Subaru AIRBAG light...Parts Required?

Customer brought his 2007 Subaru Outback to get the cracked exhaust manifold replaced.
I also noticed that the AIRBAG warning light is on, and the customer said "fix it if you can"!
Enjoy!
Ivan

[@jptrainor]

Dealer would have quoted a new car. It is the safety system after all...

[@radman999]

Nope, I fix them all the time at the dealer for my customers. This is actually a very old and well known repair for us.

[@wyattoneable]

That's a very satisfying feeling when you can fix something and never leave the shop. I think it's why I'm a DIY guy. Not only do I save a little money, I get the satisfaction of learning and fixing stuff that might otherwise be overlooked. Good one Ivan.

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Exactly right, Wyatt! I hate going to the parts store haha

[@Garth2011]

@@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics It's is so rewarding to complete a repair like this just to prove to yourself that the solder connections are way too lean on solder and contact points. This list could continue with these newer vehicles but in short, it seems that most manufacturers are not on their game for their customers well being in just a few short couple of years. It just doesn't make any kind of sense that a $20,000+ vehicle today suffers from totally preventable issues like these. You don't see this on many motorcycles but you see much of this on expensive vehicles which is a shame.

[@billziegmond4943]

I agree Wyatt. I love it when I find then solve the problem.

[@SmittySmithsonite]

@@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics - Me too, Ivan. I think I hate the driving part more, though, since I live in MA ... 😬😂

[@newjerseybill3521]

BigClive would be proud, Ivan. Especially if you used nice juicy lead based solder for the repair. :)

[@I_Am_Michael]

big clive would have cleaned the old solder off first.

[@paulmoffat9306]

Ever since they went to lead-free solder (Almost pure Tin), the reliability of the connections has plummeted, and add to the insult, is Tin dendrites that cause pin-pin short circuits over time. Nobody is safe from that one - even communication satellites have failed from that!

[@NalfisTobar]

Found your video and I was able to fix this issue on my 2007 Subaru Outback, I didn't notice at first that the lights on the map lights weren't turning on so I helped me pin point the issue without taking it to the dealer and "be taken for a ride " 😂

[@zx8401ztv]

Smashing quick fix :-D Micro cracks can be a nightmare to find, i used to repair c.b radios years ago and one model always had synth problems, the fix was to blanket solder the synth section. Always worked but i never did track down the cracked joint. Wearing a deer stalker hat didn't help me eather LOL :-D

[@georgebonney90]

Saving the customer money when u can,thats the Ivan way,Good work buddy👍

[@richardv0466]

I just want to say thank you very much for this video. I have a Subaru outback 2009. I’m following your advice. I was able to Sauter exactly what you did and it worked very grateful.

[@johnparker2699]

Very good video and did the trick for me. Other videos were on the right track but this guy was fixing the right part of this part.

[@VoltageDropDiagnostics]

Good video, Ivan! I always like the “no parts required” videos

[@FiftiesDad]

I legit just bought an overhead console and took the LED board out and put it in my car. Completely fixed the airbag light. All lights work and are responsive to the seat. The one in your video looks like mine - there should be a persistent “PASS AIR BAG” light on at all times. Mine never lit. So a good replacement fixed everything. $80 on ebay.

[@stubreegle4136]

You nailed it buddy thank you so much you have no idea how much I appreciate your advice. I fixed my 07 Legacy just now took me 20 minutes wow you rock brother

[@robertpage4219]

Excellent diagnostics and repair as usual. You and Eric O. are the KZbinrs I always recommend when asked about car repair. Love your no parts required approach.

[@harrywilson4311]

This a a great video, you're a true technician and not just a parts changer! Yeah the dealer WOULD of replaced that circuit board at god knows how much££££ GREAT WORK 👍🏼

[@MrRlspell]

just reflowed the solder on these joints, and presto, all the airbag system codes are gone. some of the resistors has obvious cracks, and I before I took the assembly out, pressing on the indicator section would cause the lights to go on and off. very handy video and many thanks! subscribed.

[@HouseCallAutoRepair]

Excellent as always! I WISH I had the customer base to record a few "no parts required" repairs. WE and our customers all LOVE no-parts repairs!

[@arthurfricchione8119]

Nice Fix Ivan. You save customers a fortune. Thanks for sharing Artie 👍👍👍

[@jeremypenberg]

Best video on this topic. Glad that stupid light is off! Thanks

[@roxanneabbott8424]

Many moons ago I was QA inspector for motorhome interior lights, if it was broke, they brought it to me! I love fixing stuff, I used to take apart the toaster, elec skillet, blender, and I was only 10yrs old! I was a very good welder might and tight, and they wanted me in Dana Point Ca to weld airplane wings but I was only 17. And life took over, so I love to watch you take things apart!

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Thank you as always for your bright and positive comments, Roxanne! Wow welding airplane wings would be way beyond my skill level haha

[@roxanneabbott8424]

@@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics You are welcome!

[@ronaldanderson9263]

Re-flowing solder never works for me. Always hopeful, but no. Glad to see it worked for you this time Ivan. Good fix.

[@gonzgarr1592]

Ivan you did it again save your customer $$$

[@Graham_Wideman]

Ivan's becoming quite the solder whisperer!

[@roxanneabbott8424]

Another awesome job Ivan!!!

[@davidgrisco1939]

Another excellent frugal repair. Your neighbor/Subaru owner should feel lucky to have you close by.

[@neilmurphy845]

Ya

[@stigonutube]

Well Done Ivan, Always a nice feeling when one can avoid any stealer dealership.

[@Pixeltrainer]

After viewing a few of these code 26 videos, I have to say this is the best one. Good job! BTW if you look closely at the PCB solder joints you can possibly see the defective joints. On mine R6 and R7 had visible cracks on the side closest to the edge of the board. I used a solder sucker to remove most of the old solder and then re-soldered with 60/40 solder. I only repaired the 2 visibly defective 331R resistors and it solved the problem. Yay!

[@robertevans6481]

Ivan you are the man...save the customer 💰

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

That's the goal...most reliable solution for the least $$ :)

[@2006jc]

Great work Ivan. It's always nice to see something repaired rather than discarded. Too much of that happening these days. Definitely get a hot air soldering station. Most of your appliances have surface mount components on the control boards and the control boards can get quite expensive.

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Excellent! Kind of like my heat pump haha

[@josephwash109]

That RadioShack 60/40 solder is good stuff; it flows very well and melts easily. I still have most of my 1/2 pound spool left that I purchased many years ago.

[@kevinw.9245]

Thank you so much for posting this video! Had the exact same problem and, after following your steps, the same outcome.... it worked! As you say, what a great feeling after plugging it back in and it lights up like a Christmas tree.

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Nice!

[@AP9311]

All it took a reflow on those weak solder joints. Boom, it works great! Nice handy fix, Ivan. PHAD fix!!! :) great video.

[@josemejia5270]

Thanks for your great help, the truth helped me a lot, I repaired my 2009 subaru legacy following your instructions.

[@rusty6666]

Wow that was a quick fix and all it took was a little solder good to see it was not a part problem,,,Thanks

[@billyyoder8171]

Thank you Ivan. Good job. Have a blessed and safe week.

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Thank you Billy, you too!

[@williegillie5712]

Early riser that Ivan. Nice catch on them solder joints. A buddy of mine lost his speedometer in his ford 500. Same problem, solder joint probably cracked and just needed reflowing. Job well done Ivan.

[@frugalprepper]

Nice fix Ivan, but you need to get one of those cheap hot air rework station stations from China on eBay. I have one at home I got years ago that is just hot air, but I just got one for work for $79 that does Hot Air, DC Current regulated 3A testing power supply, volt meter, and a nice temp controlled iron and stand. It works really well. You can just take a board like that squirt on some no clean flux and reflow it all at once with hot air. I actually use my home one quite often for stuff like this.

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

That's pretty neat!

[@frugalprepper]

@Jason Bowman Louis has the good stuff!

[@arnemaeschaelck5012]

Wow I love how he took the time to do something like this. Most mechanics I know would just tell you to deal with it, "it's no big deal"…

[@paulsullivan6392]

Well done lad. Most shops would simply have replaced the indicator board. Your mechanical AND electronic skills ( I watched the heater repair video) make PHAD a force to be reckoned with.

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Thanks for the comment Paul! It's surprising how a similar type of problem can appear in so many different applications...

[@JD-iu3vi]

Soldering 101: Keep your tip clean and tinned.

[@Turbotomass]

Hot iron or small solder

[@stevennelson4552]

I just did this on my 2008 Outback and it worked! Thank you for the video!

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Yup works every time! Glad you got it fixed no parts required :)

[@CubasAutomotive]

Love the vids with no parts required! I like to see the workings of components 😉😉

[@CubasAutomotive]

BTW, if you plan on making a Christmas vid (greetings or well wish type), Keith is going to need them soon, he says. 😊 TTYS! 🤗🤗

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Ah yes Cube, will have to come up with something! :)

[@stealthg35infiniti94]

Super repair! The dealer would have changed the entire over head light with bin...I'm sure your customer is very appreciative of your skills...

[@VWWRENCHIE]

Sometimes you just gotta "go with the flow" Nice job.. No sausage fingers soldering like that other guy we all know. Haha😎

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

A decent soldering station and solder make a big difference!

[@williegillie5712]

vwwrenchie I think he refers to them as meat nuggets. 😆

[@baxrok2.]

What else can I say, I saw the light. Thanks Ivan!

[@everestcomputer]

thanks for this. had it in my 09 legacy and this seems to have sorted it out.

[@bobg9002]

Absolutely awesome video step-by-step very methodical thank you Happy New year!

[@ojjenkins7110]

Spasibo Ivan. I have an 08 Outback now so I now know how to take that thing off and do that repair if and when needed. Happy Thanksgiving Day. Just looked at the map light replacement and they quoted $190. Got this quote when I went in for the airbag recall. So there ya have it Ivan. They looked at other stuff also and listed quotes.

[@j8656]

Did this on an '08 Subaru Legacy. Worked nicely. That car eventually got included in the dreaded Takata airbag recall.

[@mikechiodetti6737]

Nice quick repair.

[@jeffpuras7501]

Hey Ethel! Ivan is going “full Ivan” on a circuit board!

[@mjmcomputers]

It’s always a satisfactory feeling to fix something without buying parts.

[@PaulCTownsend]

I'm impressed.

[@gregmackenzie]

Brilliant Ivan, NPR!

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

NPR FTW!

[@ryanmurray9017]

Good work. Too many people nowadays would have just replaced that component rather than doing a simple solder on the board.

[@ojjenkins7110]

Map light replacement $190 from the Subi store, I'll solder it :-)

[@dirkesterline2948]

Thank you! Just saved me a bunch of money! Easy fix.

[@ThePracticalMechanic]

Nice work Ivan. $0.03 of solder and a little time to PHAD fix it.

[@unclemarksdiyauto]

Ivan did you say "no parts required?" Nice job!

[@jeffjankiewicz5100]

Nice job spotting bad solder joints Ivan.

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Well the joints weren't bad to the naked eye...just got lucky on the second try :)

[@markiezee6435]

This saved me so much money!

[@billziegmond4943]

No parts required. Got to love it.

[@robertoruiz7069]

HI IVAN ,Get yourself some Kester 959t soldering flux,it's only 9 bucks on Ebay.yes i know your using rosin core ,but believe me when i say i makes things work much better.the solder will flow so much smoother.use a 120x magnifier and you'll see the difference.No parts required,so take it to the NEXT level.haha Keep the videos comming

[@jamestackett2879]

Good job you are the man.

[@adamtrombino106]

Nice repair. I had 1 just last week. The board as full of green guys behind the foam pad. I was able to find a used unit at a pick and pull for.. $5.. I'm glad you reviewed the cat assembly. I did 1 on a 09 outback 2.5. I tried a walker unit... It didn't fit quite right and the flang where it connects to the left side manifold, leaked. I had to use the $$$ Subaru assembly. Went on like butter. Sometimes you have to bite the bullet.

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Yup I installed an aftermarket Magnaflow unit, reboxed as a Bosal!?! Silly Rock Auto! Anyways fit OK I guess...we'll see how long it lasts :)

[@jomangeee9180]

i did that on my car two years ago still working

[@thirdcargarage2951]

That pretty cool man.

[@mikeholt3545]

Niiiice! Borat would approve

[@thebaldmechanichardatheari1124]

Dam good job!!!!

[@gianfrancoa]

This video saved me from unsubscribing to this channel as I was seeing an increasing trend on parts required on cars

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

LOL don't worry we keep the parts demand to a minimum xD

[@throttlebottle5906]

if only everything was repairable without parts or economically, lol. on the other side, I have repaired many things that were non-serviceable and cost sub $100 new, the thing is, it was late at night or mine and I modified improving it. but there's nothing quite like spending multiple hours bench time for a $100 part or spending even more time trying to un-pot the snot to get at the sealed components lol

[@SmittySmithsonite]

Nice work, Ivan! 👍🍻 It's a amazing the things vendors for auto manufacturers cheap out on these days. There's a little "computer" in our '86 Grand Marquis that has a clock, the date, and a timer feature - all of it works the same as it did 33 years ago! If someone would start building cars and marketing them as "reliable as the old days", they'd make a killing. I wouldn't mind spending $60k for something I can get 30+ years out of! I repaired 2 problems this way on our '93 940. One was failure of the alternator to charge. I reflowed the joints around the "battery light" bulb in the cluster, and that fixed that. Also, had intermittent A/C function. I reflowed a few joints on a relay on a board in the HVAC unit, and it's been great all season. 😎

[@throttlebottle5906]

sure, thwart the government, epa and other tree huggers form having any input in the matter ;)

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Ha that's awesome! I've lost count on how many electronic components I have "saved" with a soldering iron :)

[@SmittySmithsonite]

@@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics - Bet it's well into the thousands of dollars you've saved! I forgot I also repaired a Amtrol Boilermate board for my indirect hot water heater. That was a $300 board! Someone in the comments section (an electronics engineer) of the part I was looking for laid out a step by step process to get the board back, which was just desoldering a relay, and soldering in 2 jumpers in its place. Worked great and is still working today! Another board I fixed was for my Davis Vantage Pro2 weather station. Had a super capacitor fail. I soldered in 2 new ones back in '13, and it was good up until '18 when the board flaked out and reported several 250" per hour rain events, HAHAHA! 🤣

[@gardnecl]

This seems to happen enough with this generation of Subbys that it should have been rolled into that recall with the metal shards in the passengerside airbag.

[@throttlebottle5906]

Now if that was jim-joe-bob's garage, they'd pry with a large pry-driver and hammer fully destroying the plastic and headliner before removing the screws :))

[@shaunsautorepairs5410]

awesome..if only every repair was that simple

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Got lucky on this one for sure!

[@mikesworld60]

I fixed this same problem on my wife's 2009 outback with the same method that you used about a year ago. Still working fine. I did re-flow The LEDs first also with no result, then a re-flow of the resistors fixed it. I also had a money light and the cruise control was disabled because of this fault. After pondering about this a bit. I concluded that just a bad connection on the LED would probably not have caused an airbag code, unless there was some kind of feed back circuit letting the system know the led had a bad connection. I then went for the resistors and that fixed it. I never did look to see if it really knows when the LEDs are not lite with some kind of feedback circuit. I assumed it is not that sophisticated. Maybe you know! Sneaky how Subaru used some kind of strategy to turn off the cruise control, so you would have to come to them to get the Airbag light fixed or do without the cruise. I think this part is around $100 dollars + the labor to put it in. I'm sure a couple hundred at least for the dealer to fix this. I did not have to clear the code with a scanner. A simple key off then on got rid of the code and also brought back the function of my cruise control. So ya, no parts required and also in my case no scan tool required either. Thanks you for Sharing with us. I am sure this will help someone save some bucks.

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Cool! Hmm I thought only the "Check Engine" disabled the Cruise control on Subarus, not the other warning lights?

[@danedwards1227]

@@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics I've got an 18 Forester that I did the ol' "key on, plug and unplug the drivers seat belt 20 times in 30 seconds" trick to permanently turn off the seat belt reminder. One of the side effects is that it disables the cruise control. So I'm guessing any inoperative part of the passive restraint system will disable the cruise control.

[@mikesworld60]

@@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics Hey Ivan your a smart dude. I checked my notes and I also had a P0420 at the same time I was working on the Airbag light. I had to clear the check engine light(Actron scan tool) to get rid of that code until I replace the cat and the cruise control came back at that time. I keep a written record of my cars and I checked it and found I was also working on that issue and forgot about it. I still have the new oem cat in my garage waiting to be put in. My wife only gets the P0420 once in a while after being on the freeway. So the last time she had one was when I was also working on the airbag light. I really need to get that cat replaced. It is a lot of money sitting on the floor waiting for me to install it. But thanks again for the follow up.

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Ah that makes sense! The good old P0420, just like the Subaru in this video :)

[@billyr9840]

Nice !

[@pauldavis5075]

Not the problem this time but, That black foam and adhesive eats circuit board traces. I work on radio transceivers and have seen it many times the best way to fix the missing trace is to take a few strands of wire and rebuild it remembering a lot of circuit boards are double sided or even many layers. Great repair and video. thanks

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Cool tip! Not sure what the purpose of that glued foam piece was to begin with...any ideas?

[@pauldavis5075]

@@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics Just shock resistance in this case but I have also found it seperating circuit boards in mobile radios. It is okay for 10 years and then it starts to remove the traces in older equipment. Like road salt and cars it's time to buy our new improved model and replace that old thing. Planned obsolescence.

[@skiplazauski1497]

Many problems with solder joints these days are because the manufacturers use no-lead or low-lead solder. the joints will crack and separate over time especially if the joint is exposed to vibration. PS Get a solder flux pen and flood the joint you're working with it. Makes a better joint. Dr. Skip

[@throttlebottle5906]

not to mention wide range thermal cycling, it is in the roof line which gets cooked by the blazing sun and cooled again each drive cycle in hot weather. I could see it easily being hot enough to loosen solder joints and cause extra thermal stress when the LED's are lit, since the resistors are sinking current which means heat output on top the overheated area! if I had to guess the issue, I'd say lack of circuit board area to provide adequate heat dissipation. then again, I'm no electrical engineer ;)

[@somerandomguy3868]

Excellent! Anybody else myself included would have loaded the parts cannon

[@leesteele4574]

If you push the 'fix it' button would it tell you you had bad solder joints?

[@vlstyles]

You posed repairing the part or replacing the part as a question...as if there was EVER ANY DOUBT what that Russian guy does! 😊

[@462ANIMAL]

Cool. Thanks! My air bag light came on once. . I will scan it. .see if it's the same as this.

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Good luck!

[@KLNYC]

my doing same too.. maybe i will check it

[@donnierobertson3088]

Nice

[@deweydodo6691]

Reminds me of the radio in my relatives Jeep . Depending on temperature if it works or not .

[@phprofYT]

You need a solder workstation. Magnifying glass, clamps, etc.

[@billneu9520]

Thanks for the video all the best Bill N LINY

[@45AMT]

This is funny. I had an 08 Outback last year that had this exact problem. I did the same thing to fix it. Must be a common problem on these. I took me awhile to figure out this indicator was the issue.

[@joekuntzman4016]

had an 09 outback a few months ago like that. None of the LEDs was working. the joints were all cracked on the resistors on back I just re heated them at my desk. :)

[@isalmankhan1]

😎👍

[@mmiller1188]

Subarus seem to be the only cars that indicate the airbag status. I don't think I've ever seen this outside of Subaru

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Actually I think it's mandatory on any car with a passenger seat weight sensor?

[@kenmohler4081]

I haven’t had a car in recent years that didn’t have one. I’m sure it is required. I have never understood the utility of this indicator, though. What does it do for me?

[@stantrout5476]

Does the type of solder matter? I noticed that you used a Pb-Sn solder, kind of an old school approach. Would one of the Pb-free solders be more appropriate?

[@billrimmer5596]

So the computer is able to detect that very small amount of current not going to the led. Pretty persnickety. Excellent repair!!

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Thank you Bill! Yeah turn on a warning light because another one burned out...go figure :)

[@zensterful]

Very impressive!!!!!, others would have shot a parts cannon at it!!!!!

[@stephanelanglois6140]

💪🏻💪🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@shaneprescott432]

Nice work . Have you seen the issue with a bunch of warning light coming on with the out back dash , it's intermittent ? Also with your diagnostic business . I have been thinking about doing the same thing . My question I ask my self is are shops going to realize or admit to them selves it's time for a specialist ? And dose the consumer realize this problem would be better off with a diagnostic specialist ? What is your experience in growing this business

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Great questions Shane. Many shops can be very stubborn and continue with the old parts cannon mentality. It's up to the consumers to demand better service and a guarantee of repair!

[@shaneprescott432]

@@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics the scary thing I found out in my career as a tech , service manager, shop owner is so few of the techs really understand how a system works . For example I invented a tool tray and I stopped into a multi generation transmission shop . I was making small talk asking if he is doing trans flushes . He said " them things suck . The converter fluid stays in it . No clue that the fluid circulates threw the unit .

[@Nabeelco]

My parents Subaru had that exact same problem, and I just re-flowed the solder for that board, and theirs is a 2009, so in all that time Subaru never bothered to fix this problem. And they know it's a problem.

[@radman999]

Common issue for the entire electronics industry when the switch to lead free solder was used.

[@autocpr1345]

Hey Ivan. How do you charge for your diagnostic services? Can you explain? Thanks

[@upallnight888]

Are you using lead free solder? No Flux?

[@themechanic6117]

👍💪💪

[@thebeddoctor4273]

Would a junkyard one not work or do they have to be VIN specific?

[@davidgoliath982]

nice fix! would the pass. airbag be disabled just from that light not working?

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Great question! Not sure...

[@davidgoliath982]

@@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics i would guess that it would be operable, considering how important bags are. touchy system though

[@DangerousSportsForSeniors]

Nice fix. Saves time and money. What’s that part worth?

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Probably costs $2 to make and $200 to purchase!

[@audiogeneral]

@@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics I am late to the party but I believe you can't buy just the board. You have to replace the entire assembly. Should have been a recall as this is a problem in a lot of subaru around 2007 to 2009 especially.