October 2013
Subaru Service and Technical Support Line Newsletter

ARTICLES CONTAINED
IN THIS ISSUE
CODE ARTICLE..................................PAGE

01

QMR OF THE MONTH

We are pleased to announce this month’s winner of the QMR of
the Month.

(01) QMR of the Month.................01

Russell Stevens

(01) New Techline Fax Number and
Pre Call Worksheets..............02
(01)
Friday November 29th, 2013...02

Dreyer & Reinbold Subaru in Greenwood, IN

(01) Clarification on Towing..........02
(07) BIU Replacement on all PushButton Start vehicles.............02

Have a safe and

Happy

Halloween!

Russell submitted a very detailed QMR providing a caution to SOA
and other technicians involving two identical white (natural) sixteen
pin connectors found in the center stack area of the 2014 Forester
instrument panel. These connectors could be inadvertently
reversed during instrument panel harness replacement, dash
panel removal or dash pad replacement. The connectors go to the
HVAC head unit (i16) and audio unit (i86) respectively. Reversing
these connectors can lead to the air conditioning switch, rear
defrost switch, and recirculation switch becoming inoperative which
may then be misinterpreted as an internal failure of the HVAC head
unit and could lead to an incorrect repair attempt. In appreciation
for going the extra mile and sharing his experience with us, Russell
will be receiving the following from his FSE:

A Subaru Confidence In Motion
Jacket and a $100 Gift Card
Any Subaru Service Technician can participate in QMR of the
Month. See the February 2013 Tech Tips for full details. You
may see your name here in a future Tech Tips.

Congratulations Russell!
CAUTION: VEHICLE SERVICING PERFORMED BY UNTRAINED PERSONS
COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY TO THOSE PERSONS OR TO OTHERS.

SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. IS
“ISO 14001 COMPLIANT”

The Subaru TechTIPS newsletter is intended for use by professional technicians ONLY. Articles
are written to inform those technicians of conditions that may occur in some vehicles, or to
provide information that could assist in the proper servicing of the vehicle. Properly trained
technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions, and know-how to do the job correctly
and safely. If a condition is described, DO NOT assume that your vehicle has or will have that
condition. Impreza, Legacy, Justy, Loyale, Outback, Forester, Subaru SVX, WRX, WRX STI,
L.L. Bean, Baja, Tribeca, BRZ, XV Crosstrek and “Quality Driven” are Registered Trademarks.

The international standard for excellence
in Environmental Management Systems.
Please recycle or dispose of automotive
products in a manner that is friendly to our
environment and in accordance with all
local, state and federal laws and regulations.

October 2013 TechTIPS

Page 1

01

NEW TECHLINE FAX NUMBER AND PRE CALL WORKSHEETS

Please be advised the Techline fax phone number has changed to 856-254-1423. You can still send
information from your CF-19 to Tech Support or from a desktop computer to: tech@subaru.com. All
faxes, FF data, drive files, etc. must have a Techline case number which should be written on any
correspondence. Please do not send anything to the Techline without a case number.
We would also like to remind and encourage all Technicians to use the Techline pre-call worksheets
that are posted to Subaru-net under the Service column. These worksheets have been updated
recently and are useful to the Techline for background information and assisting with diagnosing
vehicle issues.

01

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29TH, 2013

Please be advised that the Techline, Dealer Claims and Parts Information Coordinator call centers will
be open with limited staffing on Friday, November 29th, 2013. The hours of operation will be from 8:30
am until 3:00 pm EST.

01

CLARIFICATION ON TOWING

•

All 5 speed manual transmission vehicles can be towed with all 4 wheels on the ground. You
must leave the shifter in neutral and the steering wheel unlocked (key in ACC position).

•

For 6 speed manual transmissions found in the Impreza STI, you must follow Service Bulletin
01-162-05.

•

All BRZ models must be towed using a flat bed tow truck with all 4 wheels off the ground.
Flat towing is not allowed for both 6AT and 6MT models.

•

Legacy, Outback, and Forester models equipped with a 6 speed manual transmission can be
towed with all 4 wheels on the ground. Again, leave the steering wheel unlocked (key in ACC
position) and the shifter in neutral.

•

For CVT, 5 AT and 4 AT-equipped vehicles, you can tow the vehicle with all of the wheels on
the ground but you cannot exceed 20 MPH and must not travel further than 31 miles or
transmission damage will result. For further distances and higher speeds, the vehicle must be
transported on a flat bed truck with all 4 wheels off the ground.

07

BIU REPLACEMENT ON ALL PUSH-BUTTON START VEHICLES

When replacing the BIU on all push-button start cars, if the BIU is set to Factory rather than Market
mode, the dome lamp or upper room lamps will flash in a similar manner as the key illumination
ring does on key start cars (models equipped with an illumination ring). After installation and prior
to registration, you must use the Subaru Select Monitor to enter the BIU customizing menu and
change this setting from Factory to Market mode. Whenever a BIU is replaced, all of the items in the
customizing menu should be recorded then reset in the new BIU.

October 2013 TechTIPS

Page 2

00

2013 Calendar of
Subaru Holidays

STIS RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS FROM 09/01/2013 TO 09/30/2013

H701SFJ100; Accessory
Installation Guide, Impreza,
XV Crosstrek, Forester Interior
Illumination Kit (Red)

H7150SG000; Accessory
Installation Guide, to dimming
mirror with compass and
Homelink

15-167-13R; Technical Service
Bulletin, Loose Windshield-Mounted
Rear-View Mirror

TIPS0913; TechTIPS Newsletter,
2013 September TechTIPS
Newsletter

J601SFJ000; Accessory
Installation Guide,2014 XV
Crosstrek Hybrid Auto Start/Stop
Battery Warmer Kit

J601SFJ000; Accessory
Installation Guide, 2014 XV
Crosstrek Hybrid Auxiliary Battery
Warmer Kit

Thanksgiving
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Friday, November 29, 2013*
*Hours of operation will be from
8:30 am until 3:00 pm EST

Happy Holidays
Tuesday, December 24, 2013 and
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
New Year’s Day
Wednesday, January 1, 2014

*** NOW YOU CAN E-MAIL YOUR TECHTIPS INPUT AND SUGGESTIONS TO: TECH@SUBARU.COM ***

This is your chance to offer suggestions for use in future issues of TechTIPS! Make sure that if you
e-mail us, you place in the subject line of your e-mail “For TechTIPS Newsletter”. Thank you!
MODEL:
YEAR:
VIN:
Description of situation encountered:

Your suggestion for repair procedure, product improvements, etc.:

Please attach separate sheets, if necessary. You may also want to include Service Manual diagrams or references, or your own
drawings to assist in describing your suggestion. All information submitted becomes the property of Subaru of America, Inc.
Permission is granted to Subaru of America, Inc. to print your name and suggestions in TechTIPS and other Subaru of America, Inc.
publications. Mail items to: PO Box 6000, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034-6000.

Your Name: Signature:
Dealer’s Name: City:
Date: Dealer Code:

SUBARU TECHLINE
Hours of Operation

October 2013 TechTIPS

Monday – Thursday 8:30 am to 6:30 pm
Friday 10:30 am to 5 pm
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