Outback clock not working

[m1keb1ggs]

Hi guys,

Only just got my '04 Outback 3.0R, and just noticed today that there is a centre clock/information screen, but mine is completely dark. Pressing the BRIGHT button does its job so I'm assuming just the screen or backlight is faulty?

Anyone have a guide to removing this so I can take a look. Hopefully its just a dry solder joint or something obvious.

Thanks in advance

[Mat04]

My clock goes on and off in my outback might be a common fault with the wiring.

[Dropz]

When you turn the headlights on it dims itself.

[mincedmeat]

Dimmer switch is on the right of the steering wheel

[m1keb1ggs]

Cheers guys I wish it was that simple. dimmer is at Max brightness, there's simply nothing showing on the screen. I'll pop it out this afternoon and take a look. I know the Foresters suffer from a similar issue with a cracked solder joint on a surface mounted resistor. Hopefully its that obvious. I'll report back

[Dropz]

They do but if you say when you press bright it then works then it isn't a dry solder. The dry solder will cause it to never work.

[m1keb1ggs]

What I meant was that when I press the BRIGHT button all the dash lights go bright, but the clock screen is still blank.

[zch91]

viewtopic.php?f=22&t=8912

[Dropz]

Ahh ok, then yeah dry solder

[m1keb1ggs]

Cheers mate. I'm an electrical engineer for Channel 7, so got all the gear at work to test it if it isn't an obvious circuit issue Looking at the link above, it seems to be a real issue with late model Subarus. I'll see what I find and let you all know the fix in this case.

Any idea how to get it out? Seems to be attached to the centre air vents module. Guess the lot has to come out.

[Dropz]

Its all clipped in, just pull on it and it pops out

Then there are 3 screws on the back

[mincedmeat]

Cheers mate. I'm an electrical engineer for Channel 7, so got all the gear at work to test it if it isn't an obvious circuit issue Looking at the link above, it seems to be a real issue with late model Subarus. I'll see what I find and let you all know the fix in this case.

Any idea how to get it out? Seems to be attached to the centre air vents module. Guess the lot has to come out.

The air vents surrounds pop out from underneath. Not from the top were someone had tried to get it out and damaged my dash a bit.. (dealer)
Clock comes out straight forward. You need a soldering iron, pump and solder. Desolder the display along one side and pull it back a tad.
On mine the bung solders were obvious, they had gone yellowish. Just touch-up anything that doesn’t look right. Make sure when doing small components that one side cools before you attack the other side so they don’t move about.
Put all back and Bobs just that bald dude over there....

[m1keb1ggs]

Great thanks for the instructions.

Now that you've mentioned damage on the dash, I'd noticed someones had a go at mine across the top too. I feel a little more confident pulling the surround off now. The electrical part of the job doesnt scare me at all, work has full solder stations including microscopes for when we do surface mounted and BGA components. If I get stuck, theres plenty of guys around to help out. I'll just hit up the boss lol

Cheers again, hopefully I can report back something positive.

...I've only had the car 5 days, and bloody loving it. The 3.0R performance is much higher than expected, and the ride and handling are incredible...and thats after coming from a 400hp Audi A8 Quattro. Go Subie

[Mat04]

Hi mike how did you go with finding and rectifying the problem?

[m1keb1ggs]

Hey bud, I've been too busy enjoying the rest of the car to take a look yet, sorry.

After my recent Audi dramas I'm just enjoying a car that works right now. I'll update as soon as I get it out.