Jump to content
Ultimate Subaru Message Board

Couple of electrical/fuse questions


Recommended Posts

Since the manuals (both the Subaru and the Haynes) were of no help to me, can someone answer what should be a couple of simple questions regarding fuses?

 

First off, what fuse is used by the rear 12v power outlet on a '99 OBW? Second, what fuse(s) would be used by the seat heaters on the same vehicle? Neither one is working, and before I start tearing into them, common sense tells me to check the fuses.

 

Thanks for any help!

 

Martin

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Apparently, you get two for the price of one :) . The Subaru 1999 Owner's Manual (page 11-8) indicates that both the accessory power socket and the seat heaters are protected by fuse #22; it's a 20A in cars that have both the power socket and heated seats. That's the "Fuse panel behind the instrument panel lower cover".

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Apparently, you get two for the price of one :) . The Subaru 1999 Owner's Manual (page 11-8) indicates that both the accessory power socket and the seat heaters are protected by fuse #22; it's a 20A in cars that have both the power socket and heated seats. That's the "Fuse panel behind the instrument panel lower cover".

 

Okay, I feel like a complete dummy for not seeing that in the manual, but it begs another question: Where is the "instrument panel lower cover?" Is that the cover over the console?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Okay, I feel like a complete dummy for not seeing that in the manual, but it begs another question: Where is the "instrument panel lower cover?" Is that the cover over the console?

 

thats the one above your legs when your driving.

 

nipper

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Update: Okay, I got the cover off (it's the one that sits below the steering wheel.) According to the diagram in the manual, the auxiliary fuse block is underneath. Now, I couldn't see anything that looked like a fuse block. I saw something that was the right shape, just above the main fusebox, and it had three vertically stacked rectangles - but they were at least 5x as big as an ordinary blade-type fuse. They also did not have amp markings on them. Could this be them?

 

See photo below. I've circled what I think may be the box, but look at the size of those "fuses." Can that be right?

 

 

adf.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

now this may be normaclature. The main fuse box is under the hood, the secondary or auxilary fuse box is the one with all the fuses under the dash. At least thats how ssoby always did it before.

 

nipper

Link to comment
Share on other sites

now this may be normaclature. The main fuse box is under the hood, the secondary or auxilary fuse box is the one with all the fuses under the dash. At least thats how ssoby always did it before.

 

nipper

 

Yeah, I realize that. What I meant was the "main" fusebox that is underneath the dash. The fuse I'm looking for is in another fusebox located somewhere above that one.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Update: Okay, I got the cover off (it's the one that sits below the steering wheel.) According to the diagram in the manual, the auxiliary fuse block is underneath.[...]

Just to clarify things, since your photo doesn't show the lower cover off, and in case someone else reads this thread later:

 

1) Remove the two screws near bottom corners of the IP lower cover (one is right above the hood release lever), pull gently to disengage clips at top, allow to dangle by wires.

 

2) Get at eye level with the hood release lever, and look straight in, above and slightly to the left of the lever. (Amazingly, you don't have to crawl under the dash to get to this :clap:.) The fuse "panel" has no cover, and isn't very big, since it only has places for 3 fuses. The one you're looking for should be in the left-most position, with the center and right spots empty unless your car has an "option".

Link to comment
Share on other sites

GOT IT! Man, that little tiny fusebox is hard to find! If not for OB99W's excellent description, I don't think I would have found it.

 

Anyway, fuse was indeed blown, and now both power outlet and seat heaters work fine (not that I need seat heaters when the temps will be 100 by friday!)

 

The culprit in all of this was not anything on my car, incidentally. It was the cheap-rump roast car charger for my cell phone. I even confirmed this by plugging it in after I fixed the front power socket - the fuse blew right away, so I know that's what it was.

 

Needless to say, said car charger has been tossed into the nearest dumpster.

 

Thanks for all the help! You guys are a mechanical moron's best friend! :banana:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

GOT IT! Man, that little tiny fusebox is hard to find! If not for OB99W's excellent description, I don't think I would have found it.

[...]

Thanks for all the help! You guys are a mechanical moron's best friend! :banana:

You're welcome, glad to help. You're not a "mechanical moron"; you knew enough to suspect fuses, came to the right place for help ;) , and fixed the problem. I respect someone who does those things, even if they don't have a lot of experience. If you'll excuse a "Star Wars" reference, Yoda was wrong; there is not only "doing" or "not doing", "trying" counts and often eventually leads to success, or at least knowledge gained.

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...