Electrical
Door lock actuators, window and lock switches, and cold solder joints
Small electrical items on the 2005 car fail in predictable ways: the Mabuchi motors in the door lock actuators wear their brushes, the driver's window switch pack dies, and cracked solder joints make the climate control, overhead console or seat heaters drop out. 2005 was also the first year of the Body Integrated Unit, which can block lock commands.
Frequency basis: Individual 2005 XT reports: a failed door lock actuator (motor brushes), window and lock switch failures and heated-seat faults in owner logs, and the known-issues thread naming bad lead-free solder joints in the overhead console, stereo and climate control. NHTSA's electrical category holds 28 complaints, including unresponsive climate controls.
Symptoms
- A door takes two or three tries to lock or unlock, then stops (actuator brushes)
- Several windows or locks fail at once (switch pack, a 30 A fuse, or the door-hinge wiring)
- Climate control display blank or buttons unresponsive; heated seat dead; overhead console lights intermittent (solder joints)
- Windows need a reset after a battery disconnect; security system lockout after a fully dead battery
Causes found
- Worn brushes in the actuator motor (Mabuchi FC280PT-20150); a $5 replacement motor fixed one
- Failed driver's window/lock switch module; broken wires at the door hinge
- Lead-free solder joints cracking in the climate control head, overhead console and seat-heater circuits
- Body Integrated Unit (first used in 2005) not sending the lock signal; blown fuse
Check in this order
- Fuses first, then whether the actuator gets voltage when the switch or fob is pressed
- Wiggle the door-hinge harness with the switch held; intermittent operation points at the wiring
- For climate or console faults, reflow the board's solder joints before replacing the unit
What fixed it
- New actuator (61100AG00A right / 61100AG01A left) or a replacement FC-280 motor for about $5.50
- New switch module or a window reset procedure after a battery disconnect
- Resoldering the climate control or console board restored operation for several owners
- Hatch lock failures are usually the hatch wiring harness, not the actuator
References on this site
OEM parts
- 61100AG00AActuator assembly, door lock right
- 61100AG01AActuator assembly, door lock left
- 72343AG01AHeater control unit (climate control head)
Parts diagrams
Factory manual chapters
Sources
Forum threads are owner reports, not factory findings. Counts are from the threads and complaint records read for this page; read the sources before buying parts.
- 1.2005 XT Limited Wagon Power door lock actuator replacement
subaruoutback.org · Forum thread · 2016, 2005 XT wagon
- 2.Rear door power lock failed and fixed
subaruoutback.org · Forum thread · Mabuchi FC280 motor brushes
- 3.Known Issues with 2005 Outback XT Limited???
subaruoutback.org · Forum thread · lead-free solder joints in console, stereo, climate control, seat heater
- 4.2005-2014 Subaru Legacy & Outback Window Switch Failure
go-parts.com · Article · vendor guide; window reset after battery disconnect
- 5.NHTSA complaints, 2005 Subaru Outback
nhtsa.gov · NHTSA · 28 electrical complaints; unresponsive climate controls, parasitic drain