Looking at the Haynes manual, it's not really clear if I need to remove the center console in order to swap out my burned out shift indicator light on a '96 Legacy Outback. Do I have to take the console and/or the shift knob off, or is it accessible by just prying off the cover?

 

I would just pop it off to find out, but I'm kind of superstitious about interior plastic - I've broken enough pieces over the years to want to minimize what I'm doing with it. Also, I want to budget my time tomorrow evening.

On the first gen legaices, there's a trim piece surrounding the shifter that you have to remove. The second gens are probably similar.

 

Anyone else confirm/deny this?

I did this a long time ago but have forgotten the details, so I'm mainly going to give you some ideas from memory. I think there are some trim bolts when you lift the lid of the console. That might allow the center trim to come off, and maybe allow access to some more bolts that secure the trim around the shifter. I remember thinking that it would be very bad if the bolt slipped and fell down into the abyss, so be careful when taking those bolts out. I don't think I took the shifter off. Once the trim around the shifter is loose, I think it will move up a little bit and give enough room to get some fingers in there. I do remember having to reach underneath some of the shifter and blindly pulling out the bulb and putting the new one in. I think it is just a regular socket where you twist the bulb and then pull it out. Once you pull it out, you can go to the parts store and get a replacement. The one that I used was the same size, but was a different intensity of light than the original, but has worked just fine. I don't remember any particular problems, so I think it was pretty straightforward.

 

Good luck!