seems to be the switch, do not have one, would there be away to put a toogle switch to turn on the dash lights or not , or a relay some way, to replace ,thanks or where would the relay located, checked all fuses ,and under hood, ?

Edited January 2, 201214 yr by 86subaru

Do you mean the ones in the gauge cluster? I think there's a dimmer switch on the left stalk, though maybe '95 was a little different than '96 I'm thinking of. Or maybe you mean you know that but you don't have one to replace it.

 

If you mean the lights for the climate control area, those things might just be all blown out. They like to burn out.

on the cluster ,yes there is a switch on the steering wheel ,wondering if a away to by pass the switch with a toggle switch

i now have had 2 impreza wagons with no dash lights. i replaced the switch with a used working one (checked continuity through it) and they still didn't work. i believe there is a control module behind the stereo which apparently fails and cuts ground to the lights. if you bypass the module and just ground it out it should work. check if you have ground to the lights first.

There is a lighting amplifier on the knee pnale on the right side of the steering column. This is the issue. There is nothing wrong with the switches. Just bypassing the switch you will blow fuses as the wiring is not that simple.

the positive leg is fused. check if you have ground. if you dont have it give it ground.

ok,what does the lighting amp look like ?

It looks like a solid state relay, nothing fancy. It is a very pricey oart and they do not usually fail on their own. Have you installed anything new leately, gauges or a sound system?.

And I believe I saved one or two of those but I don't recall the name.

 

Infact I believe i have one still attached to the back of that kick plate somewhere.

Don't bother replacing it untill you find out why this has blown as you will just blow the next one.

had the same issue power at the fuse/relays, I blew the illumination module, under the kick panel by your feet, bypass the module by jumping the black wire to the yellow/red wire? correct me if im wrong here, and see if the lights work, if so there is no dimming of the dash lights just on bright, go to a junkyard and get one there instead of a new one as they can be pricey

thanks to all reply