does anyone know if there is a fuse for reverse lights i lost my fuse cover panel and don't have an owners manual. needless to say i don't have any reverse lights. any other ideas other than fuses and bulbs

No I don't believe there is a separate fuse, however it is tied into one of the fuse blocks. Do you notice any thing else that isn't working?

 

Here's a diagram for the first gen legacies

http://www.surrealmirage.com/subaru/files/swap/6-3_back-up_light.jpg

 

BTW, what year and model subie do you have?

If it is a Forester 98-02, it would be Fuse 18. It also controls:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AT shift lock control module

 

 

 

 

Back-up light switch (MT)

 

Cruise control main switch

 

Cruise control module

 

Daytime running light control module

 

Daytime running light relay

 

Hi-beam relay

 

Inhibitor switch (AT)

 

Keyless entry control module

 

Security control module

 

Wiper deicer relay

 

Wiper deicer timer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So of you have a 5 Speed L model, without cruise and without DRL (high beam relay in only on Forester with DRL), you might not notice anything else wrong.

If the connection to the light is ok and the bulbs are good then I would check the switch next. They are usually mounted in the transmission case.