bullseye451 Posted July 10, 2016 Share Posted July 10, 2016 OK started out with blown head gasket's the 1997 Legacy outback.it has a 2.5 L engine with automatic trans. . It has a factory remote lock with alarm system installed. I swapped the engine with a low mileage 2.5l from Japan. The EGR valve didn't mate up the head since I had to use the original intake setup. Other than having to plug the EGR everything went smoothly or so I thought. The car wouldn't charge the battery enough when a full load was applied using the headlights and wipers and defrosters etc. So I would drive it for a bit then I would need a jump to start it. So I put a new alternator on it then another. Then it wouldn't start with a jump so I put a new starter that didn't do it. Then I tried another battery nope. Then a new battery and a high quality alternator along with new grounds to chassis and alternator assembly with new terminals.That took care of the charging issue. I thought that was it. Nope still needed a jump. Finally I got good advise from a Subaru specialist mechanic. He told me to try the starter solenoid contacts or starter switch. Bam! FINALLY IT STARTS! But wait now the parking lights won't turn off unless I disconnect the battery completely!! What the hell! Can anybody help me with this one. I'm at a loss. I tore the dash apart to clean up the wiring while replacing the ignition switch and was careful. The only thing I did different was repair a cut wire pink one that goes to a light for the remote start. So after I noticed the lights stay on I cut it just to be sure that wasn't the reason. Also I unplugged the new ignition switch and put old one back one. No difference. Thanks I hope you all had a good laugh. But I really need some suggestions on this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forester2002s Posted July 10, 2016 Share Posted July 10, 2016 Does your car have a parking-light switch on top of the steering column? You may have accidentally turned it on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cougar Posted July 10, 2016 Share Posted July 10, 2016 Yeah, it's the virgin switch on top of the steering column. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullseye451 Posted July 10, 2016 Author Share Posted July 10, 2016 Wow yeah I forgot there is a switch there. That's probably it. Ok I feel stupid hehe. I never even use that any idea why they have that when you can use the headlight switch. I does the same thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirtokesalot Posted July 10, 2016 Share Posted July 10, 2016 because it doesn't do the same thing its for parking it only turns on the 4 outer parking lights. not the dash lights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montana tom Posted July 10, 2016 Share Posted July 10, 2016 Apparently in europe it is common to leave your running lights on when leaving your car temporarily on the side of the road at night..... Why you would want to do that is beyond me but it must be a popular thing to do if subaru built all their vehicles this way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cougar Posted July 10, 2016 Share Posted July 10, 2016 Don't feel too bad about missing that. You are among many others caught by that switch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikec03 Posted July 10, 2016 Share Posted July 10, 2016 (edited) yea, I rewired the parking lights to turn them off before realizing that all I had to do was turn the switch off. Laugh out loud. Edited July 10, 2016 by mikec03 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heartless Posted July 12, 2016 Share Posted July 12, 2016 they don't call it the newbie, and/or virgin switch for nothing, LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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