And.. 42k miles.. so just out of Bumper to Bumper warranty

 

what else did you do with the bumper off?

 

Simply replacing the horns with more pleasant sounding ones...

 

impact sensors, ambient air temp sensor
If your OBD II scanner isn't pulling any codes when the lights are lit up, then it's another module doing it. You'd want to scan the ECM while it's lit up and running to see if there's a code that will lead you in the right direction.

2 key cycles is sometimes either of the above mentioned before the warnings pop on.

You would need to find someone with a Snap On or Autel scan tool that communicates with all the modules on the car. Or, retrace your steps as to what was unplugged or pulled on when you took the bumper off.

 

The only thing I unplugged was the fog lights and horns.. I don't see anything else..

 

add active grille shutter to the list

Find a scan tool to communicate with the car's other modules.

 

Active Grille for the win..

The new horn wires were interfering with the closing of the shutters. Once that was cleaned up.. no more errors.

It is CRAZY that these cars light up that much with a system like that failing.. they really must want you to go in for service..

Thank you for your help.

 

That grille shutter controls air flow across the condenser and radiator. If it wasn't for the dash lighting up, you may have risked overheating the engine and the AC wouldn't work very well (no air across condenser). The lights are to get your attention that something is wrong, so it's a good thing the car does that.

 

I guess a CEL isn't a strong enough warning that something is amiss. Manufacturer figues EyeSight with a big slash through it will get your attention. The problem with this - while it will hopefully drive the proper behavior (something important needs fixing), it is misleading and fails to support a good mental model to help customer assess causality or importance.

Some think that's just fine for customers. I don't agree with that, but whatever.

Is this described in the manual?

 

I haven't read through the Subaru novel yet. They've been doing it for a while. Cruise control is disabled, VDC is disabled and the lights come on solid or flash to get your attention. Too many times people disregard the MIL because they think, "It's just a sensor". So, to get you to pay attention and get it checked, things you like while driving are disabled.

If people would pay attention to their cars and stop suing the manufacturers for their own negligence, we wouldn't have these things operating in such manner.

 

When the interface is idiots lights, you can't expect much, I agree. But in this case, the system knew the grill shutter was inhibited from proper movement.

So much for "intelligent systems". Tossing a code is great for those with the proper equipment to go sleuthing about. Poor general consumer.

Meanwhile there's the center iSet Display, and that really big Infotainment system in the 2020. Why not provide a really nice diagnostic display?

Not all drivers are idiots.