Tech Tips November 2017 (TIPS 1117)

Publication date: 2017-11-14
Reference number: TIPS 1117

TECH TIPS NOVEMBER 2017

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN

Reference Number(s): TIPS 1117, Date of Issue: November 14, 2017

SUBARU:

All Models

01 QMR OF THE MONTH

We are pleased to announce this month's winner of QMR of the Month:

Logan submitted a very well-detailed QMR on the steps he took to diagnose and repair his customer's concern of the right front dash speaker (tweeter) making a cracking and popping sound. The condition on this 2014 Outback was duplicated with the key on, engine off and with the engine running. It could also be duplicated with the head unit switched off or on and at any volume from all sources (FM, AM, SAT, CD, etc.). Logan studied the audio system's wiring diagram and determined the vehicle was equipped with the factory Harmon Kardon premium audio and amplifier unit. Using the wiring diagram, he found the speaker signals are output from the head unit at connectors i26 and i131 to the amplifier at connector R386 then leave the amplifier at connectors R316 and R317 out to the speakers. Logan back probed the right front tweeter on pin 2 of i159 and found a consistent 5.7v. He then back probed pin 1 of i159 and found a varying voltage present. Whenever the speaker would make the loud crack or pop sound, the voltage on pin 1 would change significantly. After determining this varying voltage was what caused the sound to occur, he began checking output voltages at the head unit, input voltages at the amplifier and output voltages from the amplifier to the speakers. Logan isolated the varying voltage on pin 1 of R317 leaving the audio amplifier. After replacing the amplifier unit, the condition was gone and the vehicle repaired.

Any Subaru Technician can participate in the QMR of the Month program. See the February, 2013 and January, 2016 issues of TechTIPS for full details. You just might see your name and photo in a future issue of Tech TIPS.

01 IMPORTANT REMINDER: WQK-47R EQUIPMENT CLEANING PROCEDURE

There has been a significant increase in the number of orders received for the spray equipment required to perform the WQK-47R Brake Line Corrosion campaign. The following information is being provided as a reminder about how to keep the equipment clean so that the need for replacement parts can be reduced.

The wax material (712AM) used for WQK47 is easier to maintain compared with other common coating materials due to its extended "pot life" of 5-7 days. However, once this wax solidifies, it is not soluble in solvent. Please clean the spray gun at the end of each day's work following the procedure below.

Close the discharge knob then clear the residual wax in nozzle with air pressure and wipe the tip clean.

Insert nozzle into waste container and close the discharge knob.

CAUTION: Always wear Safety Goggles and Particle Mask whenever discharging air through the sprayer as residual chemicals may remain.

Pull the gun trigger half way and hold for about 20 seconds until the tip is clear.

Confirm the nozzle and tip are clear.

Wipe the tip with a clean cloth.

IMPORTANT: The cup does not need to be cleaned if additional vehicles are scheduled within the next few days as the wax has a pot life of 5-7 days BUT , the gun and nozzle must be cleaned DAILY .

Maintenance / Storage Procedure (for when the next operation is not scheduled within 5-7 days)

In this case, clean the complete spray gun. Clean the nozzle, tip, gun and cup using kerosene. REMINDER: This wax product does not dissolve in thinner.

To prevent damage to the gun and also the loss of parts after cleaning, it is recommended to always store the gun in its original box.

IMPORTANT: If after opening the storage container, the wax material has begun to solidify, it MUST be discarded. DO NOT try to salvage the wax material by adding or mixing with a solvent.

If the spray nozzle is not working properly (poor spray pattern), the tip may be partially clogged.

Remove the tube / nozzle from the gun assembly and clean by applying compressed air.
Release the plastic tube from the gun by pressing down on the black collar of the connector.
Pull out the tube while holding the black collar portion down.
CAREFULLY apply compressed (regulated, "shop") air to the removed tube to clear the restriction from the tip.
After cleaning, reinstall the tube / nozzle back into the connector.
Make sure to push the tube all the way into the fitting until it stops then pull on it slightly to make sure it locks in place.

TECH TIPS GREATEST TIPS

For this month's version Tech TIPS Greatest TIPS we have selected AT LEARNING CONTROL TIP. This TIP is from 6/2016 Tech TIPS and Techline still refers to this TIP daily. Remember to follow the procedure outlined in the applicable Service Manual for transmission related repairs.

03 AT LEARNING CONTROL INFORMATION

There have been a limited number of reports brought to the attention of Techline involving the Learning Control process aborting and being accompanied by the message "AT learning ended abnormally". When Technicians encounter this error, referring to the applicable Service Manual to verify the procedure should be the first step to determine the root cause. Another source of information pertaining to this can be found under the Help tab in the Subaru Select Monitor III. Figure 1 shows the two different error messages you can receive during the AT Learning Control process. Each has a different diagnostic approach. Incorporated with the error messages are the Main Cause and Remedy tables, which are found in both the applicable Service Manual and under the Help tab of Subaru Select Monitor III.

When performing the Learning Control procedure, be aware of items such as:

Brake pedal application

Firm pressure applied to the pedal is required. If insufficient pressure is applied to the brake pedal, the process will abort.
When commanded to release the brake pedal, do so immediately and let the pedal return on its own.

Throttle input

No throttle input should be used at any point during the Learning Control procedure.
Any RPM deviation not created by the Learning Control process will abort the procedure, so verify there are no outside influences that could affect this.

Parking brake application

Application of the parking brake requires enough force to keep both rear wheels stationary. Any movement of the rear wheels will abort the process.
Verify the parking brake operates appropriately (no adjustments needed, calibration performed, etc.) according to the applicable Service Manual.

Fluid Temperature

Please refer to the applicable Service Manual for the appropriate Learning Control procedures, including the required fluid temperature range.
The process cannot be performed at the incorrect fluid temperature.
Verify the fluid level is correct, as this will affect fluid temperature in some cases.

In rare cases when the tips provided above do not aid in completion of the Learning Control process, performing a short test drive of 5-7 miles may resolve the issue. In the event a test drive is determined as the next step, keep in mind the fluid temperature may rise beyond the specification required for Learning Control to complete, in which case a cool down period will be necessary.

06 2017 IMPREZA BRAKE CALIPER ASSEMBLY OIL RESIDUE

There have been reports from some retailers indicating possible brake fluid leaks from the front brake calipers on a some 2017 Imprezas. After investigation, it was determined there was no brake fluid leaking from the brake caliper and the fluid found was residue from an assembly oil. Should you encounter this condition, clean all affected components with an appropriate parts cleaner and confirm the brake fluid level in the master cylinder reservoir. If the fluid level is full and there are no signs of any contamination or any other concerns, test drive the vehicle making several stops. After the test drive, check the brake calipers again along with the balance of the brake system for any leakage and the brake fluid level for any decrease. If there is no leakage, brake caliper replacement is not necessary.

15 NEW QUESTIONNAIRE FOR HARMAN GEN 3 AUDIO/ NAVIGATION CONCERNS

SOA has released a new questionnaire to collect information for concerns related to Harman Kardon Gen 3 Audio and Navigation systems found in 2017-18 Impreza, 2018 Crosstrek and 2018 Legacy and Outback models. It has been posted to Subarunet / Service Operations & Technical / Forms / Download section for use by retailers. SOA is asking for this new questionnaire to be completed every time a customer presents a concern(s) related to a Harman Kardon Gen 3 audio / navigation head unit. We have grouped the questions by categories to help collect critical information related to each specific concern. The best practice is to answer all the questions related to each concern the customer has brought to your attention with as much detail as possible. This will ensure all the customers concerns are fully documented and reduce the need for follow up questions.

The questionnaire is required to be supplied to Techline or attached to a QMR with every Harman audio/ navigation concern reported to SOA. This information will be used by SBR and Harman to investigate each reported condition and prioritize development of future firmware updates to improve the performance of these audio / navigation systems.

We recognize most questions are best answered by the customer, so we ask that Service Advisors have some copies of this form available to capture this detailed information during the initial interview with the customer.

It is also very helpful to have a video of the condition available to supplement the details in the questionnaire. Please try to make one if possible and share when requested. However, the video is not a substitute for the questionnaire so, please make sure your answers are detailed enough to be used without seeing the video.