Subaru Forester Owners Forum banner
  • The "Garage" feature is for images of YOUR VEHICLE/S only - no blanks or other unrelated images please, thanks

2017 - ABS, Dynamic Control, and Hill assist all light up (merged thread) - SOLVED!

1 reading
429K views 155 replies 95 participants last post by  forjonny  
#1 ·
Hello,

I very recently bought a brand new 2014 subaru forester. This is actually my second forester.

Almost a dozen times i have had the following issue:
The vehicle dynamic control, ABS, and hill assist buttons all light up.

The lights stay on until i turn the car off, then when i turn it on again they are off. But i see or hear no changes in the car.

This has happened probably 12 times in the last 2.5 months that i've had the car. I have brought it in to two different subaru dealerships and they both said the computer test showed nothing.

Please help!

P.S.- is it normal for the hill assist light to be lit up for 60-65% of the time i am driving? Even on flat roads (i do most of my travel on the garden state parkway in NJ)
 
#3 ·
Mike,

This looks like a vehicle electrical system problem to me. Specifically, the battery, the alternator, and/or the voltage regulator -- or their electrical connections -- may may to blame. The 2014 owner's manual makes a vague reference to this behavior on page 3-19.

It could even be something as simple as a loose/bad common (ground) connection, or some other connector. The ABS, VDC, and Hill Assist systems are all inter-related.

My recommendation is that you document the operational conditions and the indications (including pulling over and taking a picture) and then discuss the problem with your dealer. Rather than looking for diagnostic trouble codes (DTC's) via the OBD-II port, they probably should be checking the electrical system.

HTH,
Jim / crewzer
 
  • Like
Reactions: RFulton
Save
#4 ·
Thanks for the heads up guys. Is this something that can cause further issues if left unchecked? Or is this more of an inconvenience?

Also should my hill assist light be lit up the majority of the time? Seems like it's on a bit more than it should be.
 
#5 ·
I agree with Crewzer they should be actually looking at the wiring and connectors vs. just trying to pull codes.

Is yours a manual Forester? I don't think I've ever seen a Hill Assist light on my XT.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RFulton
Save
#6 ·
Among other things, the ABS indicator usually means that the ABS system has been disabled, but the "regular ol'" braking system should still work. I suspect the VDC- and Hill Start functions are also disabled when their indicators are on.

The Hill Start indicator should normally be off; see 2014 OM page 3-20. Personally, I consider the loss of these features to more than an inconvenience.

HTH,
Jim / crewzer
 
Save
#7 ·
Guys i really appreciate the insight. There is no noticeable change with the car when they come on it's just a headache for me since i just spent $25k on a brand new car. And my forester is actually the automatic. I swear the hill assist is on about 60-65% of the time...
 
#8 ·
So guys i have an update. The lights have been going on more and more. Took it to the dealership today (and lucky me they went on before i got there). They hooked it up to a computer and got the code C1532 BLS which they said has something to do with the brake light system.

The guy asked me things like do i drive with two feet and do i have extra floor mats...

They said they couldn't do anything before Monday because they have to run it by the factory or something and they're closed today. So i got a loaner car.

Funny thing, on my way back the hill assist light (that on my car is lit up the majority of the time did not light up once). And i told them to keep an eye on that as well.
 
#9 ·
All the instrument clusters are the same, so both auto and manual cars get all the many and varied warning lights. What's different is which of them is hooked up. Let me rephrase that: What may be different is which of them is hooked up.

I don't have my owners manual handy, but I really don't see a need for a hill holder function on an auto. I can't recall if the manual is specific as to if the hill holder actually works on an auto.

In any case, I expect your issue will be in a connector or ground. While I feel your sense of violation, this is generally a really, really minor fault. It's not like your crankshaft is going to fall out. It may, however, turn into something of a bear to locate-I had an electrical problem in a Ford once, the engine wiring harness was out of the car three times without finding the problem. We found the cause of that problem by accident, that taught me to never, ever trust a connector.
 
#10 ·
moore thanks for the words of advice. Like i said thankfully this time they found the problem (i took it to them and a dealership close to work the first time it happened) and they weren't able to find anything because the lights were not on. At least this time they got the codes and know what the issue is.

This is my first new car and like with anything new- especially when you pay over $20k for it you're a bit uneasy when even minor things start malfunctioning shortly after you bring it home.
 
#14 ·
Mine is automatic, and I never get any lights at all that come on and stay on (except a CEL once for a loose gas cap). In fact, I don't think the automatics even have hill assist ... no reason for it ... just the manuals. Maybe it was wired wrong from the factory?
 
#15 ·
Bump/more issues

Having the same problem as listed in the beginning... was there ever a permanent fix? They did a software update and replaced the switch on mine, but now the hill start assist light comes on only in the morning and stays on for most of my morning commute...stores no codes etc.
 
#16 ·
Count me as another one with this issue. All 3 lights on the dash just started showing up. Happened on and off for a week or so on a cross-country trip. Turning car off/on would reset them. But at some point the lights would not go off. This causes a problem. The transmission will not go into gear with the lights on. You will be stuck in park. Turning the car off/on multiple times would eventually allow me to shift into gear. Once in gear, everything seems to be fine with the lights on, except the cruise control won't work.

Got the forester to a dealer. Mechanic told me it was a faulty brake switch part. He claimed it was a cheap $15 part that he has already replaced multiple times on other new foresters. They could not get the part for days and he told me it was safe to drive. Also, the mechanic showed me how to reset the transmission lock. You may have noticed a small circular hole next to the gear shifter. Remove the small circular cover and push a pen or screwdriver down into it to reset the switch.

Drove another 300 miles with lights on to another dealership. (no cruise control) Other dealership had part and was a quick fix. Part number # 83311FJ000 for the switch. That dealer also claimed that the brake lights would not be working with the warning lights on. I did not actually check the lights and have no idea if I drove 300 miles without them on…..

In summary, newer foresters have a cheap $15 brake switch part that may very well go out on you. My forester is 2 years old with 45,000 miles. And the mechanic I talked to sounded like it was a common problem. Also, it's good to know what that small circular hole next to the shifter is for.
 

Attachments

#33 ·
Thank you all for this thread. I had the said 3 lights come on 4 times this week. Always while driving on the highway and would always go out after shut down. No codes via OBD reader either.

Bought the replacement switch and can't figure out if I need to turn it left or right to loosen. It is not held on by nuts.

Usually, when I buy Subaru parts, they state Made in Japan. This replacement switch, bought at my local Subie Dealer, states Made in China.

Also, once I opened it, I noticed that it's Blue and states Nissan.

Image


Image
 
#18 ·
Hmm maybe I'll have them re do or readjust the brake switch again. It seems to have mostly fixed it from last time but it has flagged a few times.. I'm suppost to drop it off tomorrow and get a loaner ( right in the middle of moving...great)but now it's the hill start that has been coming on in mornings..
 
#19 ·
This is kind of unrelated, but I noticed that several people in this thread questioned if the CVT even has Hill Start Assist, and it does, check section 7-45 of the Owner's Manual. There are little to no hills in my area, but even I have felt it kick in once or twice when stopping for a light on an incline. You shouldn't (normally) see the light, however.

Someone more knowledgeable than I could probably explain why a CVT has this like a manual, but a regular automatic doesn't (something about CVT's having low "creep torque" and internal friction??), however, it's not just our Foresters. Other CVT Subarus have it (XV, for example) and other makes/models like Honda CR-Z and Fit, etc. have it too.
 
#20 ·
Interesting!

This morning - to continue the problem - The hill start assist light came on like it does every morning, but i notice as i was driving all of a sudden it would lose power(slow down like i let off the accelerator, it happened twice and i didnt notice an RPM Drop), then the hill start assist light would come on, and it would regain power..
 
#120 ·
Interesting!

This morning - to continue the problem - The hill start assist light came on like it does every morning, but i notice as i was driving all of a sudden it would lose power(slow down like i let off the accelerator, it happened twice and i didnt notice an RPM Drop), then the hill start assist light would come on, and it would regain power..
I think that this was your abs activating at the command of the dynamics system. Same symptoms here, just the hill assist light on first. I was at highway speed when this happened to me and I could definitely tell the car was braking. Then the abs and dynamics lights both came on.

I disable the traction control when I set out now and have experienced no problems. I will change the switch before winter because that dynamics control is awesome isn't it?
 
#22 · (Edited)
My first post in the forums. Go easy :smile2:

At 1001 mi all my warning lights lit (ever single one) ! I was close to home and took it to the closest dealer (not the favorite dealer I buy and service from) due to convenience. I live 40 mi from this dealer, but work close to them. They spend 2 hours and said they needed more time. It was diagnosed with code of waste gate solenoid. They said they believed I have a crossed wire in a wire harness and wanted to open the wiring harness. I thought no way and waited until I had time to take it to my dealer.

A few days of easy on the go pedal driving and I got it to my dealer. Turned the 2016 FXT with CVT over and my mechanic got the same code. Said the Subaru service computer could not clear the computer because the waste gate circuit was open. He tracked the wire and saw that the last dealer had unhooked the waste gate solenoid and never reconnected it before I left. He reconnected it and still saw an open circuit. Being the excellent mechanic he is, he looked at the wiring diagram, traced it to another portion under the intercooler. He found that one wire on a 16 pin connector had backed out. He cleaned, pushed the wire in until it was secure, and reconnected the connector. Cleared the codes successfully and it was fixed.

Results FIXED! No wiring harnesses opened.

The dealers write up:
"CUSTOMER STATES THAT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON
SCANNED SYSTEM; FOUND FAULT P0245 TURBO CHARGER WASTEGATE SOLENOID "A" LOW; TESTED AND INSPECTED SYSTEM; FOUND SOLENOID VALVE NOT OPERATING PROPERLY; CHECKED SYSTEM PER FLOWCHART; FOUND NO POWER AT SOLENOID VALVE; CHECKED FOR POWER AT B22 PIN4 R/W WIRE; FOUND POWER AT CONNECTOR; FOUND WIRE NOT SEATED IN CONNECTOR PROPERLY REINSTALLED CONNECTOR WIRE; RESECURED; RECHECKED;
CLEARED SYSTEM; ROAD TESTED VEHICLE; RECHECKED; NO
FAULT CODES FOUND AT THIS TIME"

This happened over the Labor Day weekend and drove me crazy having to wait, being that it was a new 16'. I've had a total of 4 Subaru's. 2 being WRX's (05' and 14' wagon), and one 09' Impreza Sport wagon. This 16' FXT is by far my favorite one! I change my own oil with synthetic every 5K. Its the first time I have ever had a problem requiring a warranty fix. Hope this helps anyone else having problems.
 
#23 ·
same issue

all three warning lights come on.. and at start will not allow you to put the car in drive... i noticed that you can NOT use the cruise control when the warning lights are on...
Had the dealership check it at normal maintenance in july they found nothing...
actually made a video of the messages this time
 
#24 ·
Same issue showed up here. I have the package with EyeSight, so, in addition to lighting up ABS and hill assist, it lights up EyeSight malfunction lights. Sometimes it would trigger at speed (fortunately, with no apparent ill effects), sometimes it would happen when trying to turn on the car (in which case the car would refuse to start - start button would turn it and and off, but wouldn't fire the engine.)

Hooked up the OBD2 scanner. It found no error codes.

Following advice above, I found the brake light switch (it's a small plastic thingy above the brake pedal, with a wire harness running to it), pulled it out (it's not even screwed in, you just turn it 45 degrees and it comes out), unplugged from the wire harness, and opened it using a small flat screwdriver. It's a simple construction, with a spring and two flexible contacts. Contacts were covered with a thin layer of grime. Wiped the grime off and reassembled everything. The problem seems to be gone now (it's been several days).
 
#26 ·
Mine was that they needed to adjust the brake light switch. first time it was replaced but not adjusted/installed correctly so they needed to do it again(they kept the car for 3 days to figure this out). all done under warranty of course. Hope this helps anyone else dealing with this weird issue.
 
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.