Backlight in Info Panel flickering!

[msanta]

I don't know if anyone have experienced this but the backlight of the Information Panel where you have the clock and other information flickers, or goes on and off, seems that it's kind of loose or ready to shut down. It only happens on one half of the display which is weird. I tap it lightly and it kind of flickers back. If anyone has had this problem before, can you tell me what you have done to correct it? It seems to me that I will have to bring the truck to get this part replaced! :awais:

 

[djlandkpl]

I have the same problem. The right side of the display will be darker than the left. It doesn't happen all the time. The dealer said it was a voltage drop but I don't believe it.

The display and the climate controls are one piece. I haven't take it apart to see if it's a loose bulb or wire.

 

[rando]

The climate controls / display panel are a single unit but are easily removed. First remove the screw revealed by opening the storage cubby. After that, you just have to grab ahold of the unit and give it a firm tug. It's attached with 4 or 5 nylon clips -- they're fairly resilient. Just go slow so you don't break anything.

There are several replaceable bulbs behind the controls but I don't recall if any of them were specifically related to the display panel or not -- usually the backlight is integrated into LCD display and NOT replaceable. In that case, you'll probably need an entire new control panel since it's a single part in the Toyota part catalog. I have this unit out several times and even completely disassembled it once to study the circuitry (see thread on MPG Readout modification by IowaRunner).

Good luck!

 

[webshot]

Mine is also doing the same damn thing! I'm gonna pull mine out and check the plug on the back.

 

[rmischle]

I also noticed the problem about a week ago. I had it out to swap my HU for the Scion, but sure I didn't damage anything. The left side seems to dim in and out. Any fix would be appreciated.

 

[kronicx]

As opposed to me making an entire new thread, I am bumping this topic back to the top.

Has anyone found a solution? Has anybody's flickering developed into anything worse; like the light totally going out? If you got it replaced, how much did it cost?

 

[msanta]

Mine hasn't gotten any worse, sometimes the left side flickers, sometimes the right. I haven't paid much attention because it is only noticeable at night! It is frustrating to think that you paid so much money for a truck that has so many imperfections. I am happy with my truck but this I have never seen in any vehicle I have owned.

 

[Fro-Runner]

"F" that crap! I'd make the dealer order me another information module interface. The whole thing just snaps out and unplug from the backside. It should be under the 3yr/36k warranty since it's a electrical problem.

I would like to change the background light color from the burnt orange to something like bluish! Too bad Toyota didn't make it where you could just switch out different color bulbs to change the background color for the dash components.

 

[CVsGX470]

Holy crap, I thought that I was hallucinating the other day. The right side of mine doesn't go on and off but you can definitely tell that it will dim and go bright again. I could see it out of the corner of my eye in my dark garage or at night. It was driving me insane. My wife said that I was nutts.

This has to be a warranty issue if we are all having this problem.
CV

 

[RickyCRX]

Mine does this as well. I also noticed the other day that the left side was VERY dim; almost not even lit up. When I was driving through the parking garage at the office, I couldn't even read the left half of it. Later in the day it was working just fine.

Aside from replacing thos whole module, has anybody found a repair/fix for it?

Ricky

 

[JRisner]

I keep telling the dealership but I can never get the panel to flicker when Im there. Oh well.....anyone else???

 

[kronicx]

When I took it in to the dealer, I got it to flicker once. My service manager was good enough to take my word that it was flickering and attempted to order a new one, but after finding out the module was $1000, the regional rep wouldn't allow the replacement until it actually went out. The rep had never heard of any problems with the part, so he didn't want to believe that I had a defective one. The service manager brought my truck in anyways, took out the module, cleaned all the connections, and I haven't had a problem with the flickering since.

So try cleaning all the connections and see if that helps anything.

 

[msanta]

Did the rep tell you how he cleaned the connections? With alcohol or anything else? or how many connections? I'll post the pics from the manual later so that anyone with the same problem can disassemble the panel.

 

[kronicx]

The dealer might have used alcohol to clean it, that sounds familiar. As far as I know, there is only one plug, and I'm assuming they cleaned out both connectors. I'm sure if I wasn't under warranty they would have had no problem in ordering me a brand new panel.

 

[msanta]

This is what I found in the manual:

 

[msanta]

This is what I found in the manual:

 

[msanta]

This is what I found in the manual:

 

[iFORCE]

There is nothing wrong with the display.. except for the LIGHT BULB behind it. The flickering happened to me.. and then it went dead... so I took that whole unit out and right behind there... are TWO bulbs.. one on each side of the LCD display. use a flathead screwdriver and turn the bulbs 15degrees. It'll pop out, so replace it with a new one. Takes 15 mins. MAX.

I used this link to help me take it out:
http://www.castulucci.com/projects/carpc/oemnaviaccess/

 

[msanta]

Hi,
Is it possible to post pictures of where the light bulbs are and/or the kind of bulbs? I want to fix this, it makes me nuts to see the panel flcikering specially at night. Thanks so much for your info...

 

[iFORCE]

Hi,
Is it possible to post pictures of where the light bulbs are and/or the kind of bulbs? I want to fix this, it makes me nuts to see the panel flcikering specially at night. Thanks so much for your info...

once you take out that center console piece.. you'll see nothing but beige lightbulb screws. there is no way you can miss it as most of it is covered in smooth plastic.