Any DIY to keep instrument cluster lights on at all times?

Hello,

I got my windows tinted & it is difficult to read the instrument cluster when the headlights aren't on. Is there any way to have the cluster illuminated regardless of my headlights being on or off?

Thanks!

 

Did you do 5%? I've got 20% all around (also have had on other vehicles) and never had an issue during the day without lights on.

 

The 2019 you have @Jaypown, and up the gauge cluster is illuminated all the time.

my 17, just like @xround 15 is only illuminated when the parking lights are on.


I would also love to see a work around for this mod.

 

Yes 5%. It is darker than shit lol.

But even before that, I feel like the truck waits until it's pretty dark to turn the headlights on. Everybody else's lights are on before mine...

 

My 99 Dodge Dakota sure didnt have an illuminated cluster lol but I had 20% on it.

Either way, that would be unsafe to not be able to see your cluster because of tint. Hopefully there's a mod for this.

 

Wait, how does window tint affect your instrument cluster . . . ?

EDIT: ohh, you mean like the tint makes the world appear darker, so you turn on your headlights, and the truck thinks it's nighttime, and everything inside dims?
EDIT2: I see, the opposite--during the day, the interior lighting isn't on, and your tint causes the cluster to be super dark because no daylight OHHH

 

Have you ever tried reading a book with the lights off?

 

The cluster is dark grey with slightly lighter gray numbers. It can be difficult to see. I understand it completely.

 

No, I mean the instrument cluster is not backlit unless the headlights are turned on. Window tint allows much less light into the cabin, so less light hits my un-illuminated instrument cluster. I don't want to drive around everywhere with my headlights on.

 

OHH--I see, so it's the opposite--during the day, the interior lighting isn't on, and your tint causes the cluster to be super dark because no daylight OHHH

 

It's Monday

 

Put a piece of tape on the little nub in the middle of the dash.
It affects the dash light brightness and turns the lights on when in auto. Although I’m in Canada with daytime running lights.

 

I'm old and my memory isn't what it once was, but it seems to me that the vehicles I've owned (at least the last couple) had the dash lights on always. With the lights being adjustable output, then when the headlights are turned on the dash lights dim down so as to not be to bright. Both my truck (and former truck) and my wife's 2016 Mazda have this feature.

Are you sure there's not a adjustment for light output without headlights on?

 

Drive with your lights on?

 

Majority don't have lights on the dash when headlights are not on. The feature of having dash lights always on is quite annoying to me though. I see too many people driving around late evening, early night without their headlights on because they see their dash lights on, thinking their headlights are also on.

 

Bump...

 

2014 SR5 same issue. No automatic headlights either. Near impossible to see with cloud cover and dark windows.

 

My gen 1 does this and it pisses me off that when I run day with headlights the clusters get dim. Can't read direction, time, temp. These don't have dash light sensors

 

bumping again... somebody has to have some ideas here lol

 

Did anyone ever figure out a fix or a trick to solve this issue? Just got a 2017 limited DC and am bummed about this. This is my 3rd Tundra and they made some really odd calls on this one (no grab bar either, really?). Great truck otherwise, but I'd love to find a solution.

 

Remove the tint?

 

https://www.autozone.com/lighting/i...DKal7cvsMy_RKThyrfQaAuksEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Seems simple enough.

 

I have 5% an no issues seeing mine.

 

If your comfortable pulling some trim pieces and messing with wiring I'm certain this can be done. I'll look at the wiring diagram later but I bet it's as simple as cutting the input from the headlight switch and wiring it to an always on source.

 

someone on here said it is controlled by the ECU. Hopefully the wiring diagrams proved different.

 

The main problem for me is driving into the sun especially with sunglasses on. I had a 2009 and 2014 Tacomas and no problems. I know the lights came on in the 2014 with the key on and I recall it also had white gauges. I wrote an email to Toyota customer service on this and the response I got was to turn the little knob. Wrote back and stated that I don't think you understand the problem and I know how to adjust with headlights on. I also posted something on this forum several years ago and noone had a fix. I am not going to drive with headlights on. I have Profile LEDs and you don't just pull a bulb and replace.

 

lol I guess we're the lucky group with fulltime dashboard illumination.

 

Only have a minute to look before heading off to work but it looks promising.

Looks like you'd need to modify the output of J133(C). It looks like this drives all the interior illumination based off a taillight relay. It will control all the switch LED and combination meter (speedometer) via the light blue wire (SB) and Junction connector J62, and then the White (W) wire to the combo meter.

I can dig in further this afternoon, but that should get your started.

 

Is there a page missing? I'm not seeing how alternatively powering pin 57 at the 7.5A fuse/taillight relay will light the cluster. J62 is supplying all of the switches' diodes while the cluster has an internal LED driver and is likely commanded through CAN (which matches the comment above about ECU control).

 

No tint and not really a tint issue. The gauge cluster is simply dark and hard to see in certain light. I had a 2011 Tundra prior and the cluster was lit full time so you could see it. Just hoping someone figured out a way to get these to stay on when the key is in the ignition versus having to dun parking or headlights for it to work.