Inst. panel lights - 1999 OB - solution

[Uncle Ben]

Some time ago I asked on this board for help with instrument panel
lights going out after a jump start.

My @#&* dealer would charge me $80 just for a diagnosis.

I was afraid I'd have to replace bulbs, which is a big deal involving
removing the instrument panel. But maybe it was only a burned out
fuse. I asked if anyone knew which fuse to examine. (It was very cold
out and my fingers got frostbite trying to find the bad fuse.)

I got no answer. There was only one fuse in the fuse box in the cabin
that was labelled with anything remotely relevant: ILLUMINI , which is
not an English word I believe but suggests a lighting relationship. It
being a bit warmer one day, I checked that fuse and found it OK. That
was a few weeks ago.

So for two weeks I used a headlamp for night driving just so I could
see the instruments.

Today I pulled that fuse again, for no good reason. But when I put
the fuse back in its socket, the instrument lights came on! I guess
there was dirt on the contacts and the two cycles of examination wiped
off the dirt.

Anyway, somebody somewhere might like to know about this.

Ben

 

[Todd H.]

Some time ago I asked on this board for help with instrument panel
lights going out after a jump start.

My @#&* dealer would charge me $80 just for a diagnosis.

I was afraid I'd have to replace bulbs, which is a big deal involving
removing the instrument panel. But maybe it was only a burned out
fuse. I asked if anyone knew which fuse to examine. (It was very cold
out and my fingers got frostbite trying to find the bad fuse.)

I got no answer. There was only one fuse in the fuse box in the cabin
that was labelled with anything remotely relevant: ILLUMINI , which is
not an English word I believe but suggests a lighting relationship. It
being a bit warmer one day, I checked that fuse and found it OK. That
was a few weeks ago.

So for two weeks I used a headlamp for night driving just so I could
see the instruments.

Today I pulled that fuse again, for no good reason. But when I put
the fuse back in its socket, the instrument lights came on! I guess
there was dirt on the contacts and the two cycles of examination wiped
off the dirt.

Anyway, somebody somewhere might like to know about this.

Wow. That's bizarre. LOL. I guess oxidation took its toll?

Thanks for posting this bit of info--very interesting!

 

[Dano58]

Some time ago I asked on this board for help with instrument panel
lights going out after a jump start.

My @#&* dealer would charge me $80 just for a diagnosis.

I was afraid I'd have to replace bulbs, which is a big deal involving
removing the instrument panel. But maybe it was only a burned out
fuse. I asked if anyone knew which fuse to examine. (It was very cold
out and my fingers got frostbite trying to find the bad fuse.)

I got no answer. There was only one fuse in the fuse box in the cabin
that was labelled with anything remotely relevant: ILLUMINI , which is
not an English word I believe but suggests a lighting relationship. It
being a bit warmer one day, I checked that fuse and found it OK. That
was a few weeks ago.

So for two weeks I used a headlamp for night driving just so I could
see the instruments.

Today I pulled that fuse again, for no good reason. But when I put
the fuse back in its socket, the instrument lights came on! I guess
there was dirt on the contacts and the two cycles of examination wiped
off the dirt.

Anyway, somebody somewhere might like to know about this.

Ben

You're probably lucky that no one replied, as most of the replies
would have been variations on the theme of 'read the manual', with
some expletives inserted. Info like that can be found there.

Dan D
'99 Impreza 2.5 RS (son's)
Central NJ USA

 

[Uncle Ben]

Info like that can be found there.

Dan D

You would think so! But I did read the owner's manual and I bought a
Chilton guide after searching the local library for one. I couldn't
find an adequte description of all the fused circuits. I did find out
how to take the intrument panel out, but thank God I didn't try it.

Uncle Ben

 

[Fred Boer]

Dear Uncle Ben:

I have a burned out light bulb in my display - and it isn't a fuse... Did
you find detailed instructions? Would you share that info? I might try this
on my own, since it'll be well of $100.00 to get it fixed at the shop...

 

[John Varela]

Today I pulled that fuse again, for no good reason. But when I put the fuse
back in its socket, the instrument lights came on! I guess there was dirt on

the contacts and the two cycles of examination wiped off the dirt.

You must be a youngster. Back in the day when radios and TV sets all had
vacuum tubes, the standard first thing to do in troubleshooting (if there was
nothing obviously wrong) was to clean the tube contacts by removing and
replacing all the tubes once or twice.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Dear Uncle Ben:

I have a burned out light bulb in my display - and it isn't a fuse... Did
you find detailed instructions? Would you share that info? I might try this
on my own, since it'll be well of $100.00 to get it fixed at the shop...

Use the search function or ask at www.ultimatesubaru.org . I believe
there is even a Radio Shack bulb which works well.

Carl

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Dear Uncle Ben:

I have a burned out light bulb in my display - and it isn't a fuse... Did
you find detailed instructions? Would you share that info? I might try this
on my own, since it'll be well of $100.00 to get it fixed at the shop...

Down this page, mention is made of the Radio Shack bulb which can
sometimes be used;

http://www.scoobymods.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91

Carl

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

You must be a youngster. Back in the day when radios and TV sets all had
vacuum tubes, the standard first thing to do in troubleshooting (if there was
nothing obviously wrong) was to clean the tube contacts by removing and
replacing all the tubes once or twice.

this guy makes his own tubes;
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2008/01/make_your_own_vaccum_tube.html

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

this guy makes his own tubes;
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2008/01/make_your_own_vaccum_tube.html

and more bulb replacement info;
http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/search.php?searchid=516666

 

[Uncle Ben]

You must be a youngster.  Back in the day when radios and TV sets all had
vacuum tubes, the standard first thing to do in troubleshooting (if there was
nothing obviously wrong) was to clean the tube contacts by removing and
replacing all the tubes once or twice.

 

[Uncle Ben]

You must be a youngster.  Back in the day when radios and TV sets all had
vacuum tubes, the standard first thing to do in troubleshooting (if there was
nothing obviously wrong) was to clean the tube contacts by removing and
replacing all the tubes once or twice.

Maybe its second childhood. I am old enough to remember that a "37"
tube is the same as a "73" and that the charlatan I worked for would
replace all the coupling capacitors in the client's radio as
"preventive maintenance."

Uncle Ben
NQ2H
ex-W4MSK
ex-Transcontinental Corp East-to-West

 

[Uncle Ben]

Dear Uncle Ben:

I have a burned out light bulb in my display - and it isn't a fuse... Did
you find detailed instructions? Would you share that info? I might try this
on my own, since it'll be well of $100.00 to get it fixed at the shop...

Fred, if you mean instructions on how to gain access to the old bulb,
I am just guessing that you have to remove the intrument panel, but if
someone knows different, I will defer to him.

Removing the instrument panel is described in the Chlton manual, but
it is quite a job, involving removing the steering wheel, for
example. I difn't do it, so you'd better get the manual for
yourself. You can buy an online version for less than $20.

I think I wold lei someone else do it if the price is only $100.

 

[Fred Boer]

Thanks! You are probably right.

--
Fred Boer - Amateur Access Enthusiast
Interests: Library software / Z39.50 / Web Services
Freeware Small Library Application available here:
http://www3.sympatico.ca/lornarourke/

Dear Uncle Ben:

I have a burned out light bulb in my display - and it isn't a fuse... Did
you find detailed instructions? Would you share that info? I might try
this
on my own, since it'll be well of $100.00 to get it fixed at the shop...

--
Fred Boer - Amateur Access Enthusiast
Interests: Library software / Z39.50 / Web Services
Freeware Small Library Application available
here:http://www3.sympatico.ca/lornarourke/

Fred, if you mean instructions on how to gain access to the old bulb,
I am just guessing that you have to remove the intrument panel, but if
someone knows different, I will defer to him.

Removing the instrument panel is described in the Chlton manual, but
it is quite a job, involving removing the steering wheel, for
example. I difn't do it, so you'd better get the manual for
yourself. You can buy an online version for less than $20.

I think I wold lei someone else do it if the price is only $100.

 

[johninky]

Thanks! You are probably right.

--
Fred Boer - Amateur Access Enthusiast
Interests: Library software / Z39.50 / Web Services
Freeware Small Library Application available here:http://www3.sympatico.ca/lornarourke/





Fred, if you mean instructions on how to gain access to the old bulb,
I am just guessing that you have to remove the intrument panel, but if
someone knows different, I will defer to him.

Removing the instrument panel is described in the Chlton manual, but
it is quite a job, involving removing the steering wheel, for
example.  I difn't do it, so you'd better get the manual for
yourself.  You can buy an online version for less than $20.

I think I wold lei someone else do it if the price is only $100.

I replaced the entire cluster in my 95 LS wagon a few years ago and
didn't have to remove the steering wheel. Maybe that was because the
LS wheel has all those adjustments. Recall it took around 20 minutes
and the cluster JUST had enough clearance to be pulled. had to twist
and turn it but it did come out and the newer cluster did go back in.
Disconnect the battery if you try this, just in case.