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May 2019

Subaru Service and Technical Support Line Newsletter
ARTICLES CONTAINED
IN THIS ISSUE
Click on a title below to jump to the article.
Click the date located in the footer to return to page 1.

CODE ARTICLE...............................PAGE
(00)

STIS New Releases....................8-9

(01)

QMR of the Month........................ 1

(01)

QMR of the Month Award
Presentations ............................. 2

(01)

Use Of Silicone Spray Precautions.... 3

(01)

Brake Lamp Switch Replacement Web
Based Training............................ 3

(07)

2019MY Forester Manual Override for
Power Rear Gate.......................... 3

(07)

2019MY WRX, Telematics “i” Button
Sticking..................................... 4

(12)

2019MY Ascent, Spare Tire Hoist
Precautions................................ 5

(14)

WUE-90 Stop Lamp Switch Recall,
Special Tool TIP........................... 5

(15)

Telematics Operational Concerns
Accompanied By DTC B2A15........... 6

(15)

Harman Audio / Navigation System
Concerns................................. 6-7

SUBARU TECHLINE HOLIDAYS
& HOURS OF OPERATION
Memorial Day: (Closed)
Monday, May 27, 2019
Independence Day: (Closed)
Thursday, July 4, 2019

Mon. - Thurs.

8:30AM - 7:30PM EST

Friday

10:30AM - 5:00PM EST

Saturday

9:00AM - 3:00PM EST

01

© 2019 Subaru of America, Inc. All rights reserved.

QMR OF THE MONTH

We are pleased to announce this month’s Winner of QMR of the Month:

David Jodat from
Subaru City of Milwaukee in Milwaukee, WI.
David’s excellent QMR detailed his diagnosis and repair of a new
2019MY Impreza (19 miles) which prior to delivery, was experiencing
driveability concerns along with both the Check Engine and AT
Temp lights flashing. His thorough report began with describing the
condition as the transmission slipping and feeling like it was starting
out in a much higher ratio than normal. After easily duplicating the
condition, David began his diagnosis by looking into the list of 3 stored
transmission DTCs, all relating to a different shaft speed sensor.
He then connected the SSM4, selected the PIDs for the sensors
in question along with front wheel speed to help with his diagnosis.
During the brief road test, David identified all 3 shaft sensors were
unresponsive while the wheel speed data would rise and drop
normally. He then turned to the transmission wiring diagram and
identified a common power supply feed for all 3 sensors although,
each had its own separate ground. This led David to start tracing
the sensor power supply wiring. Using the split-half technique, he
was able to track down two separate problems. The first was a
broken locking tab on the outside of connector E115 along with a
poor connection found at Pin 19 of connector T15 (which connects to
E115). Because of the broken locking tab, David proceeded to order
and install a new engine wiring harness which repaired the vehicle.
His QMR also included numerous quality photos with call-outs, SSM
data snapshots and a video showing how he was able to simulate the
poor Pin 19 sensor power supply connection.
In appreciation for going the extra mile and sharing his experience
with us, David will be receiving the following:
A $500.00 Snap-On gift card.
CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE

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, Baja, Tribeca,
BRZ, XV Crosstrek, Ascent, Crosstrek Hybrid and “Quality Driven” are Registered Trademarks.

ISO 14001 is 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.

May 2019 TechTIPS

Page 1 of 10

01

QMR OF THE MONTH (CONTINUED)

The other Regional winners selected from QMRs submitted during March 2019 were:
•

David Wood from Riverhead Bay Subaru in Riverhead, NY

•

Eric Heck from Pine Belt Subaru in Lakewood, NJ

•

Ken Mitsumasu from Subaru Orange Coast in Santa Ana, CA

•

Daniel Evans from North Reading Subaru in North Reading, MA

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

01

QMR OF THE MONTH AWARD PRESENTATIONS

As part of our “enhanced” QMR of the Month recognition program, we will be including a photo (whenever
available) of the recipient’s award presentation in TIPS. The winner selected from QMR of the Month
submissions received during March 2019, was David Jodat, a Technician at Subaru City of Milwaukee in
Milwaukee, WI.

David is shown above after being presented with his $500.00 Snap-On Gift Card by SOA Field Service
Engineer, Keith Cook (far left). He was joined by Subaru City of Milwaukee’s Dealer Principal, Michael
Schlossmann and Assistant Service Manager Jason O’Donnell (far right). Congratulations and THANK
YOU to our March 2019 QMR of the Month Award recipient!

May 2019 TechTIPS

CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE
Page 2 of 10

01

USE OF SILICONE SPRAY PRECAUTIONS

Techline continues to receive reports of aerosol products containing silicone being used during diagnosis
and repair. We are providing the following information regarding the use of lubricating sprays containing
silicone (WD-40®, Armor-All®, Silicone Spray, etc.). When silicone attaches to an electrical contact point
such as a relay circuit, switch or harness connector, silicon dioxide (SiO2) is formed by the heat generated
during current flow which can result in electrical contact failure. Eventually, there is a possibility electrical
components or connections could fail as a result. Therefore, when cleaning car interiors, lubricating
weather stripping or repairing noises it is imperative sprays containing silicone are not used.

01

BRAKE LAMP SWITCH REPLACEMENT WEB BASED TRAINING

The required Course “Subaru Brake Switch
Replacement” has been assigned to all
technicians, interns and apprentices.
This 15-minute WBT will cover the switch
replacement procedures. To locate this WBT
logon to click:
SKILS > Learning > View Your
Transcript > Brake Lamp Switch
Replacement WBT.
If this training has not been assigned to
you, simply enter Brake Lamp Switch
Replacement WBT into the search field
located at the top right of SKILS.

07

2019MY FORESTER MANUAL OVERRIDE FOR POWER REAR GATE

When the power rear gate system senses a malfunction and the gate is
closed, the vehicle will chirp three times and the gate will not open. To
open the gate, simply press and hold the opener button on the gate until
the latch releases. The gate can then be manually opened and closed.
Initialization information for the power rear gate can be found on pages
148-149 of the Owner’s Manual.

May 2019 TechTIPS

CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE
Page 3 of 10

07

2019MY WRX, TELEMATICS “i” BUTTON STICKING

Recently, there have been some QMRs received
describing the blue “i” button for the Telematics
system sticking. Thanks to the hard work of our Port
Quality Assurance teams, a couple of causes for this
condition have been identified which we would like
to pass along.

Retaining Screw Not
Fully Tightened.

If you encounter a 2019MY WRX with the blue “i”
button sticking or loose, it most likely won’t require
replacement of the switch or housing to repair. This
condition is usually caused one of two concerns. In
the first condition, one or both of the screws securing the Telematics switch to the housing may not be fully
tightened (as shown in the photo above) which can allow the switch to move.
The second concern involves one of the other harness connectors above the housing being out of position
and pushing down on the switch. This results in the button getting hung up on the edge of the opening in
the housing. This can generally be repaired by simply rotating the connector that is pressing down on the
switch as shown below.

May 2019 TechTIPS

CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE
Page 4 of 10

12

2019MY ASCENT, SPARE TIRE HOIST PRECAUTIONS

When using the Ascent’s spare tire hoist, it is IMPORTANT to use ONLY the spare tire lug wrench included
with the vehicle to operate it. NEVER use an electric or air-operated power tool to operate the hoist as
damage to the internal mechanism and / or the hoist cable can result preventing the spare tire from being
secured fully in place against the underside of the vehicle body. A customer concern of a “clunking” noise
may also result from this condition along with sidewall damage to the spare and corresponding vehicle
underbody / paint rub-through.
OK

Factory Lug Wrench Installed

NG

14

Witness marks
on the hex
portion and face
plate of winch
from using a
deep-well
socket and
power tool.

WUE-90 STOP LAMP SWITCH RECALL, SPECIAL TOOL TIP

A Technician submitted a QMR with an excellent suggestion to prevent the WUE-90 adjustment nut special
tool from being left behind after completing the repair procedure:

Simply drill a hole near the handle end of the tool and install an unused lanyard as shown above. The
brighter color the better but, we liked the choice used here too!

May 2019 TechTIPS

CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE
Page 5 of 10

15

TELEMATICS OPERATIONAL CONCERNS ACCOMPANIED BY DTC B2A15

There have been a significant number of inquiries regarding DTC B2A15 and Telematics system operation.
Customers usually report a concern of the red Telematics LED being illuminated, either currently or in the
past. In a case where the red LED is currently not illuminated, the customer may also have an email telling
them STARLINK has detected their services may not be operating correctly and recommending they return
to the retailer to have the system diagnosed. Once at the retailer, if the LED is green, the system is usually
operating within manufacturer specification BUT, there may be a DTC B2A15 in history.