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Noisy Brake Relay in Impreza

Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 8:26 pm
by wadkar
Help!
I had a Subaru Towbar fitted to my 2009 RX Impreza....
The previously quiet car now clicks everytime I use the brakes! Dealer said they all do this and no one had complained...so I complained! Now someone must have run into this before?
It seems the LED lights have something to do with this!

Any ideas on how to fix it?:confused::confused:

Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 8:34 am
by tex
Well if it was just a relay see who makes it and substitute it for something like a bosch one and hope its quieter, If its still noisy (ive never thought that their that bad) try wrap it in some form of sound deadener. The only other things which will make it dead quiet is fit a solid state relay instead although I haven't seen one with standard automotive relay base and they used to have some leakage current, And apart from that you'll have to fit a dedicated trailer brake circuit possibly with its own switch!
Out of interest what tow pack have you got? If it came with electric trailer brakes ignore the first part of my post!

Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 8:27 pm
by wadkar
Subaru Factory fitted tow bar.
I suggested Insulating it and they said they can't due to heat generated by relay????
The service department has gone to HQ to get some answers.
They say it is due to the location that it is heard....in panel under side rear window!
I have suggested an isolating switch that only gets turned on when a trailer is connected.
I will take your suggestion of using another brand...
It appears the LED brake lights require this sort of relay...in the old days you just cut into the wire and taped it up! Progress!!!!!!

Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 8:32 pm
by steptoe
heard something on this sort of thing coz we are playing with diodes not light bulbs they require additional electrics.