Dashboard light

[Fred Boer]

Hello:

I posted about this once before without response - thought I might try
again:

I have a 2002 Legacy Wagon. One of the dashboard display panels (small one
that shows the time and outside temperature) is unlit/burned out. All other
dashboard lights work fine and the dimmer works correctly as well.

My Subaru guy would only suggest that it would take more money than I want
to spend to try to diagnose/fix it.

Has anyone had this happen? Do they use bulbs? Any easy way to get at the
back of the dashboard?

Thanks!
Fred

 

[AS]

Is the LCD off or just the backlight dead?

There is one light bulb just for that

I am not sure you can have access to the back of the instrument cluster
with it in place. If you can't, then you need to take the cluster off,
and to do so, you need to:

disconnect the battery
tilt the steering to its lowest position
Remove the cover around the shifter
Remove the switch panel to the left of the steering wheel
Remove the center panel
Be careful not to scratch the cluster and remove the frame around the
cluster
Remove the 5 screws that hold the instrument panel
Remove the connectors and take the cluster out.

Good luck!

 

[Fred Boer]

Hi!

No, the LCD is working (I can still see the temp and time). Ok. So it *is* a
bulb.. I will take a look at your instructions. Thanks!

Fred

 

[Hachiroku $B%O%A%m%/(B]

Hi!

No, the LCD is working (I can still see the temp and time). Ok. So it *is*
a bulb.. I will take a look at your instructions. Thanks!

Fred

It may be an LED, and have to be soldered to be replaced. Not sure, just a
guess...

 

[Fred Boer]

I've seen some info about accessing clusters that talks about deactivating
the air bag - I wouldn't want to set off the airbag - is this an issue?
Thanks!

 

[AS]

The instructions i wrote are a summary of what is in the service manual.
You will not be near the airbag circuits.

 

[Fred Boer]

Thank you. I will be trying this soon. I appreciate your help!

 

[Fred Boer]

Thank you! I will be trying this soon. I appreciate your help!