May 2023
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.

01

© 2023 Subaru of America, Inc. All rights reserved.

QMR of the Month

CODE ARTICLE...................................................................PAGE
(00) STIS New Releases....................................... 8
(01) QMR of the Month......................................1-2

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

(01) QMR of the Month Award
Presentations................................................ 2

Kristopher Orrok from
Evergreen Subaru in Auburn, ME

Tech Tips Greatest Tips
(01) Lost Keys? Contact the Subaru Techline
.
Updated Immobilizer Chart........................... 3
(01) SXM Traffic and Weather
Now Discontinued......................................... 4
(01) Opening an Infotainment Case & Attaching .
Files To Open Techline Cases....................5-7
(07) DTC’s, Crank No Start, Key “chip” falls out, .
BIU..............................................................7-8
(11) A/F or O2 sensor contamination................8-9

Kristopher created a high quality QMR using TechShare reporting on
customer’s concern of being unable to register a user to vehicle profile.
Kristopher’s report included detailed diagnostic steps, high-quality
photos, and a video.
Please refer to the following link to review the TechShare QMR in detail:

(15) Fuel consumption widget “missing” on
.
Denso CP 1.0/1.5 equipped vehicles.....10-11

TS-230727

(16) DTC P1867 and P0867............................11-12

SUBARU TECHLINE HOLIDAYS
& HOURS OF OPERATION
Mon. - Thurs.

8:30AM - 7:30PM EST

Friday

10:30AM - 5:00PM EST

Saturday

9:00AM - 3:00PM EST

In appreciation for going the extra mile and sharing his experience with
us, Kristopher will be receiving the following from his District Service
Quality Manager:

$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, Solterra and “Quality Driven” are Registered Trademarks.

May 2023 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 15

01

QMR of the Month (CONTINUED)

The other Regional winners selected from QMRs submitted during March 2023 were:

•

Benjamin Gotcher from Subaru of Clear Lake

•

Brian Lowe from Tindol Subaru

•

Charlie Pham from Diablo Subaru of Walnut Creek

•

Gregory Beach from Ramsey Subaru

Any Subaru Technician can participate in the TechShare QMR of the Month program. See the November
2022 issues of TechTIPS for full details. You just might see your name and photo in a future issue of
TechTIPS!

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 March 2023 was Kris Orrok, Senior Master Technician at Evergreen
Subaru, Auburn, ME.

Kris is shown above (left/center) after being presented with his $500.00 Snap-On Gift Card. To his right is
Evergreen Subaru’s General Manager Chris Dunn. To his left are Subaru of America’s District Service and
Quality Manager David Dennis and Evergreen Subaru’s Service Manager Kevin Crowell.
Congratulations and THANK YOU to our March 2023 QMR of the Month Award recipient!

Continued on the next page
May 2023 TechTIPS

Page 2 of 15

This series features TechTIPS articles frequently referred to by Techline. This month’s feature is from
March 2022.

01

Lost Keys? Contact the Subaru Techline. Updated Immobilizer Chart

If you receive a vehicle from the customer where all their originally registered keys have been lost,
contact the Subaru Techline for the necessary steps to program new keys. Depending on the
immobilizer type, you will be unable to just program one key without an original key. All immobilizer
types (except for A type) require an original key to make any changes to the immobilizer system.
Without an original key, a new one cannot be added. Unsure of which immobilizer type you have?
Refer to the reference chart below. Once you have confirmed the vehicles immobilizer type perform
the following:
• Verify the vehicle is onsite.
• Open a Repair Order with all necessary information.
Š VIN, RO number, RO date, Mileage (if it can be obtained), etc.
• Verify key type (push button, turn-key)
• Contact the Subaru Techline.
When calling the Subaru Techline, please ensure all necessary information is available at the time
of the call.
SOA will no longer clear immobilizer modules for POLK branded title vehicles (except
for lemon law buy-back.) All other POLK branding will require immobilizer component
replacement. Refer to the Title Alert when checking the Vehicle Inquiry on Subarunet.
Please refer to the Service Manual/Registration Manual for Immobilizer for repair of these
vehicles.
Anytime a retailer has a vehicle with lost keys a NEW Techline case must be opened for EACH
vehicle. The retailer will not be allowed to reuse the document sent for other vehicles.
When Techline has components to clear, it is vital a completed form is sent. Without this information
the entire process will be delayed. Specific components have different procedures for clearing and
without this information the components may not be cleared at all or additional down time may
occur to determine their origin.

Continued on the next page
May 2023 TechTIPS

Page 3 of 15

01

SXM Traffic and Weather Now Discontinued

SXM Traffic and Weather Now services have been discontinued by SXM. Due to low usage, this is
no longer an available feature. Depending upon the head unit installed, and if the customer has ever
previously accessed these services, this change will appear in slightly different ways which may
result in questions to retailers. Please review the following examples carefully to better understand
the different scenarios for how this change will appear to be able to recognize and address each
should any customer questions arise.
On CP1.0 and CP1.5, the Traffic and Weather Now button will be grayed out. If the customer had not
previously selected an area, they will then be able to do so. Once selected, the button will gray out.

Gen 4 Denso CP1.0 & CP1.5:

On a Harman Kardon 3.1 and 3.1a unit, for customers who previously used the feature, the button will
then highlight and beep with no action. For users who have not selected a city, when pressing the
button, they will be prompted to select a city and then the button will become inoperative.

Gen 3 Harman 3.1 & 3.1a:

Continued on the next page
May 2023 TechTIPS

Page 4 of 15

01

Opening an Infotainment Case & Attaching Files To Open Techline Cases

TechShare is continuing to grow and incorporate new features and capabilities. Techline is now on
TechShare. Understanding how to navigate these new tools will help save time and make working with
Techline easier. Included below are images of the Techline portion for TechShare on both desktop and
smartphone applications.

On the home screen of the desktop application
(see above), select “Techline” on the left side
of the screen. There will be two selections at
the top right. “View All Open Techline Cases”
and “Create Infotainment Case.” With these
features you will be able to add attachments
and update cases as well as create cases for
Infotainment concerns. To find these options on
the smartphone application, select “Techline”
at the bottom and the scroll to the bottom of
the page (see image). Techline will be adding
other options for Technician case creation in
the future. If using the smartphone application,
select “Techline” and scroll to the bottom to find
the same 2 options (see image to the left). When
using the phone app, all the same functions exist.

May 2023 TechTIPS

Continued on the next page

Page 5 of 15

01

Opening an Infotainment Case & Attaching Files To Open Techline Cases
(CONTINUED)

When selecting “View All Open Techline Cases,” these
screens will appear. Select the “upload” symbol next to the
appropriate case to add an attachment on a case. There is no
limit on file size for attachments. Adding an attachment will
automatically update the case and alert Techline. There will
be times it will be beneficial to use the phone app instead of
the desktop version and vice versa. For instance, if a photo or
video stored on a phone needs to be attached to a case, the
phone app will be easier to use. When attaching a head unit
data log/SSM data file, the desktop site may be easier to use.

Continued on the next page
May 2023 TechTIPS

Page 6 of 15

01

Opening an Infotainment Case & Attaching Files To Open Techline Cases
(CONTINUED)

When selecting “Create Infotainment Case,” the VIN entry screen will appear. TSB 15-304-22
includes information and directions for creating an Infotainment case. Input the VIN for the appropriate
vehicle. Once the VIN has been entered, the screen will populate with other fields that will need to be
filled out. Please include as much specific information as possible. Providing specific and detailed
information in the original submission will lead to a quicker resolution. Please fill out all the fields as
this information may be necessary in diagnosing the issue. As soon as the information is submitted,
an email will be sent to the Technician with a Techline case number. If immediate assistance is
required, a Technician can call in once the email with a case number has been received. After
submission, Techline will respond in a timely manner once the submission has been reviewed.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This is the only way that an Infotainment case should be opened. Calling in to
open an Infotainment case should only be done when access to TechShare is not possible.

07

DTC’s, Crank No Start, Key “chip” falls out, BIU

Techline is receiving calls about B1572 and other DTC’s, BIU replacements and a no start condition.
This issue only affects “turnkey” vehicles. If a vehicle is towed in as a no start, the customer may
describe the condtion coming out of nowhere, it was working fine and then stopped. Closely inspect
the key itself. The “chip” that communicates with the Immobilizer system may be missing from the key.
This may cause B1572 and other DTC’s to set. On a vehicle that does not have something else wrong
with it, following the Trouble Tree for the DTC may lead to replacing the BIU or other components as all
the wiring checks will pass. After the BIU or other component is replaced, the concern is still present.
Before replacing any parts, always make sure to closely inspect the key for the chip. Another
way to verify the concern would be to request all the keys for the vehicle from the customer. Will the
vehicle start with a different key?
Continued on the next page
May 2023 TechTIPS

Page 7 of 15

07

DTC’s, Crank No Start, Key “chip” falls out, BIU (CONTINUED)

11

A/F or O2 sensor contamination

While servicing the front or rear A/F or O2 sensor or any component near it, caution must be taken.
There is a breather hole in the front A/F sensor. It is possible for oil or silicone to enter the hole and
cause the A/F sensor to fail. This may cause the erratic readings to the ECM or a DTC. Always
inspect the A/F and O2 sensors for oil contamination due to an oil leak. When performing service near
the front A/F, it should be protected if any chemicals are being sprayed nearby. This could include
oil penetrants (WD-40, PB Blaster etc.), brake clean or even silicone-based engine shine/dressing
(Armor-All) applied by detailers.

Continued on the next page
May 2023 TechTIPS

Page 8 of 15

11

A/F or O2 sensor contamination (CONTINUED)