i/p and radio lights go out

[98outbackpdx]

back story-i was driving home from Vancouver WA, i had just gotten gas, and had just gotten out to the freeway and the interior lights shut off. the radar detector did not shut off, the radio was going and the head lights did not shut off eather. at first i thought the car had stalled, and was like crap. i pulled to the shoulder of the freeway and stopped. i shut off the headlights and turned them back on and all of the interior lights turned back on. i should mention that i was taking my boots off while i was driving, yeah i know i should not. so i was getting all paranoid that the the car was haunted or something, my dog had put down not to long ago and we took him to the vet in the subie. anyways i get to about Corbett and was taking my boots off again and it did the same thing. so i pulled over and shut off the lights and turned them back on, and they worked again. so i did not take my boots off again and it was fine.
so my question is what wires am i bumping that is causing this. because i am going to get all anal and start pulling things apart not knowing what is what, and then have $1,500 mechanic bill because i broke something. so can someone point me in the right direction so i can fix this. thanks

[Huffer]

What part of the car did you bump when you took your boots off...?

[98outbackpdx]

under the dash i think left of the pedals.

[chuckthefuk]

the location you mentioned houses almost all the electronics from security system to fusebox.

Think about it this way. Your lights are controlled by the steering column stalks.. Therefore the wires go down the column under the dash (above the pedals) and then into the fusebox on the left of the dash by your left foot.

Its very common for wires / connectors to get loose/frayed/corroded specially if your kicking salty snow up there.

Grab a copy of your factory service manual from the literature section. There are wiring diagrams and procedure to test these issues.

Step up and be the mechanic.. Electrical diagnostics is bread and butter for dealerships..

-Chuck

[slaytalera]

^before you do that look at the headlight stalk, theres a twisting switch that controls the level of the light on for the dash and center console, make sure your not hitting that by mistake(rolls the same direction the headlight switch does, so rolling the headlights off, and back on while unintentionally grabbing that switch will push both back "on")

[98outbackpdx]

^before you do that look at the headlight stalk, theres a twisting switch that controls the level of the light on for the dash and center console, make sure your not hitting that by mistake(rolls the same direction the headlight switch does, so rolling the headlights off, and back on while unintentionally grabbing that switch will push both back "on")
the lights did not dim, they went completely dark, like the car was off.

[Wiscon_Mark]

I'll agree with Chuck. There's probably a loose connection that you're jarring since it turns right back on when you cycle the lights. Hopefully it's fixable without having to buy anything!

[98outbackpdx]

now the little back light for the temp gauge and for ~4500+k rpm is barely lit.

[chuckthefuk]

have u tried removing and reconnecting your cluster?

[98outbackpdx]

no i have not tried to disconnect the cluster. i will have it looked at when i take it in for the rear brakes.

[Wiscon_Mark]

now the little back light for the temp gauge and for ~4500+k rpm is barely lit.

That's most likely a bulb or 2 being out. There's either 6 or 8 bulbs back there lighting up the gauges.

It's an easy fix.