Airbag light...sometimes. Console problem?

All fixed. A lot easier than I figured. Thanks to everyone.

I will have to give this a shot. Mine has been on and off over the past week or so now.

Thanks to the guide/pics from Crazy_Pilot I just did this today and it seemed straight-forward enough. I also went ahead and did D1 with R1 since they looked a little thin.

 

Before

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn257/theflystyle/2013-02-23_14-05-26_43_zps148287a6.jpg

 

After

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn257/theflystyle/2013-02-23_15-28-25_605_zps3b372bbb.jpg

 

 

To the pros, does that seem like its ok?

Yeah, thats what mine looked like afterwards as well. Still working great.

Soooooo. I get in the car thing morning and guess what light came back on. Any suggestions other than retrying the solder job?

When I did the solder job, I touched up everything. Also it looks like your scabbed instead of flowing the solder into all the little nooks and crannies.

I redid my crap job and touched up the rest like Wolf did (top & bottom). I will see how it goes

. Pass airbag light on in my overhead and occasionally dash airbag lights are on. Really don't want to take it to the dealership if I don't have to. Hoping there's a fix in the future. Have to scan the thread and see if anyone mentioned where the wires under the seat are because I couldn't see them at first look and don't want to mess with the wrong stuff.

The fix isn't under the seat, it's in the map light console.

I've seen both..wiggling wires under the seat and also the map light fix but from what I've seen above neither were a permenant fix unless I missed that part so I want to start from the first try and then move on.

The resolder job on the map light console should be a permanent fix, they just went light on the solder from the factory so it should be a one time thing.

Ok. I will have to learn how to solder then. I thought I saw that someone did that and the lights came back on but g's worth a try.

So its been over a week and I probably jinxed it but the light has gone away.

I brought mine to Subaru since it was still under used car warranty. They replace the airbag computer for me. Been good since.

Both of my lights are on now Dash and overhead....

I'm been getting the airbag light 80% of the time in the past couple months. This weekend I took the overhead panel apart and soldered the little board back together. No light this morning on the way to work!

 

Edit: I snapped a few pictures while fixing mine, for anyone who worries this repair is beyond them.

 

1. Remove the map light cover (pry on the sides with your finger nails)

2. Remove the two philips screws holding the panel to the roof.

3. Remove the panel (it has 3 prongs that hold it against the headliner on the front edge)

 

4. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/crazy_pilot/2008%20Legacy%20Spec%20B/IMG_1214-1.jpg

 

5. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/crazy_pilot/2008%20Legacy%20Spec%20B/IMG_1213.jpg

 

6. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/crazy_pilot/2008%20Legacy%20Spec%20B/IMG_1210.jpg

 

7. Re-solder any other components you feel like. I did D1, R1 (the 511 guy), and all the resistors on the other side.

 

8. Put back together!

 

You don't need much experience soldering to take care of this, I've only done it a few times myself. Let the iron heat up, melt a decent amount of solder onto the tip, shake/tap to remove the excess, and then place the tip against the joint you want to fix. Once the board heats up enough the solder will flow down. I basically filled the corners with a nice little dot of solder on each one.

 

Second edit: I'm sorry if that last picture is sideways, Photobucket shows it straight and then upside down if I use the "rotate" function. Meh.

 

 

Any fixes for the dash airbag light yet?

The dash light will be on if the overhead unit has a problem, so this should fix both.

3 out of the 4 subarus I've owned have had this same problem.

 

In all 3 it was the harness under the passenger or drivers side. It was caused by either my Mag Light or a plastic soda bottle. If you're a clean freak then it's probably something else.

3 out of the 4 subarus I've owned have had this same problem.

 

In all 3 it was the harness under the passenger or drivers side. It was caused by either my Mag Light or a plastic soda bottle. If you're a clean freak then it's probably something else.

 

I'm a clean freak. I condition my leather regularly and I am in a car wash club so I get a full detail every week or more for less than $1 a day. That being said I'm the second owner. Just bought it last week. Nothing on the carfax but that doesn't always mean it's accident free although it looks good. Other than that I am waiting for that lovely tax stuff to come in to have a subaru dealer inspect it top to bottom so I know what I need to fix lol

the next time the light comes on reach under both seats and press the harnesses together, then turn the car off then back on.

 

My wife's OBS had a bad harness under the passenger seat and in the door.

the next time the light comes on reach under both seats and press the harnesses together, then turn the car off then back on.

 

My wife's OBS had a bad harness under the passenger seat and in the door.

 

I don't suppose you want to put some pics of where exactly you are talking about?? I have fully electronic seats so there's quite a few wires under there

I don't, sorry.

Old bump, I know. The harnesses under the seat are found on Foresters and Impreza/Outback Sports. Full size Outback and Legacy will more than likely have the cold solder joint problem in the overhead console. Edited June 26, 2013 by Danteneon
spelling

Surprise, I'm seeing the problem now. Just happened during the summer heat strangely enough. I will have to see if the soldering trick fixes it.

I did the reflow/soldering on both sides and is currently working after installation. Thanks for the research and trailblazing. You all have saved me lots of time and money!