Dash Light issue - Case Filed

jebus...

 

Called Toyota as well and have a case number also. Hope they come out with a fix as this is very annoying.

 

You know I completely agree with this. Too often is see people driving with their headlights off when they should be on (raining, dusk, driving towards sun). I get we don’t all think to do it but it is really dangerous and if you’re purposely not turning them on for whatever reason, not cool. Thread just went completely sideways though lol.

 

The knob on mine controls all the dash lights including Speedo, tach, and others. I used to not care for white faces on gauges but now I miss the ones I had on the Taco. Tundra gauges are almost impossible to read in low light conditions and or with sunglasses on and I am not talking about dark enough to require headlights. Just a cloudy day when sun is not at my back. Never had this problem in Taco.

 

Sorry guys but I sold my Tundra after owning it for 4 months so I have NO updates whatsoever, but I alsways love to check-out these tastefully moded Tundras.

Currently rocking a GX460 now.

 

It could be worse. When on the F150 forum, I found a thread regarding.......... cup holders and the size of cups that fit or don't fit. Man, first world problems are of abundance on that site. Not to mention the a thread griping about the glare of the Chrome interior trim.

 

I know this thread is almost a year old, but I have to jump-in on this one.... I moved up from a 2012 Tundra Limited Crewmax to a 2018 Platinum late last year. Basically same engine and drivetrain and some nice upgrades. I absolutely loved my 2012 and sold it to my daughter and future son-in-law to keep it in the family. So I know this may be petty to some, but when it comes to the dashboard lights (I am talking about illumination of speedo, tach, blinkers, warning lights, etc. in particular), I know for a fact that the 2018 took a step backwards in terms of visibility in daylight. Really?! Why?! I am a little confused by some comments regarding no lights at all on the dash during daylight, since my 2018 dashboard does, in fact, remain lit-up with headlights on or off. But the problem is... they remain the same brightness regardless -- and it is simply not very visible on brighter days. I want to double check this -- but in my old 2012, I am almost certain that the dashboard lights automatically went brighter when headlights went off. Again, I am only talking about the dashboard (speedo, tach, etc. and NOT the center display). Such a simple and functional feature that should have remained in place on the newer trucks -- in my opinion. These are great trucks, but Toyota should NOT try to fix what wasn't broken please!! And this also goes for the noticeably degraded JBL premium sound system (much better in the 2012) as well as the crazy idea in the engineering department to dampen the electronic throttle response in the newer trucks (now have to press tow/haul mode each time I jump-in if I want that same "older truck" feeling of responsiveness and power).

 

At least,the dash lights stay on un the 2018. Biggest complaint on my 2017 is instrumentation visibility on cloudy days or with sunglasses on. Never had this problem with Tacomas. Emailed Toyota and explained in detail. They answered back with instructions on how to use knob to adjust. I had to explain again that I was talking daylight without need for headlights. I don't think they ever quite got it. I might email again. If I could just mod to have dash lights on with key like Tacoma I would be happy. I don't want to have turn headlights or parking lights on just to illuminate the dash

 

Yeah, in the 2007 when you turned that knob all the way up, there was a little click that turned the dash lights on without headlights. I missed it when I first got the '16, but I don't really notice it anymore.

 

It never bothered me for 2+ years, then this past December I had an 18 F-150 rental for about 10 days and must have gotten used to a backlit dash because ever since my dash seemed darker and hard to see, even on some sunny days. I have resorted to using my parking lights all the time and dealing with it. It amazes me how cheap Toyota was with their lighting. Dash was backlit through 13, not for the 14-17's, and now is on the 18+ (as well as all of the other later model Toyota models I am aware of) so can't tell me it for safety BS. Would think there should be a pretty easy mod to this but doesn't seem so.

 

No click or detent on that knob on my 2010.I guess even that long ago, Toyota's "Beancounters" were hard at work,deleting useful features from one year to the next. They're out of excuses and "reasons" for these Cheap, Cost-Cutting ploys, that insult past buyers/customers intelligence.

 

Good question... but yes, I keep it at full brightness. Again, not sure if this is new for 2018, but the knob is actually on the left (trip/Odo on the right) and you simply push it to toggle various brightness settings.

 

To go along with your comments, I have also already taken the liberty to change all the interior lights to LED. I never did it to my 2012, but definitely noticed them in my brother's 2017 F-150 and felt like I really needed my 2018 to "get with the times"!

 

They aren't deleting too many features (maybe this one and the driver side OS handle), they are adding trim levels. Limited was the best there was in 07. In the 2016 truck I couldn't get the features I had in the 07 unless I went with the 1794.

 

Now you reminded me of just one more thing! I miss that grab handle too!I think I am still too "attached" to my old truck -- especially when I see the kids drive into the driveway with it! Still wouldn't trade either the 2012 or the 2018 for my brother's Ford though! Been there-done that and I was chasing much bigger problems back then for sure!

 

I don't really have a problem with the dash lights, and ive owned a lot of these 4x Toyotas, but the light I really miss in my 19 is the one around the keyhole. It's like 1975 all again, poking around in the dark to find the little slit the key fits in. Ain't complaining here though, love this first Tundra, especially in tow mode!

 

Toyota deleting the grab handle is just stupid. All the other trucks have them. Maybe there is something to the theory about selling more steps or parts. I added one to mine.

 

That one is an easy fix. Just leave the door open until you get the key in the hole. It is also easier with LEDs in the interior.

 

That was one of the first things I did after I got the truck. Made a huge difference. As did the 2018 OEM LED headlights .

 

I have a pic for you to see what we see on the wife's rav4 and my tundra. Anyone with this kind of crap lighting not only has a right to complain but an obligation.

This was in daylight hours with bright sun in the wrong direction. If you have real good eyes you can see portions of the silver instrument bezel rings.

 

Sounds like someone in enjineerin. Do you have any idea what that does to the navigation / radio display? There is no reason for those 2 to be connected. Please allow the customer to do some thinking on their own. We don't need that kind of nonsense. I won't be looking at another Toyota until that BS is changed.

 

Toyota needs to tell us how to hook up the dash lights so they come on when the key is on. I can't be that hard to do. I can't hardly read my gauges with sunglasses on while driving in to the sun.