Light out for a/c and blower controls?

[David Farber]

Regarding my 1997 Legacy GT station wagon: While driving one evening I
noticed that it was dark around the a/c and heater controls. The only
illumination is from the little rectangular l.e.d.'s that indicate which
vent you have chosen to enable. Is there supposed to be some sort of
background illumination for the entire panel area?

Thanks for your reply.

David Farber
L.A., CA

 

[AS]

Yes, there are lights other than the leds, same holds true for some of
the pushbotton switches like the hazzard lights, etc.

You will need to pull out the climate control to replace the bulbs. You
better get them from subaru (expensive) if you do not want to tweak
with the ones sold by radio shack.

Good luck!

 

[David Farber]

Yes, there are lights other than the leds, same holds true for some of
the pushbotton switches like the hazzard lights, etc.

You will need to pull out the climate control to replace the bulbs. You
better get them from subaru (expensive) if you do not want to tweak
with the ones sold by radio shack.

Good luck!

Do I just insert a small screwdriver somewhere and pry open the panel? Is
there a hidden latch somewhere?

Thanks for your reply.

 

[AS]

In order to remove the bezel around the climate control, you need to
remove the center console starting by removing it from around the
shifter. Then remove the two screws at the lower end of the bezel and
pry it out. Be careful not to break the "hook pawls"

Then set the temp control to max heat (if manual control) and remove the
6 screws that hold the radio/temp control assy. Pull out slightly,
remove the temp control cable and the antenna.

The procedure might differ from my model year to yours but should be
basically the same.

 

[David]

Yes, there are lights other than the leds, same holds true for some of
the pushbotton switches like the hazzard lights, etc.

You will need to pull out the climate control to replace the bulbs. You
better get them from subaru (expensive) if you do not want to tweak
with the ones sold by radio shack.

Good luck!

If you run the dash lights about half-way the bulbs will never burn
out.

 

[David Farber]

In order to remove the bezel around the climate control, you need to
remove the center console starting by removing it from around the
shifter. Then remove the two screws at the lower end of the bezel and
pry it out. Be careful not to break the "hook pawls"

Then set the temp control to max heat (if manual control) and remove the
6 screws that hold the radio/temp control assy. Pull out slightly,
remove the temp control cable and the antenna.

The procedure might differ from my model year to yours but should be
basically the same.

I've uploaded a picture of the panel.

http://www.pbase.com/image/89029590

I removed the screws from A and B. That allowed me to remove the cup holder
assembly. If I pull at point C, I can squeeze the temperature assembly bezel
past the car stereo bezel and I would think at this point I wouldn't need to
remove the center console. In other words, the tabs for the screw holes A &
B prevent the temperature bezel from being removed but I can swing this part
away from the dash enough so that there is enough clearance to remove the
temperature bezel if not for the fact that it is in some way fastened at
point D and above.

Does this make sense? If so, how do I "unhook" the bezel from the part D?

Thanks for your reply.

 

[AS]

If i remember correctly, once you remove the bezel around the radio you
can pull out the bezel around the climate control by releasing the
snaps. The lower tabs of this bezel are under the upper tabs of the
bezel around the radio.

 

[David Farber]

If i remember correctly, once you remove the bezel around the radio you
can pull out the bezel around the climate control by releasing the
snaps. The lower tabs of this bezel are under the upper tabs of the
bezel around the radio.

The question for me is, where are those snaps that secure the bezel of the
climate control?

 

[AS]

I remember using a thin blade between the dashboard and the bezel top.
Makes sure u do not mark the dashboard or the bezel. I swung the a/c
vents up to allow my fingers to grab the bezel.

I looked up the service manual for your vehicle and there is no
indication to the specific location of the snaps.

I can scan the page and email it to you if you provide me with an email
addy.

Good luck.

 

[David Farber]

I remember using a thin blade between the dashboard and the bezel top.
Makes sure u do not mark the dashboard or the bezel. I swung the a/c
vents up to allow my fingers to grab the bezel.

I looked up the service manual for your vehicle and there is no
indication to the specific location of the snaps.

I can scan the page and email it to you if you provide me with an email
addy.

Good luck.



David Farber wrote:

farberbear at a o l dot com

Thanks.

David Farber

 

[David Farber]

I remember using a thin blade between the dashboard and the bezel top.
Makes sure u do not mark the dashboard or the bezel. I swung the a/c
vents up to allow my fingers to grab the bezel.

I looked up the service manual for your vehicle and there is no
indication to the specific location of the snaps.

I can scan the page and email it to you if you provide me with an email
addy.

Good luck.



David Farber wrote:

With the help of your scans, I was able to pull off the bezel and remove the
control box. For future reference, the snaps are located on either side of
the midpoint line of the vent.(I've updated the online photo. There are
three lamps that are mounted into the circuit board of the control unit. You
simply turn them counterclockwise a quarter turn and they fall out.

Thanks for your support.