I purchased a 2008 4Runner earlier this year. I found that the instrument panel lights are always on. Normally when you have trouble seeing the instrument panel it's a reminder that you need to turn on your headlights. Several times I haven't realized my headlights weren't on because the instrument panel lights were on. Seems to me to be a safety issue. Is this a past problem with 4Runners or did it just crop up this model year?
2008 Dash Light Safety Issue
- Thread starter stlsailor
- Start date
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CJ3Flyr
Super Moderator
stlsailor said:
I had to "train" my brain to register the green 'lights on' indicator. It is less than ideal. During the day I trained myself to look for a dim gear position indicator to alert me the lights were on.
In previous years people complained about the gauges being to dark in the day. There was actually a SB to wire the older models as ours are wired.
I know that doesn't help much...
:cheers:
Alternatives
Gauges too dark during the day I can understand. Creating a safety issue to solve the problem I can't. But it does shed light on the issue.
I did think about just leaving the lights on all the time, but I don't really like to drive with lights on during broad daylight.
Toyota could have (1) made easier to see gauges, or (2) provided for the lights to turn on and off automatically at dusk as my old Yukon did, (3) or do what they did. They didn't make the best choice.
More and more I'm coming to think the Envoy I passed on may have been the better choice. The 4Runner has not lived up to expectations in several areas.
Gauges too dark during the day I can understand. Creating a safety issue to solve the problem I can't. But it does shed light on the issue.
I did think about just leaving the lights on all the time, but I don't really like to drive with lights on during broad daylight.
Toyota could have (1) made easier to see gauges, or (2) provided for the lights to turn on and off automatically at dusk as my old Yukon did, (3) or do what they did. They didn't make the best choice.
More and more I'm coming to think the Envoy I passed on may have been the better choice. The 4Runner has not lived up to expectations in several areas.
CJ3Flyr
Super Moderator
Re: Alternatives
As a devout T4R owner I can't disagree with that statement. For me the near perfect mechanicals, fit & finish make the T4R the right choice for me. There is no question you can see the value engineering and where it affected the T4R. The body electrics and some of the ergonomics flat out suck. This instrument lighting issue, the lack of lit window switches and the inability to 'tune' the body control module etc are some examples that come to mind immediately. Some of these shortcomings are almost inexcusable but for the price of a SR5 or SE show me a better, more durable, higher resale SUV in this size range. I don't think you can.
GM electrics on mid and high level trim are spectacular. I hear ya on the Envoy for this type of stuff. I can assure you that when the T4R hits 140k it'll still be a nice vehicle, the Envoy will feel tired.
Overall vehicles are choices. If you want the last bit of polish and 4Runner tough/durable perhaps a 1-2 year old GX470 is a better choice for you. Sometimes I wish I had done that.
I wish I had something better to tell you
To me the good and the capability far outweigh the shortcomings.
:cheers:
stlsailor said:
As a devout T4R owner I can't disagree with that statement. For me the near perfect mechanicals, fit & finish make the T4R the right choice for me. There is no question you can see the value engineering and where it affected the T4R. The body electrics and some of the ergonomics flat out suck. This instrument lighting issue, the lack of lit window switches and the inability to 'tune' the body control module etc are some examples that come to mind immediately. Some of these shortcomings are almost inexcusable but for the price of a SR5 or SE show me a better, more durable, higher resale SUV in this size range. I don't think you can.
GM electrics on mid and high level trim are spectacular. I hear ya on the Envoy for this type of stuff. I can assure you that when the T4R hits 140k it'll still be a nice vehicle, the Envoy will feel tired.
Overall vehicles are choices. If you want the last bit of polish and 4Runner tough/durable perhaps a 1-2 year old GX470 is a better choice for you. Sometimes I wish I had done that.
I wish I had something better to tell you
To me the good and the capability far outweigh the shortcomings.:cheers:
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Yes, I admit some GM features like dual climate control and other things caught my eye.
In the end it was 4 things that took me to Toyota. (1) I never have been able to get more than 130K out of a GM vehicle before things start to fall apart; (2) the back seats of the Envoy didn't fold flat--that can't be that hard; (3) they knew ahead of time they would have a crash test rating so why not build a vehicle that would score better? (4) price. Of these the first was far and away the most important.
That said Toyota has not been nearly as good as I anticipated -- a mpg reading that's not even close to accurate, difficulty seeing some instrumentation especially on the radio, lack of a standard XM-compatible radio, dash lights that come on when the headlights don't, etc. Nonetheless, reliability at high mileage is still a major plus, but they've missed a chance to seal the deal in other areas.
LeesO4
New member
I really don't think these are big problems. When I drive at night and forget to turn my headlights on I realize quickly that everything in front of me is dark. I think to myself... headlights!
Anyways Toyota is the way to go. Envoy is nicer then the Trailblazer but I'd take a 4runner with 100k before I take a new Envoy.
Anyways Toyota is the way to go. Envoy is nicer then the Trailblazer but I'd take a 4runner with 100k before I take a new Envoy.
Yeah, I do that too in the country (though it usually dawns on me about 30 minutes after it should). On brightly lit streets it's a different story. I do agree that long term reliability is a much bigger issue though -- which is why I wound up with a T4R.
Reliability is important. Beyond that, it's the little things though that make a difference between a vehicle that's simply OK and one that you love to drive. The T4R is OK, that's all.
CJ3Flyr
Super Moderator
Does yours have the DRL's? I know they are not any kind of solution but they do make it much safer if you 'forget' the headlights during twilight. They are bright enough that it's unlikely someone would pull out in front of you. Just a thought and much cheaper than a GX470
:cheers:
:cheers:
SP Jon M3
New member
stlsailor said:
Not to be a dik or anything, but the fact that it's getting dark outside kind reminds me to check my headlights. Why do you need to worry about the dash? I understand that older/other cars don't have their dash lights on when the lights are off, but all you have to do is get used to checking your light switch when it gets dark outside. I really don't think this is a safety issue, just a retraining issue. Not only that, on a "normal" car if you have only the parking lights on usually the dash lights are on as well, is this a safety issue?
stlsailor said:
They did, but just in the limited trim. It has auto on/off headlights as well as driver's seat position memory.
from toyota.com
Limited: "Aerodynamic projector beam headlamps with auto on/off feature"
SR5 and Sport: "Aerodynamic projector beam headlamps with auto-off feature"
There are two problems. One is that at dusk you need your headlights on before it gets dark enough to trigger a headlight reflex. Yes, eventually the darkness will trigger realizing the need to turn on headlights -- at least 30 minutes or more too late. The second is that if you are on a brightly lit road at night you don't get even that visual cue. I'd have to say Toyota dropped the ball on this one. It would have been easy to do the right thing and they didn't.
RoarFunner
New member
I'll have to recheck mine. My 08's headlights did not shut themselves off even after 60 seconds. Were there some without the auto-off feature? Not to mention, the least they could do is have the warning bell sound if the lights are on with the door open and the ignition off. I haven't had a vehicle since the 70's that didn't at least warn you that your lights were on (excluding the auto-headlight feature).
Photog3
New member
The new climate controls indicate what your settings are with lights. In the past, the sliders or knobs could be seen without lights, during the day.
The 4th Gen dash lights need to be fairly bright, to know what settings are being used. If you drive with the headlights on during the day, it can be difficult to see the climate control lights, as they are dimmed with the headlights on. This is OK at night; but not during the day.
With the dash set up this way, it is a no win situation.
You could do the Fog Light Rewire mod, and leave them on all the time. This would provide visibility of your vehicle during twilight, until you notice it is time to turn on your headlights.
The 4th Gen dash lights need to be fairly bright, to know what settings are being used. If you drive with the headlights on during the day, it can be difficult to see the climate control lights, as they are dimmed with the headlights on. This is OK at night; but not during the day.
With the dash set up this way, it is a no win situation.
You could do the Fog Light Rewire mod, and leave them on all the time. This would provide visibility of your vehicle during twilight, until you notice it is time to turn on your headlights.
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Uneek
Super Moderator
RoarFunner said:
Don't mess with the switch after you shut off the engine. I've turned the lights on purposely after I was parked and it wouldn't turn off, repeated presses of 'Lock' on the key fob, nothing will turn them off and other than the switch. But if I leave them on after I turn the engine off, it's off within a minute or two.
