'03 cluster in '00 Outback

[MudRunner]

Anybody know if they are cross compatible? I'm wanting the black faces / metal rings that the '03 has. I know the '03 had a thermometer and my '00 does not. There's an '03 sitting in a junkyard an hour away. They want $30 for it, but unless I know it will work, I don't want to go down there and pull it.

[d1giPhux]

Good question.. ive been wondering a bit about cluster compatibility between models of cars.

Anyone have any wiring diagram jpgs of the various cars / years? That might help you out.

[MudRunner]

Yeah, I'm curious because I know it could be different. :smt017

I come from a Forester background, for instance, and Subaru changed the plugs on the cluster in the SF ('98-'02) models in late '99 to early '00, so even though they LOOK identical, they aren't cross compatible. One of my buddies went to swap in a 2.5RS cluster and found out that he had the old plugs. Was able to re-pin and make it work though.

[MudRunner]

Better question. Are the 4EAT gear indicator lights in the BH cluster replaceable? My green 'D' bulb burned out the other day, and it's really throwing me off not having it there for some reason. Not shifting wise (lol) but it looks like something is wrong when I don't see it down there. I guess after 143,900 miles of it being there, that could happen.

If they are, I may just break out some silver paint and make those bezels silver myself while the cluster is out.