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I made up a short harness with another waterproof 3 pin connector (e.g. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3816495426...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT ) then sealed over the molex with silicone grease and several layers of adhesive heatshrink
The picture below is before the outer waterproofing went on.
Looking at the sensor from the 'arm' side the pins are (left-Right) Gnd output 5V
If you want to do away with the sensor completely, the output with a normally laden car is appx 2.6V. I will do this if the damned thing fails again. This time I bought an Ebay sensor http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1620994773...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT . I needed it to figure out the output voltage with the car on the floor. This was sub £100 - still too dear but better then £270...
That would mean two 1Kohm resistors - one from +5v to output, the other from output to ground (i.e. one from Greenwhite to yellowbrown and another from yellowbrown to yellowred) in place of the sensor.
I'll post more pics when it is on the car- the other 3-pin waterproof connectors aren't here yet.
Last edited by peterhum; 25 June 2016 at 12:56 PM.
Reason: Adding detail
Many thanks for posting the info and pics. I have previously had to replace a sensor on my Hawkeye - and source a replacement plug from a used loom. Good news that there is a standard Molex connector that will fit
Right, finally getting round to sorting this, as previously posted light comes on then was going off. Now it just stays on, is the general opinion to replace the sensor first then move on to other parts if this does not work?
BTW whilst doing something else I put freeing oil on the mechanism t make sure it wasnt sticking and it hasn't helped.
Right, finally getting round to sorting this, as previously posted light comes on then was going off. Now it just stays on, is the general opinion to replace the sensor first then move on to other parts if this does not work?
BTW whilst doing something else I put freeing oil on the mechanism t make sure it wasnt sticking and it hasn't helped.
You know there are two sensors right? You checked the rear one??
OK sit rep. After parking in a rather bumpy field last week end the light went out so I thought everything was cool. Well it was until I went off to Rallyday at 06:00 in the morning and found, as some on here have already described lights that hit the floor about two feet in front of the car.
Any way yesterday I did the reinitialise steps as stated and took it for a drive when it got dark. It seems to have worked. However I am concerned that I may still get water in and have the whole issue again. That said I am in two minds to pull them apart in case I damage the connections.
Any suggestions? I am thinking tape the outside maybe to seal the joins?
OK sit rep. After parking in a rather bumpy field last week end the light went out so I thought everything was cool. Well it was until I went off to Rallyday at 06:00 in the morning and found, as some on here have already described lights that hit the floor about two feet in front of the car.
Any way yesterday I did the reinitialise steps as stated and took it for a drive when it got dark. It seems to have worked. However I am concerned that I may still get water in and have the whole issue again. That said I am in two minds to pull them apart in case I damage the connections.
Any suggestions? I am thinking tape the outside maybe to seal the joins?
Self-amalgamating electrical tape (from CPC, RS components, or other specialist suppliers), or vaseline.
I wanted to keep the thread updated with further progress on the problem. Late last year I got the car up to inspect the rear sensor after the suggestion of using tape to seal the sensor. This is what I found....
The rubber boots had completely perished and the ball joints had at some point seized (i think the trip round the field freed it up!)
I also noticed that the arm was bent, which you can just make out in the below picture. What puzzled me more, and would like feedback from you guys is the angle at which the bar connecting the ball joints is seems excessive to me??
Once i find a replacement (not from Subaru) its coming off, just wondered if anyone else had theres at that kind of angle?
That looks like it's been off before and someone has put the arm the wrong way round....
When I had problems with the warning lamp come on it was because the pin had corroded and snapped on the front sensor (a common issue).
The sensor appears to be common for lots of Subaru models, the bracket and arm are different shapes/length depending on the model and year, so I bought one for a forester off ebay (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Genuin...8AAOSw44BYDpzb) and removed the sensor. Best to use an impact driver to shock the nut off mind you.
Then if you're careful you can remove the arm and other parts and fit the new sensor. It helps also to open the connector (bit of PITA mind you!) and clean the connections out, or you can use a pin or needle, then coat the connector liberally in Vaseline to help keep the dust and water out. The issue I think is that the water runs down the harness into the connector, pools, and corrodes the pins.
I think you are right about it being put in incorrectly as the extreme angle could have caused the rubber boots to perish much quicker. I say this as the boots on the front are almost like new, it may have been replaced at some point however.
Ordered a Hawk replacement which should be here next week fingers crossed, and hopefully i can get this sorted once and for all.
I've got the same issue on a 2009 Outback (I still have the Type UK - just can't fit 2 kids and a Swiss Shepherd in it).
One sensor, the rear I believe, was replaced by the seller but the light has started coming on intermittently again.
Can anyone please tell me if a 2009 Impreza sensor would fit a 2009 Outback? They apparently fit the Forester, and are much more abundant on sites like eBay, but I guess from what Bazil_SW just said, the bracket may be the wrong size.
Some of the European sellers on Ebay if you contact them they will be able to tell you. I found them very helpful, however in the end none had any for a hawk so bought one from import car parts.
Just one other thing to think about. I was told that the ECU is reporting a steering angle sensor issue, and this is part of the same system as the headlight sensors - so if the ecu senses an issue with that, the headlight warning light will come on even though it's not a headlight issue. Anyone know anything about that?
Just one other thing to think about. I was told that the ECU is reporting a steering angle sensor issue, and this is part of the same system as the headlight sensors - so if the ecu senses an issue with that, the headlight warning light will come on even though it's not a headlight issue. Anyone know anything about that?
Do any of you know if the sensors are compatible across the range? For example if a 2009 Legacy sensor will fit the 2007 Hawk? They look identical and have the same fitment, I know the brackets will probably be different
Do any of you know if the sensors are compatible across the range? For example if a 2009 Legacy sensor will fit the 2007 Hawk? They look identical and have the same fitment, I know the brackets will probably be different
I would be 99.99% sure the sensors themselves are the same just the brackets and arms that change model to model and MY to MY.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, just use an impact tool to get the arm and sensor off!
Last edited by Bazil_SW; 30 April 2017 at 06:03 PM.
Cheers for that I have gone and bought one for £25 from Lithuania lol! Lets see what I get when it arrives.
I was lucky taking mine off, a socket set and a little penetrating fluid and I was able to take the whole assembly out.
The snapped pin I had in my case was lodged in the female plug, so I cut the plug from the harness, removed the white guide from the plug and was able with a little persuasion pull the broken pin through the gap for the guide.
I'll reconnect and solder the plug back on once the sensor arrives.
As an experiment I split the sensor to check out the insides, they don't really survive the split lol!
Well actually I have quite literally just been told there is.
Behind the glove box is a small silver ECU if this is disconnected it stops the light on the dash coming on, then its a case of manually adjusting the headlights with the screw in the rear of the lights.
This will pass an MOT apparently!
Well as promised,
Here is my update.
The sensor arrived, and for £25 it was what is was, just a used sensor with part of a bracket, all 3 pins were intact.
The connector was shot due to the corrosion, I cut it off and made a custom connection, now either I'm crap at soldering or the the pins on the sensor needed cleaning, as the light still came on, on the dash.
However, I had enough of sitting outside my house with the car up in the air so pulled the ECU out from behind the glove box. Light on dash went off as expected.
Headlights remained level, and as a result MOT pass!! no questions asked.
I suppose only unless your someone who needs everything to be present and correct, this appears to be a solution to the issues, saving over a few hundred in the process
Well as promised,
Here is my update.
The sensor arrived, and for £25 it was what is was, just a used sensor with part of a bracket, all 3 pins were intact.
The connector was shot due to the corrosion, I cut it off and made a custom connection, now either I'm crap at soldering or the the pins on the sensor needed cleaning, as the light still came on, on the dash.
However, I had enough of sitting outside my house with the car up in the air so pulled the ECU out from behind the glove box. Light on dash went off as expected.
Headlights remained level, and as a result MOT pass!! no questions asked.
I suppose only unless your someone who needs everything to be present and correct, this appears to be a solution to the issues, saving over a few hundred in the process
25 June 2016, 12:50 PM
I have gone and bought one for £25 from Lithuania lol! Lets see what I get when it arrives.
