2015 Outback - Solid Check Engine, Blinking Cruise and X-Mode Lights

120

Asked by DCRowmik Feb 24, 2020 at 08:09 PM about the 2015 Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

What is the car telling me? 2015 Outback 2.5i Premium.
These lights came on when I started the car and after
about two seconds of driving it:

- solid check engine light, not blinking
- flashing cruise control light
- flashing X-Mode light
- Cannot activate cruise control
- Cannot activate X-Mode
- OBD error code P05A0

What might the problem be? How would I fix it? Thanks in
advance for your suggestions.

9 Answers

48,660

Cool. Very rare problem. Try clearing the code and see if it recurs after you check for that skunk stuck in the grill.

7 people found this helpful.
120

Hmm... Doesn't smell like a skunk . Anyway, I do see a rock stuck in the lower right corner and the shutters are definitely trying to move. I'll keep trying to clear the rock (it's wedged in pretty tight).

2 people found this helpful.
48,660

Ta dah! Maybe poke it out from the rear? At least you needn't worry about a rabies shot....

1 people found this helpful.
120

Well...I couldn't get to it from behind, above or below. So I shoved a piece of wire through the partially open slat (located in blue) and flicked the rock to the left (the red line) where it went behind the metal lip located to the rear of the active grill louvers now allowing them to open fully. A partial victory until I can figure a way to clear all the rocks and debris that may be hiding behind there. Question: will the error code clear itself and the CEL go off by itself without having to clear it with an OBD reader (which I don't have)? If not, is there a way to clear the error code manually without disconnecting the battery - for example, some series of turning the ignition key on and off while holding some button down?

7 people found this helpful.
48,660

The code MAY self-clear by the 3rd driving sequence. If not, disconnect battery awhile and restart. If you've still a CEL you'll have to borrow a scanner to clear it. No big deal. Not a bad idea to buy the baby ACTRON $35 scanner, eh?

1 people found this helpful.
48,660

Only occasionally with Subies, Ed, as codes get locked into "permanent" memory and must be cleared. Subaru mechanics all know this.

120

Everything back to normal. The CEL went off by itself and cruise control and X-Mode are now working again. I guess in my next romp in the desert I'll have to forgo scooping up sand and rocks from the road. Thanks for your help! By the way - Ed, are you from Orange County?

3 people found this helpful.
40

I got this code and I cleared any debri from the front lower grill in picture above. I went to Oreilly's Auto parts to check code and it was the same as listed above P05A0. I cleared it and my wife drove it and the lights came back. Anything else I can check? no skunks were harmed.

4 people found this helpful.

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