Diy Brighton tach swap.

I know this isnt new info to a lot of the ogs on here, but as a newbie I couldnt find a step to step guide on how to do it. So I decided to make one. I just bought my first subie less than a week ago and this is my first mod. Its a 95 brighton wagon.

 

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h149/Tofast4usupra/whips/4deaf88f.jpg

 

The only tool you will need is a phillips screw driver. I used my leatherman. It takes about 30mins. I did it on my lunch break at work.

 

First off find a cluster with a tach. I found mine on Ebay for about 25 shipped.

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h149/Tofast4usupra/whips/527933c8.jpg

 

I saw on here that some different years have different colors. Luckily I found a 95.

 

Start by pulling your gauge cluster. I didnt take any pics of this because I work graveyard and did it in the dark but theres only 4 screws to get the trim aroun the cluster off, 2 on top and 2 on the bottom. You will have to unplug the wiring to the rear defroster and another plug that doest do anything. After getting the trim off the cluster has 4 screws as well 2 on top 2 on the bottom. After getting the screws out you need to undo the plugs. There are two going to the back of the cluster and three running around the top of the back.

 

Once you have both clusters pull off the mounting tabs

 

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h149/Tofast4usupra/whips/5398bd1c.jpg

 

After removing the mounting tabs theres 3 little plastic clips on the bottom of the cluster just pop them out and the clear plastic front comes off.

 

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h149/Tofast4usupra/whips/f506ff02.jpg

 

after removing the black Subaru logo which is just clipped in

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h149/Tofast4usupra/whips/a7a8e3e3.jpg

set your cluster aside and grab the cluster with the tach. On the back of this cluster right behind the tach is 3 screws remove these and the tach will come free. Dont loose these screws you will need them for your cluster.

 

I was gonna mark the screws for you but photobucket isnt working right. They are the three on the left side that make a triangle.

 

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h149/Tofast4usupra/whips/6bb4faaa.jpg

 

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h149/Tofast4usupra/whips/c554e341.jpg

 

now you have your tach free swap it to the cluster that came out of your car and use those screws to install it.

 

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h149/Tofast4usupra/whips/b0df82b5.jpg

 

Go ahead and put the cover back on and dont forget the mounting brackets.

 

The only other thing that needs to be swapped is the light bulb. for the left side of the tach. Its on of the small ones. Right next to the bottom screw for the tach.

 

Since I had it out I cleaned the plastic and wiped down the gauges go ahead and reinstall it in you dash make sure to plug all 5 plugs back in and you should be good to go

 

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h149/Tofast4usupra/whips/b339586e.jpg

 

Dont mind the cel thats next on the list.

 

Well I hope this write up can help somebody. I was really easy to do. It took me more time writing it up then doing it.

Oh almost forgot the last step.

 

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h149/Tofast4usupra/whips/c4ba642b.jpg

 

Try to get your money back

Great Write-up. I just bought an Outback Cluster for our 98 Brighton. I don't have it yet but the redline is at 6500. How about that, I get an extra 500 rpm.

Dave

Install was a breeze. I'm glad you mentioned swapping out the back-lighting for the tack. I probably would have missed that step.

 

For 15 years it has been bugging me that the Brighton didn't come with a tachometer. It feels like a new car now.

 

Dave

I swapped a 97 legacy outback tach into my 99 Brighton, it all works....but my car idles at about 3k and I'm sitting still at about 35 lol. What did I do wrong? I took off the Speedo needle and had to replace the thermostat needle. So now everything just sits at the top as far as fuel and temp. Idles cold about 3/4's up and I'm at a full tank, but it shows 3/4. Help?

It's good that vehicles without tachometers still have the wiring for it, so it's an easy swap. Did a similar swap on my old '88 Nissan truck many years ago.

I swapped a 97 legacy outback tach into my 99 Brighton, it all works....but my car idles at about 3k and I'm sitting still at about 35 lol. What did I do wrong? I took off the Speedo needle and had to replace the thermostat needle. So now everything just sits at the top as far as fuel and temp. Idles cold about 3/4's up and I'm at a full tank, but it shows 3/4. Help?

 

The fuel needle doesn't require much to correct, just fill up the tank and then pull the needle off the dash and then reinstall it at the FULL mark. The temp gauge needle should be removed and then reinstalled just below where the stop peg is, you'll have to then remove the stop peg, then turn the needle so that you can reinstall the stop peg which should result with the needle resting on top of the stop peg. The tach is the same procedure as the temp gauge but the tach needle should be installed way lower. If you visualize the sweep/range of the needle as 0 to 270 degrees, the temp needle should be installed at -3 ish degrees and the tach should be installed at -15 ish degrees.

Bringing up and old thread again. I did all this and really messed up my needles so i bought a whole new gauge cluster and didnt mess with anything except for the fuel gauge. I took it off and put it back to full but it just pegs itself straight up. The tach and speedo seemed to work at first but they wont go past 4k amd 60mph. And they are jumpy the whole way. Im completely lost here and dont know what else to do. Cause just constantly taking it apart and replugging it doesnt seem to be helping.

Couldn't you just swap in the entire unit so you wouldn't risk messing with the gauge calibrations?

Couldn't you just swap in the entire unit so you wouldn't risk messing with the gauge calibrations?

 

 

 

You can and it will work perfectly