Tech Tips October 2017 (TIPS 1017)

TECH TIPS OCTOBER 2017

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN

12 2015MY LEGACY/OUTBACK SEAT HEATER OPERATION OVERVIEW

The front seat heater system used in the 2015MY Legacy/Outback is a new design compared to prior systems. It utilizes a thermistor sensor which allows the front seats to remain at warmer temperatures more consistently than the prior system. The new system is very different due to the change in sensors. The seat heater system on 2014MY and prior Legacy/Outback is a thermostat sensor-based system which makes the front seats heat up periodically and then cool down until the sensor indicates a need to turn the element on again. When this sensor-based system is operating, the temperature increases until the sensor reads the heating element has reached approximately 50 degrees C (roughly 122 degrees F). At that point, the element is turned off until the sensor reads approximately 40 degrees C (104 degrees F). At that temperature reading, the element is turned back on again to re-heat the seat resulting in an approximate 18-degree range. This cycle continues as long as the seat heater switch is on in either the low or high position.

In comparison, the thermistor sensor used in the new system also has periodic on and off cycles, but the operating range (temperature difference) is much smaller with an upper limit temperature which is slightly lower. The new system turns on the element until the thermistor sensor reads approximately 38 degrees C (roughly 100 degrees F) then cycles the element off until the temperature (at the thermister) reaches approximately 37 degrees C (roughly 98 degrees F) before the element cycles on again, yielding only an approximate 2-degree range. As you can see, the upper and lower temperature range on the new system is significantly reduced. However, this is an apples and oranges comparison as the actual seat temperature felt is very similar. As you can see on the chart below, the average surface temperature of the front seat for each system ends up being very close. The RED line on the graph shows the temperature on front seat surface of the new 2015MY Legacy/Outback while the GREEN line represents the previous model year. You can see the fluctuations of the previous system have been virtually eliminated and the temperature stability enhancement the new system provides.

There are three levels of front seat heating available for 2015MY Legacy and Outback, HIGH (1), MID (2) and LOW (3). The difference among these modes is an upper limit temperature change of about 2 to 4 degrees C. Similar to the older system the speed at which the seat actually heats up varies with the level settings. The high setting will heat the seat the quickest, mid will increase the temperature more gradually and low will increase it at the slowest rate.

In contrast, the rear seat heater system used on 2015MY Legacy/Outback is a similar design as the previous model year but, the cycle and surface temperatures for those seats are lower than the front seats on previous model by a few degrees C.

Another operational difference between the old and new seat heater systems is how each functions in higher ambient temperature conditions. Naturally, ambient temperatures which are at or above the upper limit of either system's sensor function may keep the seat heater from operating. Simply stated, if the ambient temperature inside the car is higher than the upper cycle limit for that sensor, the system will not allow the element to heat. This is not a malfunction; the seat heater system is operating as designed.

Should you receive a customer concern stating their seat heaters do not work, start your diagnosis by first confirming the conditions under which the system was reported to be inoperative. If the ambient temperatures were close to or higher than the seat heater sensor's upper limit (remember, inside vehicle temperatures will be higher than outside ambient temperature in most cases), the concern may be due to characteristic system operation. If this is not the case, diagnose the system using the applicable Service Manual. On the new 2015 Legacy and Outback, you can view the temperature of the thermistor sensor using the SSMIII as shown in the screen shot below. This data may be used to check if the sensor is functioning correctly or not.

15 SEARCHING FOR ACCESSORY INSTALLATION GUIDES

When searching for accessory Installation Guides on STIS, all available guides may not appear if searching by VIN, Model Year, Carline and Trim. To search for the correct guide, it is easiest to go to Online Reference and enter the part number of the accessory in the Quick Search (example 1). The results will display the correct Installation Guides (example 2). This example is searching for a Remote Engine Starter for a turn key on a 2017-2018 Impreza.

There are accessories which are supplied the painted body color. Some of those accessories are Body Side Molding and Door Edge Guards. When searching for painted items, search for the part number and leave the last two digits off. For example, search for a Body Side Molding on a 2017-2018 Impreza in Carbide Gray: the part number is J101SFL500L8. A search with this part number would have 0 results. When searching, leave off the last two numbers and search for J101SFL500 (see examples 3 and 4 on page 6).

Example 1 

Example 2 

Example 3 

Example 4 

15 NAVIGATION AND HEAD UNIT DIAGNOSIS

The Techline continues to receive calls from Technicians on Navigation/Audio unit concerns. Here are a few simple steps to complete in your diagnosis before contacting the Techline.

1. Verify the customer's concern. If Bluetooth related, check the phone compatibility before movinG forward. This procedure can be found in 5/2017 Tech Tips. If the phone is compatible and there is a Bluetooth concern, use 7/2017 TechTIPS to aid in your diagnosis.
2. If you are having trouble duplicating the concern, get more information on when the concern occurs. Questions like: How often does it occur? Does it seem to be temperature related? What source is the radio on when the symptom occurs? These and similar questions should assist in recreating the issue. If the concern cannot be duplicated, at minimum, a detailed QMR should be submitted.
3. Once we verify the concern, perform a line check. The line check will verify continuity in certain systems. USBs must be plugged in if testing with a line check. The test can be found in the Service Manual under Entertainment. An example of a line check is provided below. If anything other than OK is displayed, there is trouble in that system and it should be checked.
4. Next, check connections at the radio and powers and grounds. Also inspect the terminals for looseness and deformities.
5. Swap the radio with a like radio and leave the DCM (Data Communication Module) unplugged.

15 NEW QUESTIONNAIRE RELEASING FOR HARMAN GEN 3 AUDIO/NAVIGATION CONCERNS

SOA will soon be releasing 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 will soon be posted to Subarunet/Service Operations & Technical/Forms/Download section for use by retailers. SOA is asking that this new questionnaire be completed every time a customer presents with any 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.

15 PHONE CONTACT OPTIONS

If you receive a concern from the customer using dial by name where they have to say the last name before the first, check the settings menu of the iphone. Scroll down to Mail, Contacts, Calendar and select. Next, scroll to Contacts and look at the setting selected; there is an option for display and sort order. Make sure the customer has this set to their liking as this setting will directly affect how the unit looks through the Contacts for the name.

16 ALLOWABLE REPAIRS TO CVT ASSEMBLIES

All too often, the Techline is called asking what kind of repairs can I do? The procedure for all allowable repairs is outlined in the Policy and Procedures Manual on Subarunet under the Claims and Warranty Administration tab. The Policy and Procedure manual should be reviewed anytime a repair is in question.

Example of the Policy and Procedure manual:

A new repair will be added to the Policy and Procedure Manual for CVT oil pump chain cover reseal. There is a TSB for TR690, TSB# 16-103-16R explaining repairs. The Service Manual covers the repair for TR580. We are no longer replacing CVT assemblies for leaking oil pump chain covers. Please use the applicable Service Manual for repairs.