October 2021
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Subaru Service and Technical Support Line Newsletter
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01

© 2021 Subaru of America, Inc. All rights reserved.

QMR of the Month

CODE ARTICLE...................................................................PAGE
(00) STIS New Releases..................................... 10
(01) QMR of the Month......................................1-2
(01) QMR of the Month Award
Presentations................................................ 2
Tech Tips Greatest Tips
(01) CPO Procedure for Turbocharged Subaru .....
Vehicles......................................................3-5
(07) Diagnosing Network, U - Codes.................6-7
(07) Parasitic Draw Testing,
A Different Approach.................................... 8
(15) Auto Start Stop inoperative or Automatically
Disabled at Engine On.................................. 9
(17) SRS Air Bag, Rear Seatbelt Chimes.............. 9

SUBARU TECHLINE HOLIDAYS
& HOURS OF OPERATION
Thanksgiving: (Closed)
Thursday, November 25, 2021
Day After Thanksgiving: (10:30AM - 3:30PM)
Friday, November 26, 2021
Holiday Break: (Closed)
Friday, December 24, 2021
Saturday, December 25, 2021
Monday, December 27, 2021
Friday, December 31, 2021
Saturday, January 1, 2022

Mon. - Thurs.

8:30AM - 7:30PM EST

Friday

10:30AM - 5:00PM EST

Saturday

9:00AM - 3:00PM EST

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

John Cote from
Bill Kolb Jr. Subaru in Orangeburg, NY
The QMR of the Month selected from August’s submissions detailed the
diagnosis and repair of a recurring DTC B281E related to the Reverse
Automatic Braking (RAB) system on a 2018MY Impreza. After confirming
the RAB warning lamp operation and connecting the SSM, he was unable
to communicate with the RAB system and found no other DTCs present.
Another Technician had already replaced the RAB control module on
a prior visit but unfortunately, the condition returned shortly thereafter.
After John confirmed all the related power and ground wiring was in
order, he turned his attention to the CAN system. By split-halfing the
CAN harness between the EyeSight stereo camera and the RAB module,
he was able to duplicate fluctuations in the resistance readings when
wiggle-testing the R180 CAN joint connector. John replaced the left
(driver) side body harness and after checking his resistances again postrepair, normal values were restored along with communication between
the RAB module and EyeSight stereo camera. The DTC cleared normally
with no recurrence during his road testing. John’s report outlined the
diagnostic steps used, his test results and included a video of his DVOM
while testing the affected joint connector.
In appreciation for going the extra mile and sharing his experience with
us, John will be receiving the following from his Field Service Engineer:

$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.

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.

October 2021 TechTIPS

SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. IS
ISO 14001 COMPLIANT
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.

Page 1 of 11

01

QMR of the Month (CONTINUED)

The other Regional winners selected from QMRs submitted during August 2021 were:

•

David Derks from Groove Subaru in Englewood, CO

•

Charles Johnston from Macon Subaru in Macon, GA

•

Nick Leuck from Bob Rohrman Subaru in Lafayette, IN

•

Cory Scothon from Patriot Subaru of North Attleboro in North Attleboro, 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 include a photo (whenever
available) of the recipient’s award presentation in TIPS. The winner selected from QMR of the Month
submissions received during August 2021 was John Cote, a Technician from Bill Kolb Jr. Subaru in
Orangeburg, NY.

John is shown above (left/center) after being presented with his $500.00 Snap-On Gift Card. Also pictured (left
to right) are Subaru Distributors Corp. Field Service Engineer Jim Colamarino, Bill Kolb Jr. Subaru’s Service
Director Joe Minns and Service Manager, Jessica Rolon. Congratulations and THANK YOU to our August 2021
QMR of the Month Award recipient!

Continued on the next page
October 2021 TechTIPS

Page 2 of 11

This series features TechTIPS articles frequently referred to by Techline. This month’s feature is from
October 2020.

01

CPO Procedure for Turbocharged Subaru Vehicles

Techline has observed a surge in Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) submissions with the increased
number of turbocharged engines across multiple platforms. As part of the CPO program,
turbocharged vehicles require the Calibration Identification/ Calibration Verification Numbers (CID/
CVN) to be checked before enrollment. Due to the high number of inquiries to Techline, we felt it
necessary to remind retailers of the correct CPO procedures. To help serve retailers in a timely
manner, please review the CPO process and expectations using the provided instructions below.
Incorrect submissions will delay the process for all parties involved. Responses to CPO requests
are returned within a 24hr time period. Holidays & weekends may affect return times.
•

Vehicles more than five years old ARE NOT eligible for CPO.

•

Checking the CID/CVN over the phone for CPO purposes is NOT the correct procedure.

•

Vehicles which are customer pay or used car inspections should not be submitted. Example:
A customer wants to buy a 2017 STI privately, from the local used car lot. The customer
brings the vehicle to the retailer to make sure it has not been modified. In this situation, the
retailer should contact Techline and open a case to verify CID/CVN.

•

Vehicles that are at the retailer for warranty work, such as short block failure or check
engine light diagnosis, should contact Techline.

•

Vehicles confirmed to be modified should be called in to the Techline, a case opened and
a Vehicle Modification Report filed.

#1 Vehicle Information Acquisition Screen
Please be sure to obtain a clear, crisp image of the vehicle information acquisition screen. An example
is shown below. Please DO NOT submit any hand written information. Vehicle Information Sheets (VIS)
or a copy of the Repair Order (RO) are also unacceptable. This information should ONLY be obtained
using the Subaru Select Monitor. Pictures taken with a cell phone are acceptable as long and the
information can be clearly read.
SSM4 instruction on obtaining the acquisition screen.

October 2021 TechTIPS

Continued on the next page

Page 3 of 11

01

CPO Procedure for Turbocharged Subaru Vehicles (CONTINUED)

This is a cell phone image
submitted for CPO. This is
acceptable.

This is an aftermarket Scan
tool image. This is not
acceptable.

Continued on the next page
October 2021 TechTIPS

Page 4 of 11

01

CPO Procedure for Turbocharged Subaru Vehicles (CONTINUED)

#2 Email submission instructions
Submitting a CPO CID/CVN request is just like calling Techline. A case needs to be opened with
credible information. This information includes: your full name, retailer code, and a contact phone
number. A confirmation e-mail will always be received by the account the request was submitted
from. Always submit a CPO request from an email accessible account which is checked regularly.
The email address to submit the CPO request is Tech@subaru.com. When following the Send-SSM4
document instructions on Subarunet, it is displayed as “tech support”. Below is an example of
properly submitted email.

“Tech support” on SSM or Tech@subaru.com

Proper email title, this
ensures your email is not
deleted via spam filter

Select one of the three ways to
submit the Vehicle information;
SSM file, an image, or pasted file

Your name, dealer code,
contact information, and
request go here.

Continued on the next page
October 2021 TechTIPS

Page 5 of 11

07

Diagnosing Network, U - Codes

When a vehicle presents U-0XXX diagnostic trouble codes, there are several potential causes for
the fault. Such faults have been attributed to soft connections, poor pin fitment, damaged wiring
harnesses and failed control modules. These issues may also be caused by outside influence. A
visual inspection of the vehicle for aftermarket devices and a customer interview should always be
performed prior to diagnosis.
After the vehicle has been inspected for physical damage or aftermarket devices, the Technician
should perform a full system DTC scan. When reviewing the scan, look for common trends of modules
not reporting, similar DTCs set across multiple systems, as well as faults indicating a possible voltage
concern. When a P/C/B code is present related to voltage, it is possible low or no voltage could be
the root cause for the lack of communication. Power and ground checks should be performed to the
corresponding control modules affected prior to local area network testing. Once power and ground
have been confirmed, the Technician should check for correlations between modules, i.e., who is
reporting a problem or lack of communication. When a U-code occurs in more than one module, it can
provide direction for where the fault may have occurred. Being able to identify this will help aid with
diagnosis. Below is an example of a system scan and several U-codes.

Sometimes it may be difficult to determine if a U-code is the root or the result of a problem. Freeze frame data,
trip counts, and time stamps may be used to determine which faults happened first. This can also be useful in
ruling out stored faults in the system but have not happened recently.
The Technician should refer to the wiring diagram whenever there is a lack of communication. The electrical
path should be established between the module not reporting and each module that is reporting the lack of
communication. Common connectors and junctions should be inspected for pin fitment and soft connections.
Next, using a DVOM, circuits should be isolated and checked for high resistance, short circuits, and open
circuits while performing wiggle testing.

Continued on the next page
October 2021 TechTIPS

Page 6 of 11

07

Diagnosing Network, U - Codes (CONTINUED)

Here is another example:

NOTE: DO NOT CLEAR codes to see what returns. If the problem is intermittent, the codes may not return
resulting in diagnosis coming to a halt.

Continued on the next page

October 2021 TechTIPS

Page 7 of 11

07

Parasitic Draw Testing, A Different Approach

When checking for a parasitic draw, the Technician should be careful and mindful not to wake control modules
in the vehicle. This is critical for an accurate diagnosis. Modules may be “awakened” if fuses are pulled and
replaced when using an old-style diagnostic method. A more efficient way is to inspect the voltage present
across each individual fuse when the parasitic draw is present. The Technician should prepare the vehicle by
disabling any door, hood or trunk latch that may need to be opened during the diagnosis. Whenever possible,
it is best to have two devices to help diagnose a draw: an amp clamp or a DVOM installed in series with the
battery should be used to detect the draw and confirm the draw is present while testing. A second DVOM can
be used to test for current flow across the top of a fuse. Place your DVOM into the mV setting and check across
the top of each fuse individually. Note the measurement and location of the current flow. A millivolt to milliamp
conversion chart may be used to get an accurate determination of how much current is passing through a fuse.
Refer to the conversion chart for the specific diagnostic tool being used for the most accurate results. If the
Technician does not have a conversion chart, the same measurement can be made by setting the meter to mA.
However, the measurement will not show the actual current draw. The Technician would have to inspect the
circuits with the highest mA readings. When the source of the draw is found, the Technician should reference
the appropriate wiring diagram to individually inspect modules or components without disturbing the integrity
of the rest of the circuit.

Continued on the next page
October 2021 TechTIPS

Page 8 of 11

15

Auto Start Stop inoperative or Automatically Disabled at Engine On

When faced with a customer concern of the Auto Start Stop system not operating or becoming automatically
disabled after engine start, check for an aftermarket equipped Auto Stop Eliminator (ASE).
The following is an inspection procedure to check for for checking the presence of Auto Stop Eliminator using
the CP1 CID control.
•

Turn off Auto Stop once and turn off the engine.

•

Start the engine

•

Confirm Auto Stop light is Green (see below) and stays Green. This is normal operation.

If the system is equipped with an Eliminator, the light will be Green for a moment and then turn off.

If an Eliminator is suspected to be installed according to the above procedure, an inspection of the EyeSight
Camera harness will be necessary. Check to see if there are any extra/unnecessary harnesses around the
eyesight connectors with the eyesight camera cover removed.

17

SRS Air Bag, Rear Seatbelt Chimes

Techline has had an influx of calls pertaining to the rear seat belt chime activation on 2020 model year and
newer vehicles. If the occupancy detection system (ODS) detects an object on the rear seat and the rear seat
belt is not buckled, there will be an audible chime. There is no way to deactivate the rear seat belt chimes other
than to buckle the rear seat belt. At this time, the vehicle software logic will not allow this feature to be disabled.
Customers should be advised to keep the seat belt buckled when there are child seats installed and to stow
other items in the cargo area.

Continued on the next page
October 2021 TechTIPS

Page 9 of 11

00

STIS New Releases

ITEM CODE

H630SXC001
15-251-19R
16-103-16R
12-228-21
J501SAN230
C1010CC000
J501SAN222
12-227-21
16-112-18R
WRG-21R
16-102-16R
15-270-20R
15-261-20R
J201SAN600
12-313-21
WUW-08R
F551SVC000
15-287-21
02-188-21
H001SVC000
H001SVC100
15-258-19R

ITEM TYPE

Accessory Installation Guide
Technical Service Bulletin
Technical Service Bulletin
Technical Service Bulletin
Accessory Installation Guide
Accessory Installation Guide
Accessory Installation Guide
Technical Service Bulletin
Technical Service Bulletin
Subaru Product/Campaign Bulletin
Technical Service Bulletin
Technical Service Bulletin
Technical Service Bulletin
Accessory Installation Guide
Technical Service Bulletin
Subaru Product/Campaign Bulletin
Accessory Installation Guide
Technical Service Bulletin
Technical Service Bulletin
Accessory Installation Guide
Accessory Installation Guide
Technical Service Bulletin

All revised publications are highlighted in yellow.
October 2021 TechTIPS

CREATED
DATE

TITLE

PORT INSTALLATION: Ascent Rock...
DTC B2A16
Transmission Fluid Seepage
Front Seat(s) / Squeaking Soun...
PORT INSTALLATION: 2020-2022MY...
PORT INSTALLATION: 2022MY BRZ ...
PORT INSTALLATION: 2021-2022MY...
Wiper Blade Cleaning Procedure
Ignition Key Sticking / Design...
Fuel Pump Impeller Failure
DTC P0841 Diagnostics
2020 Outback & Legacy FOTA (Fi...
Reprogramming File Availabilit...
2020-21MY Legacy/ Outback and ...
Rear Door Weatherstrip - Desig...
PCV Valve- Design Change
2022MY WRX Cargo Net
Accessory Remote Engine Start ...
Timing Chain / Camshaft Sprock...
2022MY WRX Long Range Push Sta...
2022MY WRX Long Range Key Star...
DTC U0254

28-Oct-21
28-Oct-21
27-Oct-21
27-Oct-21
25-Oct-21
25-Oct-21
25-Oct-21
20-Oct-21
19-Oct-21
19-Oct-21
15-Oct-21
15-Oct-21
15-Oct-21
15-Oct-21
13-Oct-21
13-Oct-21
12-Oct-21
8-Oct-21
7-Oct-21
7-Oct-21
7-Oct-21
1-Oct-21

Continued on the next page
Page 10 of 11

*** 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 9103; Camden, NJ 08101-9877.
Your Name:
Signature:
Dealer’s Name:
City:
Date:
Dealer Code:

SUBARU
TECHLINE
Hours of Operation
October 2021 TechTIPS

Monday – Thursday 8:30 am to 7:30 pm
Friday 10:30 am to 5 pm and Saturday 9 am to 3 pm
Continued on the next page
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