2005 WRX Odd Electrical Problems

[08OBS]

I posted this on nasioc but maybe i can get a better answer from here.

Alright i've searched and searched and asked people if they had any idea of the problem im having. This all started two weeks ago randomly. My car is a 2005 wrx stage 2 with a hard wired radar, 4 rally lights, and a hardwired cb. Here's a list of the current problems.

-E brake light stays on all the time
- Security light blinks all the time
- ABS light on all the time
- Speedometer will work on and off.
- No reverse lights
- No hi beams
- No fog lights
- No cruise control
- The engine will barely turn over when I fill the gas tank
- CEL code P0171

All these started happening after I got my new clutch installed and a new turbo inlet put on. At first i thought it was a grounding issue but I checked all of them and they're fine. Next I think it might be a short or multiple ones. I want to try and find the problem before brining it to the dealer because they will cost a fortune to just diagnose the problem(s). I could use some help please.

[rollo]

Okay, first things first - have you checked all the fuses, really really carefully? That is an insane selection of things to happen all at once, but modern Subarus with the CANBUS can be interconnected in weird ways. I blew a fuse messing with the dome light in the Legacy, and it took out the HVAC control unit, radio and clock. But your lack of lights especially makes me think it's a blown fuse, maybe more than one.

That said, if all the fuses are good, here's my ideas:

-E brake light stays on all the time

Stuck or shorted switch, if I had to guess.

- Security light blinks all the time

No idea.

- ABS light on all the time

Possible ABS speed sensor problem (dirty, broken or cut/chafed wire)

- Speedometer will work on and off.

As above? Maybe some kind of conflict between VSS and ABS speed sensor?

- No reverse lights
- No hi beams
- No fog lights

Can't think of anything but fuses for these, assuming that there wasn't some voltage spike which blew out a bunch of bulbs.

- No cruise control

The cruise control on the Legacy doesn't work when the CEL is on. In fact it flashes constantly, which is very annoying. Now if you clear the CEL and the cruise control still doesn't work, it's probably also speed sensor related.

- The engine will barely turn over when I fill the gas tank

Weird... not sure on this. Need more info. Fix the other stuff first :)

- CEL code P0171

Lean condition. Check your vacuum hoses, one or more may have popped off or not been reconnected after the work was done.

All these started happening after I got my new clutch installed and a new turbo inlet put on. At first i thought it was a grounding issue but I checked all of them and they're fine. Next I think it might be a short or multiple ones. I want to try and find the problem before brining it to the dealer because they will cost a fortune to just diagnose the problem(s). I could use some help please.

Whoever did the work should be footing the bill if you have to take it to the dealer..

[Usher]

I'm not sure all of them could be related to the clutch change, but these could be:
-E brake light stays on all the time
- ABS light on all the time
- Speedometer will work on and off.
- No reverse lights
- No cruise controlThere are two connectors on the transmission, underneath the intercooler that could cause these symptoms: the vehicle speed sensor and the reverse switch. Check that both connectors are clean and plugged in securely and trace the wires back to where they plug into the transmission looking for breaks. I broke a wire at the reverse switch the first time I changed my clutch.
Also check to make sure the connector is plugged into the parking brake handle. You don't need to disconnect it to change the clutch, but it's possible they did.

- No hi beams
- No fog lights
- The engine will barely turn over when I fill the gas tank
- CEL code P0171
- Security light blinks all the time I don't really know about these, but as mentioned above, checking all your fuses is the first step.

[sebhockey]

Your ABS and brake light coming on and staying on are an indication that your ABS system is not getting power. We get this when we pull the ABS fuse when we rally.

I would start where rollo said by checking fuses, both under the dash and under the hood. After that check your relays in the fuse box. From there I would disconnect all your add ons to see if your problems remain.

[08OBS]

All the add ons were removed, all the fuses, relays and grounds were checked. All of the problems are still there. I went to get gas today so I left my car on while it was filling up and the rpms dropped to about 200 and the car was having a really hard time idling. It sounded like it was starving for fuel. I think it's the purge control valve solenoid. I checked all the lines to it and they're fine. I think it's the sensor itself.

It's #2 in the diagram.

http://vehmic.com/ciic2/purgesolenoid.gif

[sebhockey]

Do you have access to a volt or multimeter? I would pull your abs fuse and check to see if you're getting voltage there and where it's at. The actual voltage level is important.

Another thing is have you tried removing your battery connectors and cleaning the terminals on each?

Your PCV won't cause the ABS/brake lights. Being that they are a smaller system that is the route I would try troubleshooting first as it's a good chance your failures are connected.

[sebhockey]

I went to get gas today so I left my car on while it was filling up and the rpms dropped to about 200 and the car was having a really hard time idling. It sounded like it was starving for fuel. I think it's the purge control valve solenoid. I checked all the lines to it and they're fine. I think it's the sensor itself.

Filling up your tank with your car running will throw a CEL in itself due to our tanks being pressurized while running. It should throw an Evaporative Emmissions code, same thing will happen just by removing the fuel cap. I would ignore this event and not do it again, use your indications from when you didn't have the fuel cap off.

[rollo]

I definitely think you need to check your vacuum hoses too. It's very easy to knock one off or connect it back in the wrong place.

I like Usher's suggestion about the transmission connectors too.

High beams and fog lights though. Those are weird. You need to do some circuit tracing, and as sebhockey says you need a multi-meter. Everyone needs a multi-meter.

For the lights, check the connectors at the bulbs to see if they're getting voltage when they should be. If not, check the voltage at the fuse box. I dunno where you'd go after that for fogs and high beams. Continuity at the switch I guess.

[08OBS]

Okay I fixed the P0171 code. I swapped the sensors and it went away. The cel came back on today and there are two codes. P0519 and P0502. It's the idle control system. Today the car idled weird and is really violent when you get on and off the gas. It also makes a weird humming noise. For the P0502 code it's the speed sensor and my speedometer doesn't work. The car's going to the dealer. This is getting ridiculous.

Tomorrow I'm gonna reset the ecu and get a new speed sensor. Hopefully this will solve everything.

Everything is now fixed. It was a blown fuse. Who knew just one fuse could mess so many things up.