Tech Tips June 2021 (TIPS0621)
Publication date: 2021-06-01Reference number: TIPS0621
TECH TIPS JUNE 2021
TECHNICAL INFORMATION TIPS
| SUBARU: | All Models |
01 QMR OF THE MONTH
We are pleased to announce this month's QMR of the Month Winner:
April's winning QMR of the Month involved the diagnosis and repair of an older 2011MY Forester with a persistent misfire code that continued to reset after several prior repair attempts. Two ignition coils had been swapped previously by another Technician in an attempt to move the DTC but unfortunately, there was no freeze-frame data saved to help Leo with his own diagnosis. Using a Pico scope, Leo performed a relative compression test and combined the results with data from an intake pulse sensor to get an idea of the engine's overall mechanical health. His testing revealed two irregularities which led him to remove the left side rocker cover exposing the root cause of the misfire. One of the #4 cylinder intake valve rockers had fallen off due to a broken valve spring. Fortunately, the lash cap (selective shim) and rocker were both found undamaged and lying in the bottom of the camshaft case area. Leo repaired the engine by replacing all the valve springs. His road tests confirmed a successful repair with no further check engine light occurrences. As Leo has done in the past, he attached a complete and highly detailed PowerPoint® presentation outlining his diagnosis accompanied by multiple Pico scope screen captures and a high-quality video.
In appreciation for going the extra mile and sharing his experience with us, Leo will be receiving the following from his Field Service Engineer:
The other Regional winners selected from QMRs submitted during April 2021 were:
- Jaime Rios from Modesto Subaru in Modesto, CA
- Trevor Bradley from Hunter Subaru in Fletcher, NC
- Peter Butler from Baxter Subaru in Omaha, NE
- Brannon Pratt from Steve Lewis Subaru in Hadley, 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 April 2021 was (once again) Leo Gilmore, a Technician from Ruge's Subaru in Rhinebeck, NY.
Leo is shown above after being presented with his latest $500.00 Snap-On Gift Card. To Leo's right are Dealer Principals Lewis Ruge and Kristin Hutchins. To his left are Service Manager Jack Cleary and Subaru Distributors Corporation Field Service Engineer, Jim Colamarino.
Congratulations and THANK YOU to our April 2021 QMR of the Month Award recipient!
01 DO NOT PRINT TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS REMINDER
Techline has received calls from technicians having difficulty performing recalls and various procedures according to Technical Service Bulletins. It was found that technicians were printing bulletins and bringing them to the vehicle to perform the procedure. Several updates were added to the bulletins in question, and the tech was unaware. This led to improper procedures and unnecessary part replacement. SOA strongly discourages the printing and/or local storage of service information as previously released information and electronic publications may be updated at any time . Always check for any open recalls or campaigns anytime a vehicle is in for servicing. Always refer to STIS for the latest service information before performing any repairs.
12 RATTLE SOUND FROM DRIVER SIDE DASH AREA
Technicians have been encountering customer concerns of a rattle type noise from the driver side dash area. As we all know rattle concerns can be very difficult to diagnose and pinpoint. Through the help of technician's reports via QMR and Techline comes this helpful tip. When presented with a customer concern of a rattle behind the dash it is important to get as much detail as possible regarding the conditions when the rattle or noise occurs. A common source of the noise could be coming from the under-dash components making undesired contact with one another on rough road surfaces. There are many modules, brackets and harnesses tucked up under the dash. Once confirmed, a good place to start checking for the source of the noise is the Head Light Level Control Module and bracket. First check that the bracket (in blue) and fastener (in red) are secure and torqued as per the appropriate service manual specification. If so, technicians have also been finding that applying foam tape will better insulate the bracket (in blue) from the harness (in green) as well as the dash support beam. After confirming proper torque and foam taping as needed confirm with a post repair test drive.
15 ROOF RAIL USAGE/STOWING ON 2020+ OUTBACKS
Techline has received questions from technicians on the proper way to stow roof rack rails on 2020(+) Outbacks. If presented with a customer concern that the passenger roof rail is unable to be stowed, inspect the rail positioning. If the passenger side rail is installed in the rear carrying position, then this concern is normal. The rail system is designed to only be stowed in one position. Fig 1 demonstrates the proper stowed positions for both rails when not in use.
The above figure shows the rail pivot points (circles) and clip in mounting point (arrows). The forward rail (driver side) can only be placed in one operating position (Yellow ). The rear rail (passenger side) can be placed in two positions (Purple or Red ) based on the accessory being used and load capacity (ie, bike or kayak rack, storage container etc.)
Fig 2 shows the action of moving the rails into position to be used.
Fig 3 shows the rails in their fixed position ready for cargo. Note the Green arrow shows the stow hole for the passenger side rail.
The above figures, Fig 4 and Fig 5 , show the action and result of leaving the passenger rail in the rear carrying position when trying to stow. It will not reach, and it will not be stowed properly. This hole is not designed for stowing. It is designed for the forward rail when set in the carrying position only. The passenger rail must be removed and set back to the forward position (Purple ) before it can be properly stowed as shown in Fig 1 . Refer to owners manual 8-10 Loading your vehicle, for additional information.
15 GEN 2: DENSO TEN, SXM INOPERATIVE AFTER UPDATING
Techline has received calls from technicians regarding Gen 2 Denso Ten units experiencing SXM concerns after update completion.
Please note that over time, SXM will adjust/revise their channel lineup. This may result in some channels to no longer be active. If an inactive channel is stored in the head unit Mixed Preset, it could result in SXM source being unavailable. To prevent an issue with SXM service operation, please remove any presets for SXM that are no longer available in the channel lineup. It is good practice to review the list of active SXM channels from SXMs' website, when addressing operational concerns. (https://www.siriusxm.com/channels ).
Recovery method example:
If the invalid SXM channels from the Mixed Preset are removed, the issue will be avoided.
» SXM discontinued CH079 (Radio Disney) affective Jan 7th, 2021 from the lineup.
» If CH079 (or any other discontinued SXM channel) is set in a preset, change it to a current SXM channel (or AM, FM frequency). This will break the loop from the unit continually trying to update a non-existing channel.
Refer to TSB 15-177-14R for additional operating tips.
15 GEN 4: DENSO CP1 UPDATING AND INITIALIZATION SCREEN REMINDER
A reminder when encountering "Software update setup is initializing... " message during a CP1 update does not constitute a failure. This is a rare event, but it does happen. When it occurs, please allow the process to complete without any interference. Also keep in mind, performing "Memory Initialization " does not help to speed up the process. On the contrary, it adds time and risk to complete the process without encountering more issues. The same goes for shutting off the vehicle, removing the power from CP1, or disconnecting the battery.
When Software Update setup initialization is completed, please make sure to:
- Turn the ignition OFF, open the driver's door, close the driver's door and WAIT for 3 or more minutes before proceeding further.
- Open the driver's door again and either turn the ignition ON (if a charger is connected) or start the engine.
As a general practice please apply the information listed below prior to performing CP1 software updates.
- Do not attempt to install the software immediately following an exchange installation. Let the system restart first and operate for 20 minutes.
- Do not attempt to install the software a second time for 30 minutes following prior software installation.
- Do not attempt to install the software for at least 30 minutes after completing a FOTA update.
15 GEN 4: DENSO CP1 - VOLUME ADJUSTMENT IS NOT AVAILABLE, AND AUDIO IS NOT PLAYING AFTER REBOOT
There have been many reports for audio playback and volume adjustment issues following CP1 reboot. Please keep in mind it might be a normal operation.
If you see the message "No Audio Playing" in the status bar area, this indicates no audio source was selected for CP1 following reboot. This scenario likely resulted from CP1 running a projection application or streaming audio prior to its shutdown. This is not a failure and the customer should not be alarmed. The customer will need to select the audio source (SXM, AM, FM, Media etc.) to enable playback (audio output).
Please keep in mind, Telematic and Voice Recognition features are still available regardless of "No Audio" source selected. By pressing the talk button on the satellite switch, will allow audio to be heard for voice prompts and voice command, which verifies the audio playback is operational. Adjusting volume while "No Audio Playing" isn't advised because there is no audio source available.
It is also advised to wait for CP1 to complete its setup process (configure applicable settings: pair accessory, load SXM lineup, find NAVI satellites etc.), prior to entering commands using CID soft touch buttons. Not allowing this process could overload the command buffer in turn delaying completion of the boot process. This could be misinterpreted as a CP1 malfunction, when in fact it is not.
Refer to TSB 15-259-20R for additional operating tips.
00 STIS NEW RELEASES
| ITEM CODE | ITEM TYPE | TITLE | CREATED DATE |
|---|---|---|---|
| L101SAN610 | Accessory Installation Guide | 2022MY OUTBACK WILDERNESS TRAI... | 21-Jul-21 |
| MSA5B2200A | Owner Manual | 2022MY Ascent Getting Started... | 21-Jul-21 |
| MSA5M2224A | Owner Manual | 2022 Ascent SUBARU STARLINK® 0... | 21-Jul-21 |
| MSA5M2226A | Owner Manual | 2022 Ascent EyeSight Owner's M... | 21-Jul-21 |
| MSA5M2200A | Owner Manual | 2022 Ascent Owner's Manual | 21-Jul-21 |
| J131SVC000 | Accessory Installation Guide | 2017-22MY Impreza, 2018-22MY C... | 20-Jul-21 |
| 15-261-20R | Technical Service Bulletin | Reprogramming File Availabilit... | 19-Jul-21 |
| 12-321-21 | Technical Service Bulletin | Cowl Panel - Design Change | 19-Jul-21 |
| 12-253-18R | Technical Service Bulletin | "Squeak" "Creak" or "Pop" -Typ... | 16-Jul-21 |
| 15-285-21 | Technical Service Bulletin | Gen 2 Head Unit Identification... | 12-Jul-21 |
| 15-284-21 | Technical Service Bulletin | STARLINK Telematics Service Av... | 12-Jul-21 |
| L101SAN610 | Accessory Installation Guide | 2022MY OUTBACK WILDERNESS TRAI... | 6-Jul-21 |
| 15-246-19R | Technical Service Bulletin | New Immobilizer Registration P... | 30-Jun-21 |
| 07-197-21 | Technical Service Bulletin | Seat Position Memory Switch-L... | 29-Jun-21 |
| 15-259-20R | Technical Service Bulletin | Denso Gen 4 Cockpit One (CP1)... | 28-Jun-21 |
| 09-74-21R | Technical Service Bulletin | Cleaning Procedure for Carbon... | 28-Jun-21 |
| 15-283-21 | Technical Service Bulletin | 2022 Audio/Navigation & Power... | 28-Jun-21 |
| 15-177-14R | Technical Service Bulletin | "Gen 2" & "Gen 2.1" Operating... | 25-Jun-21 |
| 16-131-20R | Technical Service Bulletin | Updated CVT Diagnostics for DT... | 23-Jun-21 |
| L101SAN000 | Accessory Installation Guide | 2020-2022MY Outback Trailer Hi... | 23-Jun-21 |
| L101SAN000 | Accessory Installation Guide | PORT INSTALLATION: 2022MY 0utb... | 23-Jun-21 |
| J101SAN150 | Accessory Installation Guide | PORT INSTALLATION: 2022MY 0utb... | 23-Jun-21 |
| J101SAN900 | Accessory Installation Guide | PORT INSTALLATION: 2022MY 0utb... | 23-Jun-21 |
| SOA801P061XX | Accessory Installation Guide | PORT INSTALLATION: 2022MY 0utb... | 23-Jun-21 |
| J501SAN260 | Accessory Installation Guide | PORT INSTALLATION: 2022MY 0utb... | 23-Jun-21 |
| F5410SJ010 | Accessory Installation Guide | 2019-22MY Forester Moonroof Ai... | 23-Jun-21 |
| E4010CC100 | Accessory Installation Guide | 2022MY BRZ STI Flexible V-Bar | 23-Jun-21 |
| E7210CC000 | Accessory Installation Guide | 2022MY BRZ Trunk Spoiler | 23-Jun-21 |
SUBARU TECHLINE
Hours of Operation
Monday - Thursday 8:30 am to 7:30 pm
Friday 10:30 am to 5 pm and Saturday 9 am to 3 pm