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Check engine light, RAB, eyesight, lane departure

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40K views 33 replies 19 participants last post by  zuriizworski20  
#1 ·
When I turned on my 21 crosstrek this morning the check engine light came on, the RAB, eyesight, and lane departure were all disabled, and it was telling me to check the manual. Following advice on this forum, I checked the gas cap which was on tight. The lights stayed on.

About two months ago the battery died very suddenly. BUT all the lights on the dash would come on, the headlights would come on, and it wouldn't turn the battery off when I tried. It was the strangest dead battery experience I have ever had. Even with the car off, the headlights wouldn't go out.

I took it to the dealer who said yep that is weird but they couldn't find any issue other than the dead battery which they replaced.

Has anyone else had anything similar happen? I am worried I'm heading to a much larger and more expensive issue.

Thanks!
 
#5 ·
Yes. Just happened. Battery replaced recently; negative post noticed loose when warning lights you mention (plus check engine light is on and X-mode light is flashing) went on. Car runs fine bt RAB, Eyesight, Xmode are unavailable. Detaching neg battery cable resets things briefly. You can start, drive, stop and re-start 2-3 times before same lights go on ON IGNITION ONLY. Lights do not come on while driving, for what it's worth. Rear gate has not been operating consistently (power??). Scanner showed a bunch of unrelated codes; no pattern like system was confused.

Suspected an electrical issue so shimmed the loose neg post first with copper pipe bracket to mcGuyver it until I got proper lead shims. No diff. About to install a lead shim but have to grind it down because store-bought too thick. BUT, copper shim didn't change things after second recycling of engine following short drive to auto parts store. Thinking electrical may not be the issue after all but I'll play this out.

Only other thing to note is that a different, long-standing problem has become noticeably worst under new error conditions: phone connected to Airplay sounds like s*&^. Like it's garbled or 'under water'. People always have reported my phone sounds bad when connected to audio system even tho I hear them well. Car was Subaru refurbed and then a software upgrade was applied that made a little not a lot of improvement. Thinking it's an independent problem but the fact that it's way worse now is intriguing ;)

Contemplating going to Subaru but REALLy hoping to find some insight on the Eyesight from the group. :)
 
#6 ·
Same experience happened today with my 2017 WRX with RAB, check engine, eyesight and lane departure error lights coming on. Only prior issues have been off and on rough with initial start and backing up and then smoothes out. In addition today it changed from Intelligent to Sport mode (I could change it back at first and then after leaving the car off a few minutes it would not change out of Sport mode). Seemed to ride really rough with acceleration. Not sure what's going on with all these error lights...
 
#7 ·
Happened to our 2021 Subaru Crosstech last night, just as I was about to get on the 401W at midnight. Managed to pull over safely and called Subaru via StarLink. Operator remotely logged in and said he could see absolutely no problem and everything was green on his screen, even though I got an email from Starlink and an alert in the Subaru App saying engine light and RAB were on.

Operator advised us that as long as everything sensed normal, I could continue to drive. Power cycled the car a few times, pushed a few buttons, tightened the fuel cap but the lights didn’t go away. We drove 160kms home from Milton in the dead of the night. Reached home with no issues. Going to get an ODB to see what’s going on since Subaru service is unavailable for the next two weeks.
 
#8 ·
These mystery problems sharing similar indications of RAB (rear automatic braking), Eyesight, lane departure and X mode faults, may be either intermittent electronics and difficult to troubleshoot (even when Starlink fails to see the indications) or possibly main power issue (battery, connections to starter/main fuse panel, main grounds to chassis and engine block).

Hopefully, everyone reporting their issues reply and not leave it unanswered.
 
#9 ·
These mystery problems sharing similar indications of RAB (rear automatic braking), Eyesight, lane departure and X mode faults, may be either intermittent electronics and difficult to troubleshoot (even when Starlink fails to see the indications) or possibly main power issue (battery, connections to starter/main fuse panel, main grounds to chassis and engine block).

Hopefully, everyone reporting their issues reply and not leave it unanswered.
The OBD arrives tonight. I'll report back if I find anything shows up. Stay tuned.
 
#13 · (Edited)
AbdulAziz, if your '21 is under emissions warranty (8yrs, 80k/129k kms?), repairs should be covered by Subaru. Check your owner's manual. There may be a distinct pattern of 'nanny' errors that have no effect on daily driving with the emissions error code standing out, suggesting nanny errors are disabled until the emissions (or other manufacturer's specific error code(s) are fixed to allow our electronic nannies to return to aid/help drivers (RAB, Eyesight, CC, etc). If I'm mistaken, please correct me.

Was the check engine indicator alert turned on when discussing the problem with StarLink before discussing it with your dealer? If yes, I find it unusual and strange that StarLink didn't see the error code stored in memory or did see it and refrained from discussing it by assurances that it's minor and your car is drivable. In my limited knowledge of OBDI ('91-'95), OBDII ('96-present) when the CEL/MAL/whatever manufacturers call it, emissions and manufacturer' specific error codes are generated and stored for immediate retrieval with generic, advanced aftermarket or dealer readers/scantools. Standardized emissions error codes are accepted by all manufacturers (P codes) for generic reader decoding but other P, C, N, B codes cannot be decoded unless better readers/scantools are used.

The O2 heater is a separate circuit within the sensor's role of measuring O2. My previous car, a V6 has four O2 sensors; each bank has a pre and post catcon O2 sensor and both precat sensors gave heater errors that reset the CEL/MAL until it wouldn't when I replaced each one. :mad: I was upset that the heaters failed but the sensors still work. Heaters accelerate O2 sensors to operating temperatures above 600F instead of waiting for exhaust gases to heat them. Both failed around 75k miles. I neglected to check for emissions warranty and paid out of pocket, replaced them myself. Bosch, $90 each.
 
#15 ·
"was the check engine indicator alert turned on when discussing the problem with StarLink before discussing it with your dealer?"

Yes it was. You can say I called them 'live' while pulled over on the side of the highway. The alerts in the app come from StarLink so the operator was just as surprised that everything was green on his end.
 
#16 · (Edited)
Ok, I wanted to be sure of your situation. StarLink not seeing the error code says a lot to me and not so much for StarLink if they can't see the error code. As an aside, previously belonging to a GM forum, GM uses OnStar for their telematic system and members using it found their OnStar agent tell drivers the error code with the CEL on. (I may be mistaken) I would expect StarLink to automatically see any error codes as soon as a driver uses StarLink to determine what to do in some situations. Perhaps I'm too optimistic and StarLink is just the bundled app for concierge service for the random emergency in the middle of nowhere when its invaluable while the rest of us use it for remote starting/unlocking/heating/cooling our vehicles. I do appreciate the locating portion of StarLink, the equivalent of GM's OnStar system to have owner authorization of OnStar along with police, disable engine running in stolen vehicle situations. StarLink/MySubaru app to disable engine running among other features.
 
#18 ·
When I turned on my 21 crosstrek this morning the check engine light came on, the RAB, eyesight, and lane departure were all disabled, and it was telling me to check the manual. Following advice on this forum, I checked the gas cap which was on tight. The lights stayed on.

About two months ago the battery died very suddenly. BUT all the lights on the dash would come on, the headlights would come on, and it wouldn't turn the battery off when I tried. It was the strangest dead battery experience I have ever had. Even with the car off, the headlights wouldn't go out.

I took it to the dealer who said yep that is weird but they couldn't find any issue other than the dead battery which they replaced.

Has anyone else had anything similar happen? I am worried I'm heading to a much larger and more expensive issue.

Thanks!
Are you still having this same issue?

This is the issue that I am having sounds very similar.

Link to the issue
Model Years 2018 to 2023 - Engine Misfire and check engine light | Subaru Crosstrek and XV Forums (subaruxvforum.com)
 
#19 ·
Same problem just started happening to me... during a very long trip (800+ miles) blind spot feature got disabled while driving... once arrived a the destination the next day, all of the features mentioned above became disabled and flashing sport mode (stuck on). Im suspecting a faulty sensor or module, i was wondering if there is a separate module for the feature and the location to verify all connections are good.
 
#24 ·
I have a 2020 Outback. Daughter borrowed it yesterday and sat in a parking lot with power on for 1/2 an hour, and then these same issues you all are reporting began. Somehow managed to get it going again, and I then was able to make it 45 minutes home thinking that would be enough to charge up the battery again. Even stopped at the grocery and it started up although the rear hatch will not operate. This morning, however, all the lights come on with rapid clicking sound, Rab disabled, and Eye sight disabled-check manual alerts appear on the dash. So I suspect a low battery. I’ll check terminals but with what my daughter told me she did- the most likely cause is a low battery. These are heavy duty batteries ti take the load of the auto-0ff at red lights, and I disable it every time I start my car, it still… I’ll update later.
 
#25 ·
I don't know about a 2020 Outback but my new 2024 Crosstrek Wilderness does not fully charge the battery when I drive it. It is designed to do that to save gas. Apparently driving with the parking lights ON allows the battery to fully charge. Maybe the Outback Forum people can answer your question better. I always have a battery charger connected to my Wilderness battery. Put the red battery cover in the drivers seat so I don't forget to disconnect the charger. Get the battery tested for free someplace and note the State of Health on the report. If you are on the original battery it is probably 'time'. My plan is to buy my battery at Advance Auto Parts so they can do the EFB Registration for free. Don't know if this applies to the Outback. Figure out if you can use an Enhanced Flooded Battery, seems to be a pretty good battery design.
 
#26 ·
2022 Crosstrek: Disconnected battery to do something yesterday. Reconnected it - no issues. Drove for 20 minutes. Went to an Ikea for an hour. Got back in the car, same thing happened, all of the above showing. Drove it 30 minutes home, it was too late - and the RAB, Eyesight, Check Engine light, Check owner's manual, all showing. Started it up this morning, nothing shows up. Drove 15 minutes to work - no issue. What is going on? We all disconnected and reconnected our batteries?
 
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#34 ·
ITS THE GAS CAP!! After a long day of pranking people on April Fools Day, I got in my car to see my dashboard looking like a Xmas tree. I called Sewell Subaru and the told me to come in. I got to the dealership and told the rep the issue I was having. He got his car scanner device, popped it in and immediately looked at me and asked, “ Did you just get gas?” I replied “Yes, like 4 days ago…” He walked around my car to where the gas was, he opened it, and screwed the gas cap back on… Joke was on me.