Console/Radio Illumination

[Crashingtehwarehouse]

Hi all,

I just purchased an '07 Yaris 3 Door Automatic and find it odd that I can't see any of the console buttons and knobs at night. I've tried messing with the brightness wheel next to the steering column, but nothing. And the only thing that lights up on my radio is the display.

I took it back to the dealership today, and my salesman said that's normal. Is it? Because it certainly seems to be annoying.

[Altitude]

That's not normal. Usually people with this issue do as you did and turn up the dimmer wheel. If that's not doing it for you then I'd say something is wrong.

[Crashingtehwarehouse]

That's not normal. Usually people with this issue do as you did and turn up the dimmer wheel. If that's not doing it for you then I'd say something is wrong.

Yeah, I think it's weird too. I've had a lot of cars before, and none of them were completely dark like this one. Sad

[bizzlebaby]

there is a setting on the dimmer wheel that will turn all the lights down... perhaps yours is set to that position... try turning it forcefully downwards... i know sometimes at night i purposely drive with my dash and console lights off

[CTScott]

If it's not the dimmer rheostat position, check the MET and GAUGE fuses in the under dash fuse panel (literally under the bottom of the dash, by the hood release lever). The prior owner may have had an aftermarket radio installed and popped one of the illumination related fuses when deinstalling it.

[Crashingtehwarehouse]

there is a setting on the dimmer wheel that will turn all the lights down... perhaps yours is set to that position... try turning it forcefully downwards... i know sometimes at night i purposely drive with my dash and console lights off

Nope, that was the first thing I tried. The dimmer rheostat does absolutely nothing. It's like it's been disconnected or something.

[Crashingtehwarehouse]

If it's not the dimmer rheostat position, check the MET and GAUGE fuses in the under dash fuse panel (literally under the bottom of the dash, by the hood release lever). The prior owner may have had an aftermarket radio installed and popped one of the illumination related fuses when deinstalling it.

You mean popped as in it's not seated properly or popped as it the fuse is blown? And how will I know which fuse is which?

Thanks

[Idahotom]

You sure you have the lights turned on, and arn't just driving around on the daytime lights? That's what I did the first 200 miles when I picked up my '08! I too was puzzeled by the lack of lighted dash controls.... until I figured that they go on just fine when you turn the headlights on!

BTW, when driving at night using just the daytime lioghts, you have NO taillights, that seems like a bad idea.

[CTScott]

You mean popped as in it's not seated properly or popped as it the fuse is blown? And how will I know which fuse is which?

Thanks

Popped as in blown. The fuse cover has a diagram on it that shows which fuse is which.

[Yaris]

I took it back to the dealership today, and my salesman said that's normal.

So take it to the Service dept.:help:

[Crashingtehwarehouse]

You sure you have the lights turned on, and arn't just driving around on the daytime lights? That's what I did the first 200 miles when I picked up my '08! I too was puzzeled by the lack of lighted dash controls.... until I figured that they go on just fine when you turn the headlights on!

BTW, when driving at night using just the daytime lioghts, you have NO taillights, that seems like a bad idea.

I've been meaning to come back and say, you were right. I had no idea, for the longest time that I had to actually turn on the lights. I've never had a car that I had to do that with, so never thought to try it.

Thanks!