Tech Tips January 2014 (TIPS 0114)

TECH TIPS JANUARY 2014

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN

14 SUBARU SPECIAL SERVICE TOOLS WEBSITE URL UPDATE

Please note the Subaru Special Service Tools website has a new address...use https://subaru.service-solutions.com/  (not the prior subaru.spx.com).

You can access the website via Subarunet - on the left menu, go to Service >> Special Service Tools  . And, be sure to update any bookmarks you may be using with the old URL.

In addition, the links on the Subaru Diagnostic System (SDS) are not yet updated and may redirect you to a Bosch general website in the short term. They will be updated in the near future.

07 APPEARANCE OF WATER DROPLETS IN BRZ EXTERIOR LAMPS

If you receive a customer concern of what appears to be water collecting inside the back-up light, front turn signal or rear combination lamp assembly, be sure to inspect the bottom of the lens area closely as shown in the photos below. Water droplets may collect along the edges of the lenses giving the indication they are inside the assembly when in fact, they are on the outside. To avoid unnecessary lamp replacements, simply remove the accumulated water droplets with compressed air. There is no need to replace them as this is not a defect.

12 BRZ FRONT BUMPER COVER REMOVAL PRECAUTIONS

Whenever removing the front bumper cover from a BRZ, use the following precaution to avoid damaging or distorting the cover's mud guard mounting tabs. Over time, the 2 under-side mounting bolts, which also secure the mud guards, may become seized in the speed nuts they thread into.

Remove the lower bumper under-cover by removing the 6 clips and 3 mounting bolts as shown on the right.

When removing the 2 under-side mounting bolts, always keep the speed nut from turning and possibly distorting or damaging the mounting tabs of the bumper cover by using a wrench as shown below.

01 2014 XV CROSSTREK HYBRID LAUNCH REMINDER

A Special FHI Quality Monitoring Team is currently in the USA monitoring the launch of this much anticipated new model. The Team is very interested in EVERYTHING related to this new Vehicle. They are looking for specific and detailed information on EVERY condition identified. The Techline has received calls where the technician has erased DTCs (Diagnostic Trouble Codes) and cleared out very important freeze frame data. Please call the Subaru Techline on any reported concern on every hybrid vehicle prior to performing any repairs so a case can be opened and information collected while this team is here to support the launch of this vehicle. Please read December 2013 Tech Tips for more information.

15 HOMELINK MIRROR PROGRAMMING INFORMATION

Should you receive a customer concern of not being able to program their HomeLink mirror, the cause may be software incompatibility between the mirror and the garage door opener. If the customer has recently added or replaced their opener, it may not be receiving a "usable" activation signal from the HomeLink mirror. When the opener utilizes HomeLink Version 4 software (common in openers produced after 2011) and the HomeLink mirror utilizes HomeLink Version 3, a "signal repeater" device is often required to complete the programming process. The HomeLink mirror part numbers listed below all operate with HomeLink Version 4 and do not require a repeater.

• H501SFJ101 (applicable to 2012-14 Impreza, 2013-14 XV Crosstrek, 2010-14 Outback&Legacy)
• H501SSG101 (applicable to 2014-15 Forester)
• H501SCA101 (applicable to 2013-14 BRZ)

If your customer has one of the openers listed in the HomeLink website information provided below, they may need to purchase a repeater. They are available directly from HomeLink through their website: https://secure.homelink.com/homelink-repeater-kit-detail and have a price of $27.95 each plus shipping. For more information and Tech Support on HomeLink products, go to: www.homelink.com or call: 1-800-355-3515.

HomeLink Repeater Kit 

The HomeLink Repeater Kit is designed to allow compatibility between a new Chamberlain, Sears Craftsman, or Lift Master garage door opener fitted with a yellow antenna wire and the HomeLink system in your vehicle. These garage door openers were manufactured in 2011 or later. If your opener does not have a yellow antenna wire or is not one of the brands listed above, please consider purchasing a Universal Receiver to ensure compatibility.

Sales price: $27.95 

07 IMPORTANT HYBRID VEHICLE AUXILIARY BATTERY PRECAUTION

Whenever disconnecting or replacing the Hybrid Auxiliary Battery (located in the left front), always wait at least one minute between disconnecting and reconnecting the battery terminals. In addition, avoid momentary contact between the battery terminals and cable connections as this will have a similar effect to disconnecting and reconnecting the battery too quickly. By not waiting at least one minute, a network communication concern could be created which may induce a DTC.