Reset the Clock

The dashboard clock on a fourth-generation Subaru Legacy (BL sedan / BP wagon, 2003–2009) is set with two buttons beside the display. It is the quickest reset on the car and comes in handy after a battery disconnection or the twice-yearly clock change.

How to set the clock

The clock works with the ignition in the ACC or ON position. There is no separate hour and minute control — both are adjusted with the same + and − buttons in one-minute steps.

1. Turn the ignition to ACC or ON.
2. If the time display is off, press the DISP button to show it.
3. Press the + button to move the time forward, or the − button to move it back. Each press changes the time by one minute.
4. Hold either button to run the minutes forward or back quickly.
5. Release the button when the correct time is shown. The setting is saved automatically.

Do not set the clock while driving. If no button is pressed for about ten seconds while the time is displayed, the indication simply switches off again.

Why the clock resets itself

If the clock keeps returning to a default time on its own, the battery has lost power at some point — usually a flat or disconnected battery, or a poor terminal connection. Check the battery and its terminals if it happens repeatedly.

Frequently asked questions

There are no H and M buttons — how do I set the hour?
This clock does not use separate hour and minute buttons. Hold the + or − button and the minutes roll over into the next hour.

The time disappears after a few seconds — is that normal?
Yes. With the ignition off, the display shows the time only briefly after you press DISP, then switches off to save power.

My clock lost the time after a jump-start.
That is normal whenever battery power is interrupted. Just reset it with the + and − buttons.

If your clock keeps resetting alongside other electrical glitches or a warning light, it is worth reading any stored fault codes — you can look them up on autodtcs.com.