My friend just totaled his car and we were looking for cars at a local used car lot. The car is a 2007 2.5L Subaru Legacy 5-speed manual, 123k miles, and the price is $5700. I turned on the car and the CEL and Airbag light illuminated, and the cruise control light was flashing. We took the car for a test drive and it drives like a dream no squeaks, no rattles, engine ran perfectly. We asked the dealer what was wrong and he said he does not know because the scanner cannot communicate with the computer and he does not want to pay to troubleshoot the problem- car is being sold AS-IS. To me, this sounds like a bad computer. The dealer said he bought it at the auction (obviously) and wants to get rid of it. Any ideas about what might be wrong with the car??
Subaru Legacy CEL, Airbag Light
- Thread starter parimento1
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Drive it to an AZ/AAP/PB and have them see if they can scan it. At least you'll know if he's lying about not being able to connect to the OBDII system.
My question is, are all those systems linked to the computer and will an OBD II reader read the airbag codes.
Not sure. I am pretty sure, though, that they can't help w abs or airbag codes. I know that the cheap scanners don't do abs.
Originally Posted By: parimento1
My question is, are all those systems linked to the computer and will an OBD II reader read the airbag codes.
Nope, you will need the factory scan tool or a higher-end Snap-On/OTC scan tool to read Airbag and body codes. You may as well pay the dealer the $120-$150 to diagnose the problem and do a pre-purchase inspection if you are serious about buying the car. Even dealers who are trying to sell a car as-is are often willing to correct serious issues (especially safety) before selling the vehicle.
My question is, are all those systems linked to the computer and will an OBD II reader read the airbag codes.
Nope, you will need the factory scan tool or a higher-end Snap-On/OTC scan tool to read Airbag and body codes. You may as well pay the dealer the $120-$150 to diagnose the problem and do a pre-purchase inspection if you are serious about buying the car. Even dealers who are trying to sell a car as-is are often willing to correct serious issues (especially safety) before selling the vehicle.
here in nj that car will not pass inspection with those lights on..Try to scan it if the check engine light is on you should get a code...
This can be a big problem make sure you know what is wrong before you buy it..
try powering it down and then try to scan it again (NOTE i have seen first hand that certain obd2 scanners dont alway work on subaru although they should , it is a plug problem) had this on a friends subie my snap on was fine but the one auto zone had and the one he bought did not work)
This can be a big problem make sure you know what is wrong before you buy it..
try powering it down and then try to scan it again (NOTE i have seen first hand that certain obd2 scanners dont alway work on subaru although they should , it is a plug problem) had this on a friends subie my snap on was fine but the one auto zone had and the one he bought did not work)
The odd thing is that the car has never been hit. Clean Carfax and all the paint looks original. If we decide to go fwd with it, my friend will have it investigated.
I wonder if disconnecting the battery neg terminal and pressing the brake peddle 6 times to reset the ECM would help.
thats the protocol to reset it?
Originally Posted By: parimento1
thats the protocol to reset it?
I doubt that procedure is going to work on any OBDII or CAN vehicle.
thats the protocol to reset it?
I doubt that procedure is going to work on any OBDII or CAN vehicle.
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