Nice job.
So a single badly soldered surface mount resistor.

I like it when people use their common sense and intuition to arrive at a simple fix.

 

Nice work. I did the exact same think on my 2007 Outback. Was going to post the fix here soon. You beat me to it! LOL.

My dealership (actually both of the local dealerships) read the error code, 26 I believe, "passenger side indicator light malfunction", and told me that I needed to replace an ECU that is located behind the glove box console in the middle of the dash. $250 for the ECU and $100 to install. I'm glad I didn't listen to them. That would NOT have fixed the issue, $350 later.

In my case, once I had the IC board in my hand, I could wiggle the LEDs just a tiny bit and see that the solder on them was the issue. I just re-soldered the LEDs (and resistors, as well, just b/c I was already in there) and the airbag light has been off ever since.

 

Great work!

To round this thread out for others, could either of you elaborate on how to get to the board? E.g. how to remove the lens, assembly, board. . . etc. Any pics?

 

pics of the removal coming for you guys. let me run out and take some.... stand by

 

Ok, here goes....

[instructions, with pic reference name in parenthesis] (since i cannot put pics in-line with the instructions)

1. Locate the two slots to release the map light lens (see MapLightConsole, LensSlot). Insert a small flat-blade screwdriver, and gently pry the lens free (see LensFree), and remove lens

2. With the lens removed, locate two screws, and remove (see LensRemoved)

3. Locate the two retaining clips, which need to be pulled slightly toward the screw hole to free (see RetainingClip). Once the retaining clips have been freed, the console can be dropped down.

4. Release three connectors (see ConsoleWiring, and LEDCableConnector)

5. On the under-side of the console, locate two screws, and remove the LED cover (see LEDCover)

6. With the cover removed, you will see the LED PCB. Remove two screws to free the PCB (see LEDpcb).

[Just looking at this pic, I realized I forgot to put the protective black foam tape back over the IC components, protecting them from the cabling]

Hope this helps out. If anyone wants me to PDF-it, let me know.

 

thank You!
my dash RED Airbag light was intermittent, and also my map light console was not displaying Passenger Airbag OFF, nor ON, also intermittent.

example of my dash RED airbag light ON:

I removed the map light console circuit board, and under magnification found 2 cracked joints

resoldered with a bit of extra solder on the fat tinned tip (not too easily in small space), so not showing you the poor quality of my work

reassembled and now Passenger Airbag On and Off lights work on map light console:

and now RED airbag light on dash turns OFF..

wooohoo!
Im cancelling the date with my mechanic

Pics and excellent step by step in Post 6 by @deccher
how to remove the map light console:

Hope this helps out.

Like Totally Man!
Thank You!

 

Great write-up and photos. This should be of significant help to anyone facing the same problem. Thanks.

 

this sounds similar to my problem...
I just bought an '05 Outback 2.5XT ltd.
My airbag light comes on, more often when its cold, and the passanger seatbelt light illuminates/flashes on the overhead console (where the map lights/sunroof switch are). The chiming noise is awful. It acts as if the seat belts are not being worn.

Did anyone have the seatbelt chiming when the airbag light was on?

 

hey lude,

no chiming here, but i can imagine the pain in that one (would drive me nuts).

while researching my airbag issue, i remember reading something about the airbag connector under the passenger's seat. perhaps it is tied to your issue, even though there is no mention of the chime. here is the post i found under another forum (suby forester). maybe it will help....

Air Bag light ON - Subaru Forester Owners Forum

dan

 

Do any special procedures need to be taken prior to this fix, such as disconnecting the battery?

Thanks!

 

Do any special procedures need to be taken prior to this fix, such as disconnecting the battery?

Did the repair. Just left the key out of the ignition and crossed fingers. Worked fine.

 

Thanks for the pics deccher, very helpful! I have an 07 OBWi, and have been staring at the red airbag light in the dash cluster, and the black hole in the overhead console where the "Off" light should be lit, on and off (most of the time) for about two years now. Finally read this thread and with the help of your pics reflowed a few solder joint on the small circuit board and now that is all good. Thanks again! (now if I can stop the CEL from coming on every 200-300 miles telling me I need new $1400 cats, I'll be good to go)

 

Thanks for the pics deccher, very helpful!

Any time, my friend. Happy to help out!!!

I had to part ways with my Sub'y about 2 weeks ago. I couldn't take the transmission "hunting" (my other major post), and SoA's/dealer's response on it.

I will most likely be back to Subaru, just gonna take a break for a bit.

Take care,
Dan

 

Just purchased a 2008 Legacy, and was not happy when AIRBAG light came on after two days of owning the car. Thankfully I found this thread!!!

Performed the fix this morning, only took 30 minutes! Problem solved!! Can't thank you enough!

 

Such a great help!

Just followed this step by step on my 08 outback, it worked perfectly. Thanks so much for posting the instructions and pictures! 15 min fix and no more airbag light to worry about!

 

So I just bought an OBXT yesterday and the owner said the airbag light came on for the first time on his way to meet me for the payment/title transfer. We are pretty sure this is the issue. I don't have any soldering stuff, what should I buy to do this repair?

Thanks, Doug

 

Thanks. I have this exact issue although I've not fixed yet. At least know I know what I need to do, and it's relatively easy.

To poster above, just get yourself a solder iron from ratshack and a roll of solder. May be helpful to practice on something first but up to you. Just be careful not to apply too much solder.

 

Excellent procedure, saved me $235. ('07 OB)

I just want to take the time to thank you for this procedure, it worked like a champ on my recently purchased 07 Outback and saved me $235 from the dealer or $105 for the replacement console online. Thanks again...

 

Just found this thread and I'm hoping it's the problem on my 08' too!
No ON or OFF light on in the display, and red AIR BAG light on in the dash randomly......usually on.
Will report back.

 

Yes! Wait at least 20 minutes before messing with explosive airbags or seat belt pretensioners. Most systems have electrolytic capacitors that store electricity, in the event that an accident destroys the battery or its connection on intial impact. The stored electricity can still fire the bags and pretensioners in the following rolls and hits that the car takes in the accident. After a while the charge leaks out to nothing and the items are safe to handle.

 

Well, I took the overhead console off and looked at the PCB and it all looks ok and nothing is loose...... I touched/wiggled all of the circuits and LEDs. Put it all back together and the ON/OFF lights come on when I start the car up.........then the OFF light stayed on...... No Abs light either..... WTH!?
I'll see how long it lasts.

 

Worked for me !!!

AND the break light that used to be always on, is now back to normal, are they linked somehow?

Saved 450$ in half an hour, thanks all!

 

It's possible that there is a cracked solder joint that was moved slightly when you touched/wiggled the circuits etc. Sometimes the cracks are not visible to naked eye -- I use 10X magnifier glasses and even then I've been fooled. If the symptoms show up again, I'd re-flow all the solder joints.

 

Yep, gotta be something like that. Good to know where to look if it shows up again!
A 30 minute drive to work with the wife and everything is working fine! :29:

 

Oops! Airbag light on dash came on for a bit on the way home. Picked up my first boy from school and it has been off since. I will probably re-solder that board.

 

:29:Finally got around to doing this fix...........didn't take long to touch up all the solder joints on the little panel.
So far, when I plugged it all back in and turned on the car, no AIRBAG light on the instrument panel and the indicator up by the sunroof controls/map lights says OFF. :29:

 

So in the lower pic, just add solder to the five blobs, or to the five and a register point? Did you suck out the old solder? Trying to get this right. Thank you ?

 

Great!

Based on the previous reports that should do it. But the OP was able to see the faulty soldering, whereas it wasn't apparent in your case. Because it was intermittent, I'd give it some time, enough that it probably would have hiccuped again before the solder was redone, and then call it fixed. Let us know.

 

Yep, time will tell. I will say the passenger light was neither ON or OFF today..... so it was nice to see it OFF after I did this!
Thanks all!

 

Glad I found this article! I have had this issue for quite a while so I took my 09 Outback to the dealer today for him to run the diognosics. Came back with a code 26 saying a switch in this consoule. They wanted $495 to repair so I brought it home thinking there has to be a cheaper fix. I will be pulling this out and checking all solder joints. Thanks to all for the information provided. Dealer told me the air bag may not deploy when the light is lit, if this is the case why was there not a recall on this problem. It seams that quite a few people have had this issue for a number of years now. Talk about Subaru caring for you safety!