Tech Tips February 2017 (TIPS 0217)

TECH TIPS FEBRUARY 2017

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN

07 - SATELLITE SIGNAL LOST WHEN TRAVELING SOUTH 2014 - UP FORESTER

If you receive a customer complaint of their Sirius/XM cuts out or shuts off while traveling south, ask the customer if they recently moved the position of the rear roof rack crossbar. If the crossbar is in the rearmost position, there is the possibility of causing interference with the Sirius/XM signal reception. To test this, move the rear crossbar towards the front of the vehicle 3 inches, then test operation again. If the satellite reception has returned to normal, advise the customer positioning the roof rack crossbar in this location could potentially result in loss of satellite reception while traveling south. Figure 1  shows the cross bar location affecting satellite reception.

According to the accessory installation guide shown in Figure 2  , the typical location of the rear crossbar is 4" behind the roof rail base measuring point.

15 - 2017MY IMPREZA, REMOTE ENGINE START (RES) REMOTE FOB REGISTRATION TIPS

There have been a small number of reports from the field describing difficulty registering the fobs at the end of the RES installation procedure. The following three TIPS may be beneficial:

1. Confirm the currently installed DSTi software version by following the screen shot sequence below: On the Main Menu screen, the software version will be displayed in the lower right hand corner. The latest version should be 2.1.0. If the software needs to be updated, make sure your SSM4 software is the latest version. The DSTi software will automatically be updated the first time it is connected to the SSM4 after a new version is pushed out.
2. Confirm the Destination setting has been selected (North America). To check, from the Main Menu screen, select "Setup", select "Destination Setting" and if not already selected, select "North America".
3. Confirm the DSTi is in stand alone  mode. Press the "A" and "B" buttons simultaneously and hold them down for approximately 5 seconds to enter stand alone mode. When completed, proceed to Registration.

15 - RES HOOD SWITCH

The Techline has been receiving calls regarding vehicles not starting when using the Remote Engine Start (RES) intermittently. This symptom usually involves the vehicle's ignition powering up however, the user will receive abnormal feedback in the form of horn honks or transponder beeps. When encountering this concern, one thing to inspect is the hood switch placement. The hood has an indentation very close to where the hood switch sits. If the hood does not fully depress the switch when closed, the starting operation will be disabled for safety. To test operation, the hood switch can be ruled out by disconnecting the connector and attempting RES operation. If the vehicle starts normally with the hood switch disconnected, the next step would be to inspect the hood switch positioning. Be sure to follow the applicable instructions found in the troubleshooting guide and RES installation instructions during inspection (and possible replacement). Figure 1  shows the correct installation of the RES hood switch while Figure 2  shows the incorrect installation.

15 - 2017MY IMPREZA AUDIO UNIT STAYS POWERED UP AFTER KEY OFF ....OR DOES IT?

All of the new 2017MY Impreza audio systems include a feature where the audio system stays powered for a period of time after the ignition is switched OFF. If the vehicle has been equipped with the accessory Rockford Fosgate audio amplifier, some confusion may arise when comparing audio unit operation of one Impreza to another. Although the audio unit will continue to operate after the ignition is switched OFF on all models, the power supply for the accessory amplifier is switched off along with the ignition resulting in the loss of audio output. This may cause confusion for customers when seeing the audio unit appear to be operating but not hearing any audio output. Be advised, this is a normal operating characteristic and no attempt should be made to repair or replace any of the system components. This operating characteristic is also briefly described on pg. 118 of the Multimedia System guide contained in the Owner Information Kit as shown below. 

15 - 2017MY IMPREZA REMOTE ENGINE START (RES) TIME-OUT FUNCTION

The Techline has received a limited number of inquiries regarding the time-out function of the RES system. When utilizing the RES feature, the system will automatically shut the engine off after 15 minutes of initial run time. (15 minutes is the default setting but, instructions are supplied with the system to customize this setting allowing owners to stay compliant with their specific state and local laws.) Using the default 15-minute parameter, if the vehicle is restarted using the RES without the system seeing an ignition "ON" signal (from the vehicle's mechanical or "smart" key) to "reset" it, the engine will only run for an additional 5 minutes for a 20-minute maximum total run-time.  The 20-minute total run-time is fixed (not adjustable), regardless of what the initial time-out setting is. For example, if the initial setting is changed from the default 15 minutes to 5 minutes, the RES can be used to start the car 4 times (20 minutes total) without the system seeing an ignition "ON" signal to reset it.

It is also important to note, the audio head unit (H/U) will stay powered up for an additional 3 minutes after the ignition is switched off UNLESS there is an active Bluetooth phone call in process. In that case, the additional 3 minutes of H/U on-time will be extended to a maximum of 10 minutes after the ignition is switched off.