2005-2009 Subaru Legacy Outback radio & Heater control fix

[@grantschatzman7077]

Just did this fix on my new (old) '05 Outback 3.0R LLBean, and it worked like a charm. Much simpler fix than some of the other suggestions I've seen. Definitely recommend trying this before anything else.

[@adrianduclos7959]

Thanks so much for sharing. My friend was riding around all summer with the a/c stuck on low speed with over 100 degree weather. We took the unit out, took the face plate off. I sanded the black soot off of the metal plate, but it didn’t work the first time. I sprayed the circuit panel with electrical cleaner and lightly brushed it to clean the soldering points. I then bent the grounding tabs more directly to put more pressure against the plate. Works like a charm now. A/C does everything and the stereo finally works. Great video.

[@siege78]

I also have had the same problem, took the face off like the video shows- cleaned the contacts with 800 grit sandpaper and still nothing. So it was bending the tabs out that helped?

[@adrianduclos7959]

@@siege78 yes I bent the tabs out slightly to create more positive pressure. I also used sandpaper and electrical component cleaner. I may have also put dielectric grease to keep it from corroding further.

[@sarahrodgers6366]

Thanks for the extremely helpful advice. My brother removed the radio, cleaned the contacts, reinstalled it all in 57 minutes. Subaru had quoted me a 2-week process of sending it out for repair ( to the tune of $480+) after charging me $300 just to remove the radio. Great advice. Clear explanation. Saved me a bundle.

[@wrwinkler]

Thanks for the simple fix. Always wondered why I had intermittent issues with the radio/temp controls. Amazing money saver.

[@mattrobinson2218]

Worked like gangbusters for me, thanks a 1,000,000. 2006 outback LL Bean; no lights at all and only the radio worked. I still can't believe it was that easy :)

[@noahpatch1483]

This worked. Took an hour. Thanks a bunch. Cleaned with electrical contact cleaner and q tips.

[@wifidon6617]

Also adding thanks for your video. We followed the tips and got the radio and heater control back on my sons 2006 Outback. Some fine emory cloth and isopropyl and the unit worked as good as new!

[@michaeldelrossi4487]

Thank You, this is a Great Video! I just tore into my 2006 Subaru Legacy Wagon Radio Controls and did this entire video and my system works as good as new again! I started the car and everything on it worked as advertised! There are people out there finding new ways to work on your own car rather than bringing it back to the dealership to get ripped off! Thanks Again!

[@katymcclees3674]

Thank you for posting!!!! I just fixed my car by myself! Y’all this this works! My radio and AC wouldn’t do anything now they work like new!!

[@Doosterify]

Awesome! My son owns a 2006 Outback and the radio and climate control suddenly went heywire. I was figuring there is a common denominator and this video confirms it. I know what I'm doing this weekend, thanks!

[@kennethcherry7048]

Thanks for posting this. Saves me a bunch of money on a new system

[@Fatboy53]

Thanks very much! Mine was locked up at 88 degrees and no control. Did what you shared and got it fixed! Thanks very much great video

[@mrhillmant]

I had same issue, this did not fix it......Took a lot of trouble shooting to figure out I had no constant power to the blue/red wire on the large harness. If the above does not work check that wire and supply it 12V positive. This fixed my issue. I bought the car this way and believe that the last owner tried to un wire the door dinger which must be on the same circuit cause now my dinger works, as well as the clock

[@Creativesucks]

Liked and commenting to increase visibility. I haven't performed this fix yet, but it seems like it may work to fix my unit. At first the stereo LCD was quickly flickering on and off. Then the stereo and hvac screens were flickering. Now both LCD screens are flickering and displaying what can best be described as Matrix code. Finally, a few days ago the driver's side temp can no longer be changed with the knob. I turn the knob and the number stays where it's at. I also read to pull fuse 22 for 5 mins to "reboot" the radio/hvac unit. Gonna try that first and then do this if plan A is ineffectual.

[@Mike_44]

My '05 Subaru Outback XT climate control unit stopped functioning, it's totally dead. I'll try this see if it turns on again. Thank you.

[@bradysmith8372]

Thank you so much, this let me get to school one morning because I couldn’t see due to frost.

[@kylebielanos9211]

Holy shit my guy. You just saved me like 200+ dollars! Only awnser ive found on the internet!

[@justindiggins4749]

You are a hero! Saved me with this one!

[@jeremyhanna3938]

Thank you ! I just used this fix my 06 outback climate controls .

[@TheGaming_Prince]

Very helpful, got it fixed in an hour👌

[@katinajonas8716]

how do i take the faceplate off the stero? i have it out of the car and i'm too scaed to pry it off... are there screws im missing?

[@huasgler]

Thanks

[@ulysses26]

My 2008 Outback has audio problems mostly. It will work okay and then suddenly switch from AUX to FM or vice versa, or the volume will just drop to zero, or the display will disappear but the sound will be fine. Sometimes the display on the climate control will cut out too but the climate system always works. Same solution or maybe something else?

[@illeskate]

Thanks for posting, Im gonna give this a go! what do you recommend using for cleaning the contact points?

[@quintenelijah6586]

Hey what did u end up using?

[@michaeldelrossi4487]

I just used a damp cloth and then dried it, I bent the grounding clips a little to give it more of a spring tension then I put everything back together and it seems to be working as advertised!

[@bekamanagadze9446]

Radio works fine,but AC and and heater display is off :( all fuses are ok,I changed all radio unit but still not working...

[@danielchampion2982]

My controls work as far as fan speed, but my temperature controls get stuck for months on in, and my mode controls will not change out of the defrost option. I'm gonna try this out and see if that helps

[@darrylalston3446]

Thanks, my radio works,and my heat is still stuck without lights?

[@luontokutsuu]

2007 Legacy Outback. Same symptoms, heater display dead, functions seems to work, radio display and functions ok, but no button backlights. I removed the unit and the front plate. It does not look like the on in the video. Any ideas...?

[@Daltonegra]

Hey. Have the same problem. How did you fix it?

[@luontokutsuu]

@@Daltonegra I bought a new JDM heater control unit and a new 2DIN radio front plate. Seems that the original ones are almost impossible to fix...

[@michaeldelrossi4487]

The Faceplate has 6 tiny screws remove the screws and clean the 3 Ground Straps that touch the radio chassis, you will see Black Marks or a Carbon Build Up. Remove the Carbon and Replace the Faceplate and everything should work as advertised!

[@raunakpuranik]

I have a 2008 outback with the same problem. Can this issue be fixed by changing the fuse instead or will I have to remove the panel?

[@alvaroblacidoramirez8314]

My friend only works the red lights. The radio an AC dont works

[@T-HobbiesG45]

What if radio powers on but no sound

[@quintenelijah6586]

What should I use to clean it off?

[@577buttfan]

light sand paper and alcohol

[@javiermartinez8445]

hello, I have the problem that I stop walking the air conditioner display. It does the functions, but the diplay does not work. Could it be that it does not make ground contact? Thank you

[@this1guymike760]

Fuse?

[@chalao1971]

Hi did you worked it out?, I bought a used outback 2008 year, and has this problem, no AC display but it works. Did you fix it?

[@horaciosoria9526]

@@chalao1971 @javiermartinez8445 I have the same problem, AC works but not the display. Can you fixed it?

[@chalao1971]

@@horaciosoria9526 i finally bought a used radio that came with the AC display

[@Chunkavige]

Would this cause your battery to drain?

[@halldorra]

My radio does work,but the heater controls/screen died