Gauge Cluster Issue. Strong gas Smell in Cabin

[Nick Bruns]

Hey! Having trouble with my instrument cluster. It started probably 6 months ago when the backlight for one of the digital displays (shows odometer and trip meter) was turning on and off intermittently. I’d hardly notice it sometimes, but I could see it turning on and off randomly. I could tap on the plastic window and it would come back on. About 4 weeks ago I noticed a new problem. My speedometer and tachometer started acting funny. The speedo wouldn’t work, and the tach barely worked. I could rev the motor and it seemed like it was stuck between 1500 and 2000 rpm. Also, the backlight for the display is out and won’t come back on. The thing is, that the tach and speedo work fine if I turn the car off and start it back up. The rest of the lights work fine, just the one display. The gauges don’t do that all the time, just intermittently. It’s a 2002 Subaru Legacy (has two LCD displays one in speedo and one in tach, the one in the speedo had the light go out).

Also, when it got cold, I noticed a very strong gasoline smell in the cabin when the engine was running for about 20 minutes, then it would go away until the next morning when it was cold.

Any idea what is causing this? We had a cold snap the day I noticed the gauges going wonky (temperature dropped from 50’s down to 20-30’s in a matter of a day). Could that have caused it?

Thanks!

Topic

[college man]

see if this help for the gauge cluster. If your smelling fuel
check for leaks also check your evap hoses. here are some links
to help.

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/topic/116032-intermittent-speedometerodometer-function/

2004 Subaru Legacy, Replacing Blown Instrument Cluster Bulbs

http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/finding-and-fixing-leaks

[Nick Bruns]

Thanks! Sorry for the late reply (holiday rush). The tutorial for the backlight replacement was really great. I will use it when I do the replacement. Do you know what bulb it takes? The tutorial says 158 type? It also said there’s a blue cover for it. Do you need that cover because it said it doesn’t come off the old lamp? The gas smell has gone away. If it comes back, I will look over the evap hoses. Thanks! Merry Christmas!

[Author]

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