XCR583 Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 Friend of mine has an 03 Forester. The 2 lights that light up the climate control have burnt out. Subaru wants $78 a piece for these little tiny bulbs. Has anyone found something else to work or made something else work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevetone Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 Friend of mine has an 03 Forester. The 2 lights that light up the climate control have burnt out. Subaru wants $78 a piece for these little tiny bulbs. Has anyone found something else to work or made something else work? Xcr: I know that many of the dash lights can be replaced with Radio Shack versions. Once you get it out take it to the "shack" and see if they have a suitable replacement. I doubt if they will have a cross-reference chart with those bulbs on it -- just make sure that the specs are equivalent. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Attempt6 Posted August 31, 2007 Share Posted August 31, 2007 Where can I find out the specs for the bulbs? I took apart the bulb assembly to remove the bulb and didn't see any writing on the bulb. The white plastic base is marked with an S and a single digit number. One base has a '1' and the other is marked with a '5'. I'm assuming the numbers are for the mold. The bulbs are actually $48.50 each and there are three of them. One for each of the climate control knobs. This is the automatic climate control unit of a 2003 Forester XS. On the plus side, Subaru offered to refund me 50% of the part cost when I complained to them. It's a nice gesture, but $25 for what should be a 50 cent bulb is still ridiculous Xcr: I know that many of the dash lights can be replaced with Radio Shack versions. Once you get it out take it to the "shack" and see if they have a suitable replacement. I doubt if they will have a cross-reference chart with those bulbs on it -- just make sure that the specs are equivalent. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Attempt6 Posted September 14, 2007 Share Posted September 14, 2007 Good news, sorta. I went the easy route and ordered the bulbs from Subaru. Turns out you get all 3 bulbs for $48.50. This was part number 72350SA000. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted September 14, 2007 Share Posted September 14, 2007 SO you dont want to hear that you get 2 for 2.50 from radioshack then... i wont tell you. nipper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Attempt6 Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 One of my replacement bulbs has burned out. I'm back where I started 2 years ago, but this time I think I will leave it alone. I will be forever in the dark about what my temperature setting is... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ever Victorious Posted October 30, 2010 Share Posted October 30, 2010 Sorry for the massive bump, but anyone know how to do this replacement or have a walk-thru or writeup? I've got a blown out bulb in my climate controls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferret Posted October 30, 2010 Share Posted October 30, 2010 If you have the Auto-Climate controls, here's a writeup for the 03/04 Forester: http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f85/diy-hvac-bulb-replacement-2004-forester-51964/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ever Victorious Posted October 30, 2010 Share Posted October 30, 2010 Huh, I somehow missed that when searching there last night. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted October 30, 2010 Share Posted October 30, 2010 OK i burn but those stupid little lights. Anyone have a LED trick to replace them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john40iowa Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 Good news, sorta. I went the easy route and ordered the bulbs from Subaru. Turns out you get all 3 bulbs for $48.50. This was part number 72350SA000. If you go the Radio shack route, tred every lightly. I tried this myself and the lookalike (but not the same) replacement I was given fried a relay- hidden in the dash, which turned out to be a real Pita of job to replace and additional $90.00 just for the relay. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ever Victorious Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 OK i burn but those stupid little lights. Anyone have a LED trick to replace them? http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/index.cgi?action=DispPage&Page2Disp=%2Finstrument.html These are "twist in" type LED bulbs, so perhaps they can be removed from their bases and put in the Subaru bases. Theoretically it would be a matter of finding one that's got the right length of lead and the right diameter to fit in the base. Of course... there might be a current issue as john40 pointed out. LED's use waaay less juice than incandescents. Not really an issue until you start putting things like relays in the mix. Sooo... wanna be a guinea pig? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/index.cgi?action=DispPage&Page2Disp=%2Finstrument.html These are "twist in" type LED bulbs, so perhaps they can be removed from their bases and put in the Subaru bases. Theoretically it would be a matter of finding one that's got the right length of lead and the right diameter to fit in the base. Of course... there might be a current issue as john40 pointed out. LED's use waaay less juice than incandescents. Not really an issue until you start putting things like relays in the mix. Sooo... wanna be a guinea pig? I have let the magic smoke out of one 100.00 illumination controller. I wouldnt mind if someone could cough up a controller. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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