Jump to content
Ultimate Subaru Message Board

How are wipers, cig lighter, and radio related?


Recommended Posts

When it is VERY cold in the morning, sometimes the radio will not power up. Sometimes if I hit the wipers it will turn on. Sometimes I have to unplug my phone charger from the cig lighter outlet and it will turn on. Sometimes the wipers will not turn on when this is occuring.

 

This only happens when it is below about 20 F, Why would cold weather affect the electrical system like this, and how are these items connected together?

 

I probably dont care about fixing it, but it doesn't make sense to me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

How are wipers, cig lighter, and radio related?

 

well, when it's raining so hard the wipers don't clear enough water to see, you pull over, listen to the radio, and light a cig to wait for the storm to ease up.

 

 

what do i win?

 

It's a tricky question... I'll go for "all three have an 'I' " :)

 

With such low temperatures, it's possible something shrinks enough to stop making contact. I don't know if those three things share a common ground under the dashboard, though...

Edited by jarl
Link to comment
Share on other sites

There is a ground wire on one of the screws tha tholds the center console down. I would suspect a loose ground.

 

there is also a similar ground at the steering column between the head of the column and the mounting bolts under the dash

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There is a ground wire on one of the screws tha tholds the center console down. I would suspect a loose ground.

 

Hmm I may check that if I am ever in that area again, I have had that console out a lot so that may be a good place to look, maybe I didnt tighten something

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...