bwindle

I've been lurking this thread for a bit hoping to find a solution to this intermittent issue. Here's an update on our symptoms (over the past ~5 years) and work that's been done on the car (that hasn't solved the issue) a 2007 Legacy Sedan.

Always: "Err" displays on MPG, Trip MPG average, and miles to empty

Always: Cruise control has never worked, mist wiper lever pull stopped working ~2 years ago

Always: Keyless entry has never worked

Occasionally: RPM/MPH gauges pegged at zero, has fuel but reserve light shows and gauge is pegged on empty, blank odo/trip meter, odo displays as "-----"

Only happened once: "Er 55" displayed on odometer

Console issues seem to appear more often when it is humid/rained recently/large temperature swing, but we've definitely had them when it's bone dry as well. Issues disappear at random often on the next trip. Tweaking the illumination dial as others have doesn't change anything.

Work done on the car:

-checked fuses multiple times

-clockspring replaced (hoping to solve the cruise control issue, didn't work)

-battery and battery wires replaced

-alternator and spark plugs/wires/coil replaced

-at least 4 broken ground wires were repaired

-airbag recall

-faulty map light cluster replaced to get rid of airbag warning light

-numerous other non-electrical repairs

My mechanic seems to suspect "a circuit board issue" in the console and "has a guy" who repairs these things on some VW's that have common issues with them. I'm not sure we're putting any more non-critical repairs on the car or I would consider giving "the guy" a try or just replacing the entire console and dealing with the odometer being off. The car seems to need a big repair every year so this issue has gotten pushed aside.

This is a photo album showing the various symptoms. Hope the info I've shared might help someone else, look forward to hearing about a fix some day

It appears you should check your fuses. Specifically #8, 20 amp in the engine compartment.

 

http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/66-problems-maintenance/15509-acc-flashing-information-display.html

Thanks for that.

It seems like the only similarity with that thread is the "Err", but it's for other functions not the MPG display. And the #8 fuse in the engine compartment is a 50A. Hard to believe there is only one thread on the internet (this one) that mentions these problems :/

This thread [LINK] mentions the odometer dashes but has no solution listed either.

The problem is intermittent so it doesn't seem likely to be a fuse but I'll go ahead and check them all out/re-seat/clean contacts when I get a chance.

Sorry to pull this thread from the dead but this is the exact same problem I am having with my girlfriend's 2007 legacy sedan (non-gt) and have found no information anywhere else. The problem is intermittent since she bought the car ~3 years ago but seems to be happening more frequently over the past month. Note: The MPG Err message is constant, no matter if the cluster is working properly or not.

In addition to this problem there are a few other things going on, just as an FYI: No cruise control (never worked, replaced clockspring, didn't change), occasional starting issues in damp/wet sometimes but not always (suspect coil pack).

Recent work: map light assembly to fix airbag light, airbag recall ~1 year ago, cat + o2 sensors ~3 months ago (did not alter this problem one bit), plugs wires battery ~1.5 years ago. None of these had any effect on cruise control, MPG display, or occasional cluster issues.

Top: Blinking "- - - - -". Odometer and trip meter still function (if you zero trip it will record the number of miles and display properly after you restart the car)

Middle: MPG display "Err" shows up on MPG average and miles to empty as well

Bottom: Gauges don't move while driving, gas is at about 1/2 tank but reserve light shows, blank odo/trip

http://bwindle.com/image/Issues001.jpg

coblue, did you ever find a solution?