1997 Subaru Outback ABS & Check Engine Lights

Tiny
D ELLISON
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 SUBARU OUTBACK
  • 1.5L
  • 4 CYL
  • AWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 225,000 MILES
Both the Check Engine and the ABS lights are on. I've had it computer analyzed and there are no codes coming up. The mechanic suggested it could be the car's computer? How much would a computer be to replace the faulty one in the car.
Tuesday, February 25th, 2014 AT 7:38 AM

1 Reply

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,728 POSTS
You have two different computers involved and it's really hard to believe neither one has a fault code. Mechanics always seem to jump on the computer when they don't know what else to do. In both cases the computers detected a problem, set a fault code, and turned the light on to tell you. In the case of the Anti-lock Brake Computer, it also turned the system off. It is possible to have no fault code if one of its fuses is blown. There's always a second circuit to run the warning light, so if there are no codes in that one, check for a blown fuse.

Also have the charging system tested for full-load output current and "ripple" voltage. If ripple voltage is high and output current is one third of what it should be, the generator has a defective diode. 30 amps from the common 90 amp generator is not enough to run the entire electrical system under all conditions. The battery will have to make up the difference until it slowly runs down. Some computers, like the Anti-lock Brake Computer, need a lot of current to run their systems, and they can't do that with low system voltage.
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Tuesday, February 25th, 2014 AT 8:20 AM

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