I recently purchased a 95 Subaru Impreza with about 105K on it...I'm primarily using this as my work commuter car...With gas prices so high, it just made since. It's in really pretty good shape except for a couple issues. For one my instrument panel lights don't work. Well let me rephrase that, the lights that illuminate the Tach and Speedo do not work...I have check fuses and wiring but cannot find the problem. I noticed that there is a Illumi Control Module behind the radio..I'm thinking this may be the culprit or the switch may be bad on the steering column...Any ideas...Thanks in advance.

NewSuby,

 

My guess would be that the fuse is gone, the bulbs themselves are burned out, or that the connector to the panel lights is loose. The fuse panel is an easy enough fix. To get at the harness connectors and the bulbs you have to remove the instrument panel to get at its back. Disconnect the battery and wait 20 minutes for the airbags to leak down their trigger voltage. You may have to remove the top and bottom case panels that wrap around the steering column and ignition switch, in order to get enough room to remove the instrument cluster. Next you pop the trim panel surrounding the instrument cluster using a taped screwdriver (so as to not scratch the panel). You may find a screw or two to remove in the upper part of the surround that have to be removed first. Then about four screws hold the instrument cluster in place. Pull the cluster towards you, reach behind and disconnect the three or four harnesses, and its free. On its back you will find a printed circuit board with thin copper lines that lead to all of the bulb sockets. They just unwind a quarter turn to come out. I'd check the harness connection first, then each of the bulbs, ending by reconnecting everything up and reconnecting the battery and switching on the lights, staying clear of the airbags. Good luck!

I'd second the bulb idea.

 

What caused them to go out?

Well thats another concept...

A black or silver looking bulb would be a problem.

 

A cheap bulb tester could be made with a wire using your battery?

 

Good Luck,

Glenn

82 SubaruHummer

84 GL Mad Max

01 Forester

Thanks a lot for the recommendation, I recently purchased a chiltons' manual and it describes how to take off the instrument cluster (almost identical to your description)...Might save this for a rainy day, I'm not to concerned...

 

I'm not sure exactly HOW it happend, it was like that when I bought the car. It looks like it has had several radios in and out, so I'm not sure if something might have shorted out...