98 ej22 brighton

[leggy101]

hey everyone. im new to the subaru world and bought my first legacy last week. loving it so far but my only down side is not having a tac. im wondering how to wire one in properly iv seen some hack jobs and just want it done right. please if anyone can help that would be awesome.

[Zues Marine]

It will be plug and play if you can get a tach from a non Brighton model

[leggy101]

It will be plug and play if you can get a tach from a non Brighton model

 

so if i find one from a legacy L i just put it in and itll work?

[Zues Marine]

yep:

 

I know this isnt new info to a lot of the ogs on here, but as a newbie I couldnt find a step to step guide on how to do it. So I decided to make one. I just bought my first subie less than a week ago and this is my first mod. Its a 95 brighton wagon.

 

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h149/Tofast4usupra/whips/4deaf88f.jpg

 

The only tool you will need is a phillips screw driver. I used my leatherman. It takes about 30mins. I did it on my lunch break at work.

 

First off find a cluster with a tach. I found mine on Ebay for about 25 shipped.

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h149/Tofast4usupra/whips/527933c8.jpg

 

I saw on here that some different years have different colors. Luckily I found a 95.

 

Start by pulling your gauge cluster. I didnt take any pics of this because I work graveyard and did it in the dark but theres only 4 screws to get the trim aroun the cluster off, 2 on top and 2 on the bottom. You will have to unplug the wiring to the rear defroster and another plug that doest do anything. After getting the trim off the cluster has 4 screws as well 2 on top 2 on the bottom. After getting the screws out you need to undo the plugs. There are two going to the back of the cluster and three running around the top of the back.

 

Once you have both clusters pull off the mounting tabs

 

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h149/Tofast4usupra/whips/5398bd1c.jpg

 

After removing the mounting tabs theres 3 little plastic clips on the bottom of the cluster just pop them out and the clear plastic front comes off.

 

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h149/Tofast4usupra/whips/f506ff02.jpg

 

after removing the black Subaru logo which is just clipped in

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h149/Tofast4usupra/whips/a7a8e3e3.jpg

set your cluster aside and grab the cluster with the tach. On the back of this cluster right behind the tach is 3 screws remove these and the tach will come free. Dont loose these screws you will need them for your cluster.

 

I was gonna mark the screws for you but photobucket isnt working right. They are the three on the left side that make a triangle.

 

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h149/Tofast4usupra/whips/6bb4faaa.jpg

 

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h149/Tofast4usupra/whips/c554e341.jpg

 

now you have your tach free swap it to the cluster that came out of your car and use those screws to install it.

 

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h149/Tofast4usupra/whips/b0df82b5.jpg

 

Go ahead and put the cover back on and dont forget the mounting brackets.

 

The only other thing that needs to be swapped is the light bulb. for the left side of the tach. Its on of the small ones. Right next to the bottom screw for the tach.

 

Since I had it out I cleaned the plastic and wiped down the gauges go ahead and reinstall it in you dash make sure to plug all 5 plugs back in and you should be good to go

 

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h149/Tofast4usupra/whips/b339586e.jpg

 

Dont mind the cel thats next on the list.

 

Well I hope this write up can help somebody. I was really easy to do. It took me more time writing it up then doing it.

[leggy101]

awesome thank you a ton!

[DJBRANDER]

Im having an issue where it feels like its revving too quickly

[doublechaz]

If you have an OBD tool with live data you could compare what it says for RPM to what the Tach says. Was it from a 3.0l? Maybe they count differently from us 2.2l guys?

[Zues Marine]

also when you do the reset the needles:

 

http://img26.picoodle.com/img/img26/3/12/6/f_fgauge001mam_20226ee.jpg

[johnegg]

also when you do the reset the needles:

 

http://img26.picoodle.com/img/img26/3/12/6/f_fgauge001mam_20226ee.jpg

 

it has been my experience that you cannot replace the needles on the speedo with it out of the car.

the needl will move when the car powers up,

so if you set the needle in the ''0 mph'' position,

it will jump up a few mph at power on.

 

if you rotate the old needle all the way around

from 7 - oclock, up past 12 and then down to 6 oclock,

remove the old and reset the new,

you might get a fairly accurate reset,

but no guarantee.

 

when i reset mine,

i did it when the GPS said 60 mph while driving,

and then installed the needle to point at 60.

work great,

and only crapped my pants once while doing it.

 

is this what you were talking about??

[Zues Marine]

this is a tach swap not a gauge face swap, i had read incorrectly then posted that..

 

if you ever have to reset the needle again, i recommend using an ob2 BT reader and going like 5mph haha