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Mystery tool?

4478 Views 20 Replies 14 Participants Last post by  subiesailor
I was just curious if anybody had any idea what this part is used for. In the spare tire well, where the jack is, there is a long metal rod, probably 2' long. It looks like a very long straight allen wrench. There's a foil sticker on it, wrapped around the base. What is it? and what is it used for?
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Electronic parking brake release tool.
Not looking at mine it's your jack handle extension I would say.
N/P. Mystery solved.
Not looking at mine it's your jack handle extension I would say.
That was a stupid answer, I'll look next time:eek:
Also, that tool releases the transmission from PARK when the car is inoperable. No, neither a key nor a screwdriver will work there (wrong size and length). Don't ask me how I know.

Just like in older models (but they could just use a key or screwdriver).
:ttiwwp:



...OK that's a litte harsh but a picture would be nice for all us visual guys:D
oh, thats what it is. does it say in the manual how to use it?
oh, thats what it is. does it say in the manual how to use it?
Yep. IIRC, you must rotate the tool 200 times to fully release the parking brake, LOL. Once you release it manually, the brake may be inoperable and you'll need to pay the dealer service dept. a visit.

EDIT: Starting on page 9-16 of this:

http://techinfo.subaru.com/proxy/69516/pdf/ownerManual/069516_2011_Legacy/MSA5M1104BSTIS_16.pdf
Yep. IIRC, you must rotate the tool 200 times to fully release the parking brake, LOL. Once you release it manually, the brake may be inoperable and you'll need to pay the dealer service dept. a visit.

EDIT: Starting on page 9-16 of this:

http://techinfo.subaru.com/proxy/69516/pdf/ownerManual/069516_2011_Legacy/MSA5M1104BSTIS_16.pdf
You aren't joking about rotating it 200 times, that's crazy! God I hope to never need that tool.
200 but not more than 300.. so you better keep count lol
Hopefully no one ever needs to do that. When mine failed intermittently, it always failed to turn on the parking brake. So I just carried around some quality wheel chocks and never parked on an incline. :rolleyes:
Mine failed...$550 to fix. Gimme back a manual parking brake.:28:
Yes it is in my 2012 manual. If I recall it is under parking brake.
Mine failed...$550 to fix. Gimme back a manual parking brake.:28:
In what way did the one in your car fail?
OMG

I just read sec. 9-16 on the EPB release.

it's official, I hate the EPB. one more reason to keep my cars running.
Mine failed...$550 to fix. Gimme back a manual parking brake.:28:
Ouch.
Yep. IIRC, you must rotate the tool 200 times to fully release the parking brake, LOL. Once you release it manually, the brake may be inoperable and you'll need to pay the dealer service dept. a visit.

EDIT: Starting on page 9-16 of this:

http://techinfo.subaru.com/proxy/69516/pdf/ownerManual/069516_2011_Legacy/MSA5M1104BSTIS_16.pdf
Sounds like the Nuclear Option:gasp:
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