“ACC” in the clock display means there is a problem in the Accessory power source – in other words, the 12 volts that is routed from the battery through the ignition switch ACC contacts.

When the ignition switch is in the ACC position, it provides power to a number of accessories as well as some control modules. In addition to the clock, there's the rear wiper, rear washer, nav system, front wiper and washer. Each of these has a separate fuse. If they all work normally, but in ACC position the clock and radio do not display, then fuse #24 (15 Amp) is the one to look at first. It's located in the fuse box under the dash on the driver's side. It could be loose in its clips, or defective. Or the connector on the clock/info display module could be loose.

Also, where did you tie in for power for the Ipod? is it possible that something was affected when you worked on it, but is only showing up now?

P.S. The fact that everything seems to work later, but not when first started in the morning (presumably it's getting cooler at night now in your area) might mean that whatever is causing the problem is temperature sensitive.

 

“ACC” in the clock display means there is a problem in the Accessory power source – in other words, the 12 volts that is routed from the battery through the ignition switch ACC contacts.

When the ignition switch is in the ACC position, it provides power to a number of accessories as well as some control modules. In addition to the clock, there's the rear wiper, rear washer, nav system, front wiper and washer. Each of these has a separate fuse. If they all work normally, but in ACC position the clock and radio do not display, then fuse #24 (15 Amp) is the one to look at first. It's located in the fuse box under the dash on the driver's side. It could be loose in its clips, or defective. Or the connector on the clock/info display module could be loose.

Also, where did you tie in for power for the Ipod? is it possible that something was affected when you worked on it, but is only showing up now?

P.S. The fact that everything seems to work later, but not when first started in the morning (presumably it's getting cooler at night now in your area) might mean that whatever is causing the problem is temperature sensitive.

I have a 2005 subaru outback xt 2.5 turbo without TPMS. ( No tpms indicator in dash). Car runs and drives great but when vehicle is shut off and keys removed it displays acc error or " acc & err " in clock display, along with passenger air bag lights. Also my subaru would keep beeping and unlocking when off.. killing battery. I did some research and found I have an unused plug under driver seat, ( un used bc I don't have tpms)( front left corner under driver seat under rug, plug was all green and corroded- obviously got wet over the years.
I began to cut the wires one by one with vehicle off to remove the plug about 2 inches behind the plug. As I cut wires err went away and passenger air bag light that was lit also went away.

All problems fixed, no more err, acc or passenger air bag light, no more auto lock or unlock, no more dead battery.
I put a red shrink wrap connector on the end of each wire individually then melted shrink wrap then tapped together with black tape. Problems fixed

2005 subaru outback 2.5 turbo (no tpms indicator equiped )
Problems:
Acc and Err or acc error displays in clock when vehicle off.

Passenger airbag light on next to clock when vehicle off

Car beeps and marker lights flash - presumably locks and unlocks - when vehicle is off

Battery dies

Solution:
Found a white rectangle unused plug under driver seat.

Plug Location: left front corner of seat under carpet, under seat

I removed 4 seat bolts, tipped seat back
I sliced about 3-4 inches from the left most "heat duct hole" in carpet, cutting left towards door.

Found the white unused plug all corroded ( pictures attached )

As I cut each wire 2 inches behind plug and put shrink wrap on each wire individually! DO NOT CUT MORE THEN 1 WIRE AT A TIME. one by one the lights went away!

Problem solved

 

Thanks for the info!
I'll check out the fuses for loose connections.

I soldered a connection onto the cigarette lighter in the center console for juice to the ipod.

I know that the problem appearing in the morning may be caused by temperature. It hasn't been abnormally cold (probably 35 - 40 F) in the past few days, but I'll watch that too.

Cheers!
:7:

 

ACC on display error - please help

I have a similar but different issue.. Everything works ok and car runs fine...what does not work is the E/T: _ _ _ (trip timer in hours and minutes)


the car gives a constant "ERR" on the clock display when there is no key in the ignition and the door is closed (when I would first approach the car for example). When you open the door it starts flashing "ACC" constantly.


this issue is killing the battery in a few days time if it sits. I have only pulled and checked a few fuses with no luck. The front driver side of the car went into some deep water which is the cause of the problem.. Speedometer was screwed for the first few days after the water damage but now works fine again..

Any help or suggestions would be grand. Car is an 05 Legacy GT

Thanks!:29:

 

I have a similar but different issue.. Everything works ok and car runs fine...what does not work is the E/T: _ _ _ (trip timer in hours and minutes)


the car gives a constant "ERR" on the clock display when there is no key in the ignition and the door is closed (when I would first approach the car for example). When you open the door it starts flashing "ACC" constantly.


this issue is killing the battery in a few days time if it sits. I have only pulled and checked a few fuses with no luck. The front driver side of the car went into some deep water which is the cause of the problem.. Speedometer was screwed for the first few days after the water damage but now works fine again..

Any help or suggestions would be grand. Car is an 05 Legacy GT

Thanks!:29:

From the FSM, Mechanism and Function section:

2. Clock Unit
A: GENERAL
The clock unit display can be switched to indicate outside air temperature, fuel efficiency, remaining travel distance or continuous driving time, by operating a button. . . . . . This clock unit is provided with a function to automatically display a failure; if the accessory power circuit is open it displays “Acc”, and if the ignition power circuit is open it displays “ign”.If an abnormality is detected in the communication between the combination meter and clock unit or in the received data, “Err” is displayed. If no data can be received, "Err” will always be displayed even when the indication is switched with the DISP button, but when only a specific data is not received, “Err” will be displayed only when the indication is switched to display that data. For example, if outside temperature data is not received “Err” will be displayed only when the thermometer feature is selected, and other indications such as the fuel efficiency meter will be displayed normally.

How deep was the water? Did it get inside the car? Given the symptoms, there could well be connectors and wiring in the engine compartment or cabin that were/are water-logged and resulting water-generated ground paths are depleting the battery, as well as cutting power to various functions.

 

Guessing you have the modification to the Aux JACK grounding out some place dumping power and causing the ACC to light up given its seeing an odd power spike etc. A modification like this can work for several years then start having issues due to getting knocked loose or even a wire chaffing through etc.

 

I'll try pulling off some panels and trim and check as much wiring as I can

Thanks for your post

 

What solved the problem? My 07 LLBean Outback today just started similar problem. Clock, audio, and heater displays are blank. The heater does work, radio does not. Also, key fobs stopped working, warning beep inop with key in ignition and door open.

 

Could well be a fuse.

 

I have checked all fuses, all are good, have replaced no. 24 with new and to no avail. Also, interior courtesy lights do not function. I am thinking maybe a wire connector. The clock/trip computer display shows none of the above mentioned codes--it is completely blank. I have also tried to eject some cd's from audio unit and get no response.

 

That's strange. How did you check the fuses? Visually, or with a continuity meter?

Fuse # 8, 20 Amps, in the main fuse box (engine compartment) appears to be common to the audio, keyless entry, and interior lights. And because your LLB probably has the premium audio and automatic HVAC, the two functions share power, so fuse # 8 could also be common to the HVAC display. That being the case, if you're certain it's not blown, then check for voltage at both sides of that fuse when it's plugged in. There should be 12 V at both ends at all times. If there isn't then the problem is upstream -- in the fuse box area. If there is, then it's downstream, in the wiring going to the individual systems. However, I tend to doubt that.

Note that sometimes the fuse number and its actual position in the circuit is different, but that there's one fuse common to these functions is not likely an error. Find the fuse and the problem should be resolvable.

 

Bingo! That was it. I never looked at #8 because my manual says it's for "back up light"

I wonder why it blew? Thanks a million!

 

That happens to many here -- look at the title list of the fuses and discount them because the title doesn't seem to relate to the area of the problem. It's not uncommon in Subarus. A lot of fuses relate to multiple circuits and there isn't place to indicate them all.

Any number of reasons for it blowing. Because it's connected in part to the lighting system, that's a good possibility. Bad bulbs, shorting socket, and in the 2005-9, wires fraying in the flexible rubber boots between the rear hatch and the car body.

Keep an eye on it -- if it blows again then time to start searching for a cause.

 

wires fraying in the flexible rubber boots between the rear hatch and the car body.

This...

How is your radio reception? Do you back up lights work?

 

It could be worse, it could be flashing "SEC"

 

I have read through the posts in this thread. My problem started yesterday midday after driving some, perhaps an hour, stop and go. Radio was dead (aftermarket installed by me a couple years ago with good results) seat heaters not working, clock dead as well as other displays in that screen. ACC blinking. All accessory lights work, car runs fine. Our heater has failed to provide heat for a few months but cable is connected to rotary dial control and fan control operates the fan fine. I checked fuses for audio, seat heater, nos. 6, 11, and 24, all good. Decided to look into it more after my wife drive off so i started the car, looked in and the radio and clock are on. Mystery still unsolved. When she gets back i will look at no. 8 though the systems appear to be working again. Could 8 have anything to do with the heater? i will also check the booted wires on the hatch, as it is a 2009. Thanks to the Forum for great help. The official Subaru website was no help. Didn't even get close to the problem, didn't seem to recognize it.

 

@Mariposawrick

Yes, as it has in other cases, fuse #8 (Backup) can impact various functions, so certainly worth checking.

Our heater has failed to provide heat for a few months but cable is connected to rotary dial control and fan control operates the fan fine.

I presume from your reference to the cable attached to the heater temperature control that your car has the manual heater/AC system. Are you sure the other end of the cable is connected and is moving the vane inside the heater box? Perhaps it's not functioning. (Was the car subject to the front passenger airbag recall, and if so, was it done? It requires a lot of dash disassembly, including the heater controls.)

The official Subaru website was no help. Didn't even get close to the problem, didn't seem to recognize it.

What site is that? I'm not aware of any official Subaru website that deals with technical problems on-line.

 

Hello! Just recently bought my first Subaru (-07 OB) with this kind of problem. The radio doesn't turn on and the climate control display is out of function but the AC and the fans are running as normal. I took the hole radio/acc unit out. Detached the connectors and sprayed some electronics spray in every connector, also detached the cuircut boards and checked for corrosion but it looked fine. Put everything together and put the unit back in to the car. Now the radio turns on, so a success there! So I would recommend to spray the connectors if you have the same kind of problem. BUT the acc display is still dark. I dont have any more ideas to get it to light up.Any suggestions someone?
Also i have checked all fuses and they are fine.

 

These units are problematic in various ways. I gave up on trying to fix my CD player and found a refurbished unit online. $180.00 USD. It was an exact match unit, even to the year model. If you decide to replace it over continued perusal with a magnifying glass, make sure it is from an identical year and the unit's part number matches. In the USDM market there is a wiring change between 07 and 08 even though the units are similar looking.

If you want to repair the one you have, you are looking for cracked soldering or burned resistor on the AC board.

 

Do you have any tips on where to find these online? Been searching a bit with no good results. I live in Sweden, europe.
Thanks for the tip on the board. Guess i have to talk to some car radio shop or someone who know a thing or two about circuit boards then..

 

Just search eBay for "2007 Outback Legacy stereo auto AC" and add the number that is printed on the face right above the CD slot. It'll be P201UH or similar. I don't recall exactly what the other model # is.

The cars with auto AC do not have any aftermarket applications since the head unit and AC is combined. You'll have to make sure on the model and year. Since you're in EU then you may get by with a 2007 or 2008 unit without wiring issues.

 

My 2005 Legacy Wagon intermittently has this problem as well. "ACC" starts flashing and the radio is dead. I suspect it has something to do with the load on the cigarette lighter circuit. Often the problem will be triggered when I have two USB (telephone charger) cords plugged into the cigarette lighter power adapter. Unplugging the power adapter and turning the engine OFF then ON cures the problem. Many times I can reconnect the power adapter and everything will work fine for a few weeks before once again triggering a failure.

 

Minus flashing ACC I could not find the white plug underneath the seat I took out the panels weather wiring harness meets how long the door frame could not find the white plug. Also my outback is 2005 limited with electric seats. The lights are staying on so I've unplugged the battery I will hook to tackle this in the next few days any thoughts on where this white plug could be