94 Legacy Brighton "facelift" instrument dimmers?

[Cliff Wright]

G'Day all.
I've recently upgraded from my old Justy (which I still
have!). In fact my wife has also got a Justy! We've owned both of them for more than
8 years.
However my car is an import from Japan and has no owners manual.
Does anyone know if this model has a dashboard dimmer? I haven't found it
yet!
Also has anyone experience of changing over the radio/tape unit? I have to change mine as
it has the weird Japanese FM band of 76 to 92 MHz instead of the usual 88 to 108 MHz.
I'll probably put a radio/CD unit in while I'm at it I guess.
Otherwise I'm very pleased with the car even though it's done 130,000 Km, no oil being used
reasonable milage for a big 2 litre car and heaps of room for all my grandkids!!!
All for about $3,000 US.
Guess I'm becoming a Subaru fan just like I used to be a Peugeot owner for many years.
Regards Cliff Wright.

 

[Hallraker]

G'Day all.
I've recently upgraded from my old Justy (which I still
have!). In fact my wife has also got a Justy! We've owned both of them for more than
8 years.
However my car is an import from Japan and has no owners manual.
Does anyone know if this model has a dashboard dimmer? I haven't found it
yet!
Also has anyone experience of changing over the radio/tape unit? I have to change mine as
it has the weird Japanese FM band of 76 to 92 MHz instead of the usual 88 to 108 MHz.
I'll probably put a radio/CD unit in while I'm at it I guess.
Otherwise I'm very pleased with the car even though it's done 130,000 Km, no oil being used
reasonable milage for a big 2 litre car and heaps of room for all my grandkids!!!
All for about $3,000 US.
Guess I'm becoming a Subaru fan just like I used to be a Peugeot owner for many years.
Regards Cliff Wright.

I'm not sure, but I think that for Japan, the '94 Legacy was the '95 Legacy
here in the US. That would mean you have a 2nd generation Legacy, as
opposed to a 1st generation. That also might be what you mean by
"facelift". Even if it is the older model, it might be similar enough to
the newer one that my statements are still valid.

The dimmer switch should be on the turn signal/headlight stalk. It's a ring
that rotates around. I know, I thought it was a strange place at first too,
and for the first year or so I bumped it an awful lot, but then again it
DOES seem more logical to have the headlights and dimmer grouped with the
turn signal and high beams, rather than on the dash somewhere.

The radio is also simple to change, in fact it's the easiest radio
installation I've ever done. Getting back there is pretty simple, it helps
to take the cover off the shift lever, which requires that you remove the
cover over the parking brake lever, which is secured by two screws under the
center console bin lid. After that the panels just pop off, although you
may need to shift the car into neutral to get the shifter cover off. Then
you just remove the two screws from the ashtray support bracket, the two
screws from the cup holder, and the radio bezel should just fall off after
that.

Once back there you'll find the radio is mounted in a metal rack. Pull the
rack out and remove the radio, replace with your new unit, and repeat in
reverse!

If you do replace the stereo, make sure to pick up a wire harness adapter
instead of trying to cut and tap into the factory wiring instead. That's a
huge hassle and you'll be glad you used the adapter if your stereo ever
stops working and you need to replace it. Although you won't likely be able
to find a Subaru specific adapter at a cheap place like Wal-Mart, most pro
shops will carry it and there's always crutchfield.com if you don't mind
waiting for a bit.

While you are at it, I'd suggest replacing the factory speakers as well. By
now they probably don't sound the greatest anyway, three of the four in my
'95 Outback were toast when I got the car.

-Matt

 

[Cliff Wright]

Good Day Matt.
Great reply, many thanks! You are quite right about the speakers also,
I'm an electronics engineer and I've noticed that I've got a faulty woofer in the driver's door
and one of the rear speakers isn't too great either.
I will now keep my eye open for a Legacy wiring harness for the radio. I might be able to get
one from one of the local auto wreckers who specialises in Subarus. There are a lot of Legacy's
here in New Zealand. The other day I came off the motorway/ freeway going home and found myself
in a queue of 4 Legacys in a convoy.
They suit our lifestyle rather well, a station wagon that size that can tow a light trailer and
is usually a 4 wheel drive is great for anyone living outside cities.
I am just about to retire to the country myself and needed a larger car.
Fitting a tow bar is my next project followed by radio replacement.
Best Regards Cliff Wright.

 

[Hallraker]

Good Day Matt.
Great reply, many thanks! You are quite right about the speakers also,
I'm an electronics engineer and I've noticed that I've got a faulty woofer in the driver's door
and one of the rear speakers isn't too great either.
I will now keep my eye open for a Legacy wiring harness for the radio. I might be able to get
one from one of the local auto wreckers who specialises in Subarus. There are a lot of Legacy's
here in New Zealand. The other day I came off the motorway/ freeway going home and found myself
in a queue of 4 Legacys in a convoy.
They suit our lifestyle rather well, a station wagon that size that can tow a light trailer and
is usually a 4 wheel drive is great for anyone living outside cities.
I am just about to retire to the country myself and needed a larger car.
Fitting a tow bar is my next project followed by radio replacement.
Best Regards Cliff Wright.

I live out in the country now as well, and the Subaru is more of a
requirement at this point than a preference.

I have a mild electronics background myself, just enough to be dangerous.


-Matt