ABS / Traction light on and Dimming interior lights
 

So... I pulled my car out of the garage. Started up, unlocked, everything normal.


The lights turn on (auto mode) and the ABS and traction system lights come on in the dash. When I hit my brakes the center stack lights dim and the clock fades out. When I release the brakes the clock comes back (correct time) and the lights come back to normal brightness.


Never seen anything like this, WTF.


Made an appointment to go to Subaru on the 24th as I will be out of town for a while but this has me pretty upset. Car has 20K on it. I have had it in the garage parked and not driven so much recently, but I take it out every other weekend or an occasional day of work just to keep it moving and enjoy it before winter. Once winter sets it will be in the garage with a trickle charger.

Stating the obvious, looks like an electrical issue of some kind.

Did you look to see if any critters had chewed on the wiring?

Yes I checked but the garage is clean and I'm in there frequently. I can't rule that out but I have no evidence of that. I have read of other Subarus having battery or alternator issues with similar symptoms but my car had nothing indicating any of that.

Did you pull any codes?

No CEL. Just the ABS and traction light on. I didn't hook up an OBD II scanner.


If the headlights are off and you start the car no ABS / Traction lights but the center stack lights dim with the brake. If you turn the headlights on manually or automatically, the dash lights come on. If the headlights are turned on the interior lights don't dim with the brake usage.

Do you have a 4th brake light wired in? This was the EXACT same problem i had, as soon as the lights came on it tripped it..OBD scanner wouldn't pick up the code, hooked up the Genesis to it and it showed a brake light switch code..disconnected 4th brake light issue is gone.

I do have my third brake light deleted and a 4th brake light wired in. That has been on for over a year though without issue. I guess I'll have to look in to that.


Literally nothing has changed except letting the car sit for somewhat extended periods of time.

Same thing for me..car was fine with the 4th brake light wired in for about 6 months..car sat while i was replacing the clutch then started to drive it again and had this issue.

Well, huh. I won't have time to look at it before I leave town, but I will let you know what happens when the dealer looks at it.


Was there a fix or did you just remove the brake light? That's not an option for me since I deleted the window one and had my deck reupholstered.

I just did away with it until I have time to mess with it.

It wound up being a wire that had come undone (ground) and they repaired the connection.


Somehow I guess when I had my taillights candied they messed up part of the harness. Something really stupid caused a lot of weird issues, but its fixed and no biggie in the long run.

Maybe after winter ill give it another shot

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Thanks for updating your thread for future reference

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