Subaru's strange "ACC/ON" logic

[nobody]

This goes beyond the mystery switch on top of the steering wheel pod.

You have to have the key in the ON position to work the power windows,
but the heated seats work in the ACC position.

I spent the last week doing contractor watch, mostly sitting in my '00
OBW and watching other people work. (personally it's more work than
doing something).

I'll admit to listening to the radio.....

I caught the almost dead battery syndrome three times, by turning the
key ON to roll the window down and forgetting it (which brings the
damned Daytime Running Lamps on).

My aftermarket stereo would drop out, then the car would barely crank if
at all. Thank Ghu that a 2-5 minute "sit" would get enough crank power
to start it again.

After tattooing "Shut The F***ing Key OFF" on the back of my hand ;} I
proceeded to check other draws and conditions. Sure enough, the heated
seats are live in the ACC position.

 

[Cam Penner]

I caught the almost dead battery syndrome three times, by turning the
key ON to roll the window down and forgetting it (which brings the
damned Daytime Running Lamps on).

If you pull the handbrake up, do the lights go off? IIRC,
they do.

 

[MD]

Yeah it is pretty dumb. They should really have the windows on retained
power, there is a modification to do that on a legacy that involves snipping
a wire and connnecting it to the acc wire. Done it to mine, works great.

 

[Jim Stewart]

Yeah it is pretty dumb. They should really have the windows on retained
power, there is a modification to do that on a legacy that involves snipping
a wire and connnecting it to the acc wire. Done it to mine, works great.

Can you post a link to the mod?

 

[Brandon]

In order to comply with European (maybe just English?) laws, the
"mystery switch" on top of the steering column allows the parking
lights to remain on when the ignition is in the off position -
something that most Subarus wouldn't do otherwise because of the way
the lights are wired. That's what a Subaru tech told me anyway...

 

[James M]

This goes beyond the mystery switch on top of the steering wheel pod.

Now there's one I'd love to see answered and surpasssed too!
The top acc parking lamp switch has got to be the most least used
item on my 01 OBW. Think I used it once when I was parked
at a campground in pitch black NH forest at 1 am to read a map
outside via the front white marker lamps.

You have to have the key in the ON position to work the power windows,
but the heated seats work in the ACC position.

Heated seats work in acc with motor off?
Perhaps if subie has a nuclear powered battery option(grin)

I spent the last week doing contractor watch, mostly sitting in my '00
OBW and watching other people work. (personally it's more work than
doing something).

I'll admit to listening to the radio.....

I caught the almost dead battery syndrome three times, by turning the
key ON to roll the window down and forgetting it (which brings the
damned Daytime Running Lamps on).

Disconnecting / disabling the DRL's is relatively easy on Subaru.
You can get info on how to disable them here:
http://www.lightsout.org/disable.html

---> Or just google "Disable DRL Subaru" for more methods

My aftermarket stereo would drop out, then the car would barely crank if
at all. Thank Ghu that a 2-5 minute "sit" would get enough crank power
to start it again.

After tattooing "Shut The F***ing Key OFF" on the back of my hand ;} I
proceeded to check other draws and conditions. Sure enough, the heated
seats are live in the ACC position.

Don't have heated seats but seems that a quick review of the
wiring diagram would reveal these (I guess) are operated via
a relay to switch the heavy-DC current to power seat heater
elements. Methinks that lifting a wire from the hot side of the
relay coil from the always-on DC line to a switched one will
do the trick here.

 

[Brandon]

This goes beyond the mystery switch on top of the steering wheel pod.

Now there's one I'd love to see answered and surpasssed too!
The top acc parking lamp switch has got to be the most least used
item on my 01 OBW. Think I used it once when I was parked
at a campground in pitch black NH forest at 1 am to read a map
outside via the front white marker lamps.

See my post above.

 

[Dave Botsch]

Now there's one I'd love to see answered and surpasssed too!
The top acc parking lamp switch has got to be the most least used
item on my 01 OBW. Think I used it once when I was parked
at a campground in pitch black NH forest at 1 am to read a map
outside via the front white marker lamps.

and it doesn't ding or anything to warn you that you accidentally left on
something that could run down your battery.