Head and Tail Lights Won't Go Off on 2003 Forester

[W. Watson]

Yep, that's my problem in the Subject. I had to disconnect the battery
tonight. Possibly the timer is defective that turns out the lights when the
the ignition is turned off while the lights are on. It may have been
precipitated by an earlier event. A woman had drained her battery and asked
if I had jumpers. I did and got her started. At the next stop, I noticed my
lights were still on when I came back to the car. I thought I might have
turned them on with the remote somehow. When I got home the same thing
happened in the garage. They wouldn't go out after 5-10 minutes. Comments?
Solution?

 

[Brian]

Yep, that's my problem in the Subject. I had to disconnect the battery
tonight. Possibly the timer is defective that turns out the lights when
the the ignition is turned off while the lights are on. It may have been
precipitated by an earlier event. A woman had drained her battery and
asked if I had jumpers. I did and got her started. At the next stop, I
noticed my lights were still on when I came back to the car. I thought I
might have turned them on with the remote somehow. When I got home the
same thing happened in the garage. They wouldn't go out after 5-10
minutes. Comments? Solution?

Look on the top of the steering column for the parking light switch.
Welcome to the club.



~Brian

 

[W. Watson]

Thanks. Good grief! That's a surprise.

Look on the top of the steering column for the parking light switch.
Welcome to the club.



~Brian

 

[Guest]

Thanks. Good grief! That's a surprise.

You are now truly a subaru owner. Sometimes its called the 'virgin'
switch.

Dave

 

[Catherine Jefferson]

Was to me too a few Subarus back. They're great cars, but they can
make you feel like a real idiot at times when you're new to them because
things just work a bit differently than they do on many other cars.

 

[.._..]

Alway's good to see someone's cherry popped on a Friday morning.

 

[Bugalugs]

Was to me too a few Subarus back. They're great cars, but they can
make you feel like a real idiot at times when you're new to them because
things just work a bit differently than they do on many other cars.

Had a similar problem with my Daughter. I went into great detail,, over
the phone, about how to track the wiring and location of the windscreen
washer motor, and how to check that it was plugged in, and to check for
blocked washer nozzles on her WRX.
A couple of weeks later she told me she had found the button on the end
of the stalk. :>)

 

[suburboturbo]

You are now truly a subaru owner. Sometimes its called the 'virgin'
switch.

Dave- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Like Wayne, I encountered the same problem with my first Subaru (have
had 3 more [Subarus, not mysterious light events] since, disconnected
the battery, eventually turned it off by just playing with every
control on the dashboard until I found one that worked, but I've
always been baffled by the presence of this switch. The salesman who
sold my my first stumbled through a series of explanations of its
need, none of which made any sense. Why is it there? What purpose
does it serve that can't be addressed by using the main headlight
switch or hazard warning flasher? Why do we need a switch to keep the
lights on without the key in the ignition? Why is Subaru, to my
knowledge, the only manufacturer to offer this "feature". Why? Why?
Why?

 

[Jack Countryman]

The best explanation I've found is that this is a result of the DRL. On
most cars, the light switch has a position for park lights, then a position
for head lights. On the Subaru, there is no position on the light switch
for park lights, due to the DRL feature. So there is a separate switch to
enable parking lights if you need them. Like you, I'm not sure when I'd
need parking lights that flashers wouldn't work...but maybe there is some
place where you are required to have parking lights without head lights or
flashers on?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You are now truly a subaru owner. Sometimes its called the 'virgin'
switch.

Dave- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Like Wayne, I encountered the same problem with my first Subaru (have
had 3 more [Subarus, not mysterious light events] since, disconnected
the battery, eventually turned it off by just playing with every
control on the dashboard until I found one that worked, but I've
always been baffled by the presence of this switch. The salesman who
sold my my first stumbled through a series of explanations of its
need, none of which made any sense. Why is it there? What purpose
does it serve that can't be addressed by using the main headlight
switch or hazard warning flasher? Why do we need a switch to keep the
lights on without the key in the ignition? Why is Subaru, to my
knowledge, the only manufacturer to offer this "feature". Why? Why?
Why?

 

[David Coggins]

The best explanation I've found is that this is a result of the DRL. On
most cars, the light switch has a position for park lights, then a
position
for head lights. On the Subaru, there is no position on the light switch
for park lights, due to the DRL feature. So there is a separate switch to
enable parking lights if you need them. Like you, I'm not sure when I'd
need parking lights that flashers wouldn't work...but maybe there is some
place where you are required to have parking lights without head lights or
flashers on?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This feature makes sense in markets like here in Australia where you have a
choice when you use your parking and headlights, and appropriate switches.
With the lights being disabled when the ignition is off (great feature -
should be fitted to all cars) you may wish to leave your parking lights on
for visibility when parking in a badly lit street (which, I suspect, is what
they were invented for). The extra switch will allow that. I seem to
remember a vehicle which had a parking light switch which only activated the
road-side parking lights to save battery power - can't remember the brand
though - another good idea which seems to have vanished.

Dave

 

[Uncle Ben]

Yep, that's my problem in the Subject. I had to disconnect the battery
tonight.

Wayne, lucky you. I too my car to a dealer and paid $40 to be taught
the lesson. ARRGGH!

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

This feature makes sense in markets like here in Australia where you have a
choice when you use your parking and headlights, and appropriate switches.
With the lights being disabled when the ignition is off (great feature -
should be fitted to all cars) you may wish to leave your parking lights on
for visibility when parking in a badly lit street (which, I suspect, is what
they were invented for). The extra switch will allow that. I seem to
remember a vehicle which had a parking light switch which only activated the
road-side parking lights to save battery power - can't remember the brand
though - another good idea which seems to have vanished.

Dave

Yep, that's very close to what I understand. In parts of Europe, use of
parking lights when actualy parked at the curb is enforced. That switch
alloys Subes ,which do disable the 'stalk' light setting when the key is
removed, to keep parking lights on.

Carl

 

[KLS]

Wayne, lucky you. I too my car to a dealer and paid $40 to be taught
the lesson. ARRGGH!

What dealer is this that raped you? I can't believe you paid. We
experienced a similar cherry-busting event the morning we wanted to
leave for a trip, and we just called our local dealer, and they told
us what to do over the phone, gratis.

 

[suburboturbo]

Yep, that's very close to what I understand. In parts of Europe, use of
parking lights when actualy parked at the curb is enforced. That switch
alloys Subes ,which do disable the 'stalk' light setting when the key is
removed, to keep parking lights on.

Carl

I'm still having trouble with this one. Why would any jurisdiction
require the use of just the parking lights when the vehicle isn't in
motion, at least under its own power, and the key not in the
ignition? Hard to believe that the DRLs are too bright, but even so,
why wouldn't it then be just another position on the stalk? Is it
just one of those European things that we Americans aren't considered
sophisticated enough to comprehend, like a signal that you intend to
leave the car at the curb for some metric unit of time? Is it me or
Subaru? Like that dash-top "glovebox" on some models that was too
shallow and oddly shaped for anything useful like sunglasses or a
notebook, but could fit a pen or few sticks of gum that would leak or
turn to goo in the heat.

 

[QX]

Yep, that's very close to what I understand. In parts of Europe, use of
parking lights when actualy parked at the curb is enforced. That switch
alloys Subes ,which do disable the 'stalk' light setting when the key is
removed, to keep parking lights on.

When I was stationed in Germany 72-76, I remember seeing cars with a
parking light on when parked on the street overnight. The difference
was they had a way to leave only the driver side parking lights on. I
supppose it was to show the highway side margin of the vehicle.
It wasn't a requirement on all streets, just those designated as
"priority" roads. It didn't apply to streets with designated parking
spots either. Mostly just the main road through the villages where the
road was about 2 1/2 lanes wide, and they were narrow lanes at that.

 

[osbjmg]

Lots of European cars have this, it is definitely a Euro thing. Some
even have the ability to turn on just one side at a time. Think about a
narrow cobblestone road where cars are lined up on the edge in an old
town. Maybe it's not wide enough and signage isn't abundant. I saw it
in Rothenburg, Germany - it's a walled town with really narrow streets.

 

[suburboturbo]

Lots of European cars have this, it is definitely a Euro thing.  Some
even have the ability to turn on just one side at a time.  Think about a
narrow cobblestone road where cars are lined up on the edge in an old
town.  Maybe it's not wide enough and signage isn't abundant.  I saw it
in Rothenburg, Germany - it's a walled town with really narrow streets.





- Show quoted text -

Came across the following on the website of a bulb vendor:

The parking light is really not actually used as such in modern
driving. This name is more of a throwback to days gone by. When
originally named, the parking light was used to illuminate a vehicle
when it was parked, because streetlights and special off the road
parking areas had not yet become common. Leaving your car parked on
the side of a dark road without some warning of its presence was a
hazard to both your vehicle, and to other drivers. The parking light
was entirely separate from the headlight system. They were not lit
when the headlights were turned on as they are in modern vehicles. The
purpose of the parking light has changed over the years. Wider roads
allowing room for on street parking with no obstruction of the driving
lanes have made their original purpose obsolete. The parking light
still serves an important function in driving safety, used more as a
marker light to make vehicles more visible at night, especially from
the side view. Such marker lights became mandatory in 1968, to improve
safety and vehicle visibility on the roads. The parking light can also
be helpful as backup lighting if you have a headlight burn out during
driving. The glow of the parking light can help your vehicle be more
visible to oncoming drivers even with only one headlight, making it
easier for others to determine that a car, not a motorcycle is
approaching.

I guess that, and Subaru's own blurb in Drive magazine that some
countries and municipalities require that the parking lights be on a
separately switched circuit, pretty much explains why we have to live
with this switch. Funny thing is, I don't recall having seen one on
any other make of car sold in the US. Subaru isn't the only
manufacturer to market its cars globally, and has obviously made
changes (left and right-hand drive, etc) to accomodate different
national laws. So why no Hondas, Toyotas, Audis, Jaguars, etc with
the switch?

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Came across the following on the website of a bulb vendor:

The parking light is really not actually used as such in modern
driving. This name is more of a throwback to days gone by. When
originally named, the parking light was used to illuminate a vehicle
when it was parked, because streetlights and special off the road
parking areas had not yet become common. Leaving your car parked on
the side of a dark road without some warning of its presence was a
hazard to both your vehicle, and to other drivers. The parking light
was entirely separate from the headlight system. They were not lit
when the headlights were turned on as they are in modern vehicles. The
purpose of the parking light has changed over the years. Wider roads
allowing room for on street parking with no obstruction of the driving
lanes have made their original purpose obsolete. The parking light
still serves an important function in driving safety, used more as a
marker light to make vehicles more visible at night, especially from
the side view. Such marker lights became mandatory in 1968, to improve
safety and vehicle visibility on the roads. The parking light can also
be helpful as backup lighting if you have a headlight burn out during
driving. The glow of the parking light can help your vehicle be more
visible to oncoming drivers even with only one headlight, making it
easier for others to determine that a car, not a motorcycle is
approaching.

I guess that, and Subaru's own blurb in Drive magazine that some
countries and municipalities require that the parking lights be on a
separately switched circuit, pretty much explains why we have to live
with this switch. Funny thing is, I don't recall having seen one on
any other make of car sold in the US. Subaru isn't the only
manufacturer to market its cars globally, and has obviously made
changes (left and right-hand drive, etc) to accomodate different
national laws. So why no Hondas, Toyotas, Audis, Jaguars, etc with
the switch?

I THINK the issue is whether or not the entire 'stalk' control system is
disabled when the key is removed. Evidently Subaru uses a completely
different circuit when the key is removed.
Dunno why they couldn't make the same control 'either/or' !


Carl

 

[Uncle Ben]

What dealer is this that raped you?  I can't believe you paid.  We
experienced a similar cherry-busting event the morning we wanted to
leave for a trip, and we just called our local dealer, and they told
us what to do over the phone, gratis.

$40 was their minimim charge -- for diagnosis or anything. I was out
of town and took it to a repair shop that was recommended to me in
Kensington, MD. Name was Carlos Auto Repair, or words to that effect.

Sorry for the late reply; I was out of town.

 

[coaster]

Yep, that's my problem in the Subject. I had to disconnect the battery
tonight. Possibly the timer is defective that turns out the lights when
the the ignition is turned off while the lights are on. It may have been
precipitated by an earlier event. A woman had drained her battery and
asked if I had jumpers. I did and got her started. At the next stop, I
noticed my lights were still on when I came back to the car. I thought I
might have turned them on with the remote somehow. When I got home the
same thing happened in the garage. They wouldn't go out after 5-10
minutes. Comments? Solution?

our 2 year old did this the other day ... she turned on the Parking Lights
.... i nearly shit myself before i finally figured out what was the cause of
the lights not going off ... felt like a real idiot when my wife finally
read the user manual and told me what to do