Lighting on Hazards/rear defog

Tim-Ti · 10-15-2002, 12:07 AM

Does anyones GC8 type Impreza have illuminated hazard light and rear window defog buttons?

Mine do not light up, finding them at night can be quite tricky; but I'm not sure I remember them ever having lit up.

Before anyone suggests it, I had the console out when installing a new stereo, so I'm not going to do this just to take a look.

thanks, Tim

MagicMT · 10-15-2002, 04:38 AM

I think this is a common problem with our cars. My hazard button isn't backlit anymore.

And it seems like a lot of trouble to fix.

Tim-Ti · 10-15-2002, 01:20 PM

so it was originally backlit?

PacificMartin · 10-15-2002, 01:33 PM

I don't remember mine ever being lit. The first time I had to use it it took me a while to even find where it was.

Darby · 10-15-2002, 02:16 PM

it would be nice for it to be backlit, i don't think mine ever was...then again, i've already memorized where everything in the console is so i can hit it without looking at night....

MagicMT · 10-15-2002, 07:40 PM

Not sure about your car, but the hazards and rear defroster buttons definitely came backlit on an 01RS.

avk · 10-16-2002, 09:22 PM

The switches are illuminated and the bulbs are replaceable with Radio Shack p/n 7219.

Tim-Ti · 10-16-2002, 09:36 PM

avk -- just the answer I needed, thank you very much

Suba_Roo · 04-18-2007, 01:37 AM

Is there any trick to taking the switches out of the dash? Both my hazard and defrost button lights have burned out and I'd like to replace the bulbs but don't want to scratch up the dash getting the buttons out.

Suba_Roo · 04-18-2007, 04:33 PM

So I answered my own question. Just click in the hazard lights, open the cup holder, and then grab the defroster switch and rock it side to side, it pops right out. Then grab the hazard light switch, push it towards the driver side and it pops right out too.

Unhook the wiring harness, pry the switches open and then replace the tiny light bulbs in their silicon bases with bulb #7219 from radio shack.

Funny thing. These 7219 lightbulbs claim an average life of 10,000 hours. My 01 Impreza has 81,000 miles on it. So if it took 10,000 hours of driving, then I've averaged 8 miles per hour.

10-15-2002, 12:07 AM	#1
Tim-Ti Scooby Newbie Member#: 22874 Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Irvine, CA Vehicle: 1998 OBS Green	Lighting on Hazards/rear defog Does anyones GC8 type Impreza have illuminated hazard light and rear window defog buttons? Mine do not light up, finding them at night can be quite tricky; but I'm not sure I remember them ever having lit up. Before anyone suggests it, I had the console out when installing a new stereo, so I'm not going to do this just to take a look. thanks, Tim

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

10-15-2002, 04:38 AM	#2
MagicMT Scooby Specialist Member#: 4042 Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: CA Vehicle: 2001 Magic Mobile Old School Style	I think this is a common problem with our cars. My hazard button isn't backlit anymore. And it seems like a lot of trouble to fix.

10-15-2002, 01:20 PM	#3
Tim-Ti Scooby Newbie Member#: 22874 Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Irvine, CA Vehicle: 1998 OBS Green	so it was originally backlit?

10-15-2002, 01:33 PM	#4
PacificMartin Scooby Newbie Member#: 12108 Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Sacramento, CA Vehicle: 2001 2.5 RS Silverthorne	I don't remember mine ever being lit. The first time I had to use it it took me a while to even find where it was.

10-15-2002, 02:16 PM	#5
Darby Scooby Specialist Member#: 17175 Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: in my chevelle Vehicle: 1966 Chevelle Malibu ehhh, on the rebuild...	it would be nice for it to be backlit, i don't think mine ever was...then again, i've already memorized where everything in the console is so i can hit it without looking at night....

10-15-2002, 07:40 PM	#6
MagicMT Scooby Specialist Member#: 4042 Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: CA Vehicle: 2001 Magic Mobile Old School Style	Not sure about your car, but the hazards and rear defroster buttons definitely came backlit on an 01RS.

10-16-2002, 09:22 PM	#7
avk Scooby Specialist Member#: 17252 Join Date: Apr 2002 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: NJ Vehicle: '95 GF6 340; No Cash on Board	The switches are illuminated and the bulbs are replaceable with Radio Shack p/n 7219.

10-16-2002, 09:36 PM	#8
Tim-Ti Scooby Newbie Member#: 22874 Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Irvine, CA Vehicle: 1998 OBS Green	avk -- just the answer I needed, thank you very much

04-18-2007, 01:37 AM	#9
Suba_Roo Scooby Newbie Member#: 5691 Join Date: Apr 2001 Chapter/Region: BAIC Location: Redwood City, CA Vehicle: 2001 2.5 RS Silverthorn	Is there any trick to taking the switches out of the dash? Both my hazard and defrost button lights have burned out and I'd like to replace the bulbs but don't want to scratch up the dash getting the buttons out.

04-18-2007, 04:33 PM	#10
Suba_Roo Scooby Newbie Member#: 5691 Join Date: Apr 2001 Chapter/Region: BAIC Location: Redwood City, CA Vehicle: 2001 2.5 RS Silverthorn	So I answered my own question. Just click in the hazard lights, open the cup holder, and then grab the defroster switch and rock it side to side, it pops right out. Then grab the hazard light switch, push it towards the driver side and it pops right out too. Unhook the wiring harness, pry the switches open and then replace the tiny light bulbs in their silicon bases with bulb #7219 from radio shack. Funny thing. These 7219 lightbulbs claim an average life of 10,000 hours. My 01 Impreza has 81,000 miles on it. So if it took 10,000 hours of driving, then I've averaged 8 miles per hour.