How to change the Heater Control lights on a '95-'99 Legacy

After I finished!

 

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/20/4arenupy.jpg

 

Looks like the defroster and cruise buttons should light up. Very easy to get to.

 

Just remove 4 Phillips screws holding the gauges bezel in, pull out, disconnect harnesses to switches and find 2 bulbs in each switch. They are the same bulbs as the climate control system. IF YOU ARE REPLACING WITH LEDS! and they are a very tight squeeze.

 

The top one is for the light when you engage any of the functions. The lower is the backlight for the letters.

 

 

 

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Edited January 21, 2013 by ColinM

Just remove 4 Phillips screws holding the gauges bezel in, pull out, disconnect harnesses to switches and find 2 bulbs in each switch. They are the same bulbs as the climate control system.

 

I just want to clarify that they are NOT the same bulbs. They are only the same if you decided to use different bulbs for the HVAC system than what you are technically supposed to use.

Sorry I should have clarified! Post above edited to reflect that!

 

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I'd like to personally thank everyone that took the time to post on this thread. In particular, a hearty thanks goes out to Aczwild (OP) for his incredibly detailed walk through.

 

I realize that this thread (and most of the posts) is somewhat old .. but then again so is my Subie (and I am no spring chicken either). However, the information contained herein is still accurate and incredibly useful.

 

I have a '98 Legacy Wagon and it has been a garage queen for the past 5 years. As my son is learning to drive and will need this car, I was looking to fix all those minor issues that cropped up over the years - especially the interior lighting (When did this car gets so dark inside at night? Where are the A/C controls?!?). This thread made changing all those tiny little bulbs a breeze and I couldn't be more grateful.

 

Thanks again for your help and I look forward to participating in this forum.

 

Cheers,

Hem

I just did this on my wagon and it looked like a charm. I went with the OEM bulbs for authenticity's sake. Just because I didn't see a comprehensive OEM parts list (didn't look all that hard either), here's what you need:

 

2 x 72351AC061 BULB (MODE TEMP): These illuminate the fan mode buttons and temperature.

 

1 x 72351AC051 BULB (FAN): This illuminates the fan speed dial. Longer bulb.

 

1 x 83426AA020 BULB: This illuminates the hazard lights button. Very tiny, short little bulb.

 

The dealer didn't have the last bulb but they could have ordered it for me... for $10. I figured having this button lighted might be more annoying than useful. Anyway, not worth $10. You can also get the whole button assembly for like $30.

something ive never thought to ask: did you guys sand off the green crap from the backs of the gauges? or do these leds just over power the green?

 

I wanted my instrument panel white, so I had to sand off the green crap!

different vents. It's stuck on floor now sometimes dashboard some time defrost. Occaisionally it works ussually you push buttons all day and nothing happens.

 

If you disconnected your battery sometime prior to this occurance,you may be able to reverse the sticking vent.The HVAC needs to recalibrate after such a disconnect,and goes through a full cycle on reconnection.Sometimes a vent door gets stuck.Try disconnecting the battery again,than reconnecting and running car for four minutes,without turning the AC or HAVC on.Turn the car off for a minute,then back on again,and you may have fixed the problem.If this fails,repeating the above may work.

I took my whole control apart.. It's Not hard.. but be careful because stuff will pop out and fly..

 

Anyways i hope these LED's will last longer then my last.. but it might of been my alternator that killed my LED's in the HVAC controls and behind my gauges..

 

anyways here you go

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/SubaruWRX/IMAG0461-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/SubaruWRX/IMAG0460-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/SubaruWRX/IMAG0455-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/SubaruWRX/IMAG0453-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/SubaruWRX/IMAG0457-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/SubaruWRX/IMAG0465-1.jpg

 

only reason why I took it all apart because of the space and how I had to flip the LED's the other way around and it was just annoying because of the space.

 

Oh and that AC switch bulb is replaceable (dealer says it's not and no part #) mine was never blown but just so you know

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/SubaruWRX/IMAG0462-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/SubaruWRX/IMAG0463-1.jpg

 

Hey man, how did you get it all the way apart/get the A/C switch out? I think my bulb is burnt out. Also, the hazard switch lights up? What!?

Oh man that was so long ago I don't have the car anymore but If I remember you have to pull up slowly because the board is still connected so you have to go slow and make sure nothing is caught

Oh man that was so long ago I don't have the car anymore but If I remember you have to pull up slowly because the board is still connected so you have to go slow and make sure nothing is caught

 

lol thanks dude. I feel kinda dumb now. on the way home from work I tried the a/c and it works haha. and as for the the hazard I got it figured out. thanks anyway.

The A/C button bulb is definitely replaceable...I've done it!

 

Once you slide out the A/C button assembly (the long rectangular piece with the button) you need to carefully separate the housing. There are four little tabs that hold the two halves together. You need about four hands to try and get them all at once, without re-engaging, but it is possible with a few small screwdrivers. Once you separate the halves (be careful, as I recall there is a spring in there that wants to go flying) you can access the bulb. I replaced mine with the 12V Radio Shack standard bulb. It is in a similar housing with the twist base like any of the other small dash bulbs.

The RS bulb was a mm or two longer, which caused it to catch on a small nub of plastic once the two halves were snapped back together. The button would still function, but it would get hung up and not fully push back out because of the friction. I took the housing apart again and ground down the nub (three seconds with my Dremel) a few mm and that was enough to gain clearance for the bulb. Reassembled and it works good as new.

The A/C button bulb is definitely replaceable...I've done it!

 

Once you slide out the A/C button assembly (the long rectangular piece with the button) you need to carefully separate the housing. There are four little tabs that hold the two halves together. You need about four hands to try and get them all at once, without re-engaging, but it is possible with a few small screwdrivers. Once you separate the halves (be careful, as I recall there is a spring in there that wants to go flying) you can access the bulb. I replaced mine with the 12V Radio Shack standard bulb. It is in a similar housing with the twist base like any of the other small dash bulbs.

The RS bulb was a mm or two longer, which caused it to catch on a small nub of plastic once the two halves were snapped back together. The button would still function, but it would get hung up and not fully push back out because of the friction. I took the housing apart again and ground down the nub (three seconds with my Dremel) a few mm and that was enough to gain clearance for the bulb. Reassembled and it works good as new.

 

Haha, got you on the outback forum! Thanks again so much! Thanks so much! But I feel like an idiot. I either didn't have the car running, I swear I did though, or it just decided to work. Because yesterday when I left work I tried it and it lights up! Replaced the hazard switch bulb too!

 

Thanks to everyone for the help and info!