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2010 Outback Rear Running Lights Not Working

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6.2K views 7 replies 3 participants last post by  PilotXT  
#1 ·
I have a 2010 Outback. Currently the rear running lights will not work. The bulb is the single filament bulb 7440. the brake lights DO work, small marker lights, turn signals all work. All of the running lights work in the front as well. Anyone else encounter this problem, and if so does anyone have a fix for it.


Thanks
Rich
 
#2 ·
At first i thought it was the wrong bulb that was put in, as i was reading some other posts about repair shops putting in the wrong bulb on purpose to make it an add on at the next repair/oil change. but i saw that the bulb required is a 7440 which is a single filament. the only thing i noticed is that the socket itself has locations for what looks like a 7443 bulb which is a dual filament bulb. (brake/running light). Is it possible that the 2010 model still would use the dual filament bulb.
 
#3 ·
Rear "running light" lighting includes four tail lights, one each in the outer fender combination light assemblies, and two in the rear hatch. There's also the license plate illumination lights (2).

As there's several different "running lights", are none working, and if not, which work and which don't?

Does the bulb socket you're looking at have two, or more, wires going into it?
 
#6 ·
The Owners Manual (pages 12-10 to 12-12) shows three lights in that outer fender assembly, from top to bottom: tail ("tail and rear side marker"), brake, and turn.

Two wires indicates it uses a single filament bulb. When looking into the socket end that the bulb goes into, there should be only two contacts inside.

Is that the only bulb of all the rear running lights not working, or is the upper bulb (tail light) on the other side also not working?

If that's the only one, then are you sure the bulb itself is good? Also, the bulb has only small fine wires for its contacts; make sure they're in position and touching the corresponding contacts in the socket. Sometimes either could be bent out of place.

Beyond that, the two wires from the socket go into a relatively short harness that ends at a four terminal connector. There could be a problem in the wires between the socket and the connector, or even beyond, but that's unusual.
 
#7 · (Edited)
Actually, now that I focus on the (photo) layout more closely, the middle bulb, the one you say only the brake light is working, is probably only that - the brake light. So, if the upper bulb works (that's the rear tail/running light), the middle works when the brake pedal is pressed, and the lower works when the turn signals are used, then it would appear to be normal. Unless, on the other side it's different.
 
#8 ·
The Gen4 - like my 2011 that I have - only uses a 7440. It will not operate as a "tail" light - that's what the W5W/194's are for all around the gate. The brake light only illuminates when you're braking.

The Gen3 (and the comparable Legacy) had the 7443 "combo" light.

Working as intended.