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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Tkelly on January 22, 2025, 01:27:33 PM
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We bought a 2015 Forester that lights up idiot lights during cold snaps but they go off once weather warms up.Im referring to check engine and hill start assist,even though we are not parking on a hill.Planning a trip to the UP tomorrow,can we ignore this if it lights up?
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A steady glowing 'check engine' light usually just refers to an emissions issue. I'd ignore that. However, a flashing 'check engine' refers to overheating, broken belts, dead alternator, etc. That requires an immediate stop and inspection.
The hill start assist is switchable on/off. It should glow if you've switched it on. But, it should stay in that mode until you physically switch it off. Not temp related. Check and test with your hill switch.
Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA
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Find out why the check engine light is on. With Subarus it is common for the hill start assist light to come on when there is a check engine light and the cruise control may also be disabled. While the problem may be insignificant enough to wait to fix, a lack of cruise control on a long trip would be enough to push me to get it fixed before a long trip.
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I agree. Determine what the CEL is for, then decide if it is pertinent enough to take a long trip. My initial thought is that its a nuisance light due to extreme cold and likely caused by funky grounds or connections. As such, id take the trip if the light go away once warmed up. It is common for younger (newer) Subarus to throw up a kaleidoscope of dash lights and disable the cruise control for any CEL to further alert or entice the owner into diagnosis and correction.
Good luck!
Jay
Find out why the check engine light is on. With Subarus it is common for the hill start assist light to come on when there is a check engine light and the cruise control may also be disabled. While the problem may be insignificant enough to wait to fix, a lack of cruise control on a long trip would be enough to push me to get it fixed before a long trip.
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On my old 2010 forester I had the CEL and fixed it by replacing the fuel cap. If it’s not sealed the car doesn’t like that.
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We had an early Dodge Durango that threw a code all the time for that. The filler neck wasn't designed to handle the weight of the gawd awful heavy emissions control dispenser (gas pump) nozzles we have here in California. They are terrible for filling motorcycle gas tanks. The V100's are awful in that respect.
kk
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Sorry, I'm going to pull the aged card here.
I LOVED the old days when cars had 3 idiot lights, Oil - Temp - Alt.
and when they came on it was typically too late.
Todays concept of flashing a light for every issue possible / probable / or imaginary is just aggravating.
I've been driving my Jeep for several years because the tire pressure sensor batterys are dead, No way I'm breaking down a perfectly good tire and rim just to replace a battery. Check engine light is also in continuous illumination mode as the evap canister has a small leak, ridiculous
PS. my wife's car absolutely goes berserk when she activates the right turn signal. reports that the transmission is knackered, traction control is Fubar, and something else catastrophic that i can't recall. but once the turn signal turns off... all is good again..
and all this BS just adds cost to already overpriced units.
Just Stupid !
OK, I get off my box now...
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I’m with Alfetta here.Took it to my mechanic and it stopped .My wife tried everything in the manual to no avail.Good news is Jeremy,my Guzzi mechanic who sold me the car ,didn’t charge me but we had to leave our beater car in Madison until we make another 80 mile round trip with 2 cars to pick it up.Jeremy thinks it was a combination of ethanol and sun zero cold that messed with the sensor.We are in Wakefield MI,the UP and it is 1 below and dropping
.Wish me luck in the morning.Thanks to all !
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Wakefield, kind of the unofficial outboard boat racing capitol of the country. Lots of nationals have been held there. A great racing venue, the town and its residents are reported to be the best. I visited for a bit to check out the lake but never got the opportunity to race there. I have done the marathons in Indian River a couple of times.
kk
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I’m with Alfetta here.Took it to my mechanic and it stopped .My wife tried everything in the manual to no avail.Good news is Jeremy,my Guzzi mechanic who sold me the car ,didn’t charge me but we had to leave our beater car in Madison until we make another 80 mile round trip with 2 cars to pick it up.Jeremy thinks it was a combination of ethanol and sun zero cold that messed with the sensor.We are in Wakefield MI,the UP and it is 1 below and dropping
.Wish me luck in the morning.Thanks to all !
My brother has trouble with this in his Outback. One of the early things was replacing the gas cap, which didn't help.
He has narrowed it down to a certain couple of gas stations. When he fills up there, the light will come on soon after.
I had recommended he switch stations and try using Shell Premium non-ethanol for awhile. That seemed to work.
My guess is he's getting some fuel with more than 10% ethanol at his bargain basement station of choice and it's triggering the Check Engine Light.
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On the way to UP the low tire pressure light lit but went off on the way south when weather warmed up.The low oil light came on and was correct,going off after a quart of oil.We are in a warm spell now and all is good.There may be something to the ethanol theory ,Jeremy warned against mid grade .
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Our Honda CRV will put on the check engine light if you don't tighten the gas cap.
My 79 YO body doesn't have a check engine light which is just as well, the best before date is long past
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We had an early Dodge Durango that turned on the check engine light constantly. The code reader always said there was a leak in the evaporative control system. I don't know for sure but the fuel filler neck wasn't very solidly mounted and I think the stupid very heavy gas dispenser nozzles were the cause of the problem. They also make it hard to fill motorcycle gas tanks.
kk