanic.

#12 02-10-2002, 07:48 AM

Well, I tried to touch the two battery wires together, but they wouldn't reach with the battery in the way, so I used a wire to connect the two for a few seconds, then I left the battery dis-connected for about an hour.
Unfortunately the warning lights are still there.

The lights are off below 800 rpm while in park or neutral.
They are on while driving, except when the brake pedal is pressed.

The lights are : Steering, Charging-+, Stop lamp, Brake, and ABS.

The check engine light is always on.

The original owner said there is no left rear ABS sensor installed because the bracket is missing or something. Could this have any thing to do with the warning lights going off when the brake pedal is pressed?

The vanity mirror wire is completely cut in half.

Is there another way to clear the ECU?
Thanks again.

#13 02-10-2002, 09:45 PM

If your vanity mirror wires are cut in half then try to splice then. Mine are broken at the visor edge with no chance of getting enough wire to splice.

This has no effect on your warning light problem, unfortunately.

Seraph · #14 02-10-2002, 09:58 PM

If I am not busy, and if you have time, I can stop by next weekend perhaps and have a look at it.

Lwin

Stevebsy · #15 02-19-2002, 07:16 PM

I just had this problem last week. My alternator died and I replaced it and afterwords had the same symptoms you describe.

What cured it was to make sure the connector going into the alternator is fully seated. You really gotta push on it hard to seat it properly. Give it a try...

Quote:

Originally posted by Dgf
Well, I tried to touch the two battery wires together, but they wouldn't reach with the battery in the way, so I used a wire to connect the two for a few seconds, then I left the battery dis-connected for about an hour.
Unfortunately the warning lights are still there.

The lights are off below 800 rpm while in park or neutral.
They are on while driving, except when the brake pedal is pressed.

The lights are : Steering, Charging-+, Stop lamp, Brake, and ABS.

The check engine light is always on.

The original owner said there is no left rear ABS sensor installed because the bracket is missing or something. Could this have any thing to do with the warning lights going off when the brake pedal is pressed?

The vanity mirror wire is completely cut in half.

Is there another way to clear the ECU?
Thanks again.