Do gauges dim when headlights are turned on?

[Cornelius]

Quick question: Do the instrument lights (speedo, tach, etc.) dim when you turn on the headlights?

I could've sworn my instrument cluster used to be bright in the daytime, then dim when I switched on the headlights. Recently I noticed that the gauge backlights stay the same brightness no matter what -- even after playing with the dimming knob. I could just be losing my mind, but I thought I remembered it dimming in the past...

Just wondering what's proper and if I'm losing my mind or not!

Oh btw, the gear selection icons (P,R,N,D,3,2,1) DO dim when the lights are turned on.

Thanks!

 

[CXS]

Quick question: Do the instrument lights (speedo, tach, etc.) dim when you turn on the headlights?

Yes, the dim. I wish mine didn't because the dash lights are too dim when I drive with my lights on during the day. MY GPS is too dim to even use if they're on.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Yes they do on may modern vehicles, I believe its because at night you don't want things so bright it distracts you. For those that use their headlamps during the day for odd reasons and/or for useless DRL laws it can be frustrating.

 

[Cornelius]

Ok, good to know I'm not going crazy. Thanks for the responses.

Any ideas why they wouldn't be dimming anymore? I personally liked it, because it made the gauges easier to read on bright days (about 98% of the year, here in CA). Maybe I'm not searching for the right words, but I wasn't able to find too much on this particular problem. Mostly just folks like CXS who have the opposite issue...

 

[2014 Warthog]

The dimmer "switch" been clicked upwards into the "Always bright" setting? Try rotating it and see if it clicks, it'll probably dim then.

Ooops, I missed that you already tried that :/

Do they dim at all when turning the knob even?

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Dimmer switch might be out.

 

[MikeyMike]

Hummm, my 2008 doesn't dim, and the only light dims is the green square by the gear indicator...

 

[Cornelius]

Hummm, my 2008 doesn't dim, and the only light dims is the green square by the gear indicator...

Interesting... that's how mine is working. They adjust normally when I scroll the dimmer switch, but no brightness change when headlights are turned on/off.

Anyone else? Now I'm interested in finding out what's up here.

 

[sinednarow]

I believe its because at night you don't want things so bright it distracts you.

 

[TRDCal]

Interesting... that's how mine is working. They adjust normally when I scroll the dimmer switch, but no brightness change when headlights are turned on/off.

Anyone else? Now I'm interested in finding out what's up here.

This might have something to do about it. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/tsb/109012-tsb-el010-03-gauge-visibility-improvement.html. Don't imagine the TSB was done on your 4runner without you knowing tho.

 

[yosh2000]

Did you swap the LEDs and forget to reconnect the dimmer switch?

That has happened multiple times to guys I did the LEDs swap for. They forgot to reconnect this switch and nothing dimmed.