Function Button Lighting Around Head Unit

Hello Guys...
I'm a new TW user as of tonight but a long time Tacoma owner. I've purchased 4 new Tacomas since 2000. I've never considered another truck since the first one! Just purchased my 2018 TRD-OR 4x4 (White), without opening a door or test driving (that's how "hard core" Tacoma wired I am). Forgive me if this is has previously been discussed on TW, I've searched and I'm sure I am just not typing in the correct terminology of my question. I am wanting to know if there is a way to "brighten" the lighting of the function buttons around the head unit display ****while in the auto headlight mode****. During the day when I have my headlights in auto mode, I barely can see these buttons but when I turn my lights off or turn them to the DRL function these buttons brighten and are much easier to see. I have the knob that brightens interior lighting turned all the way up, and it still is hard for me to see these functions. Am I the only person that is having this issue and/or does someone know of a fix for this?

 

I have no idea, just wanted to say congrats on the new truck!

 

Same problem here. Haven’t been able to figure out a solution.

 

Don't have auto headlights, but I'd like to know this too. There are some scenarios where I want my headlights when it's not dark and would still like to be able to see the radio buttons.

 

I agree, I hate that lately on my foggy morning commutes. I usually just have the parking lights/drls and fogs on and I hate having to switch to day mode on the display...I wish day mode worked for the buttons as well!

 

Go into display options and increase the brightness, think it's all linked though. Screen and buttons increase at same time

 

Settings - Display - Check the box for daytime brightness all the time.

 

Oooh, that might work and then turn the brightness down a little?

 

I think I've tried the "checking" the daytime button, but I don't think that helps, but I will try that and give an update. Thanks for all the replies...

 

I just tried "checking" the daytime box in the display settings and that only changes the brightness and contrast of the images on the screen, not the button lighting. There simply may not be a way to change it. It may just be that I'm getting older and can't see as well but today it was really sunny outside and when I had my headlights set on auto, I could barely see the button lighting, and when I switch to DRL function, the buttons get brighter around the Radio Screen but all of the other lighting goes off and then the knobs for the AC/Heat Controls are hard to see. I guess I'm just getting too picky in my "old age", I just need to be more thankful that I'm able to drive a new Tacoma and "call it good". I still Love my Taco, with or without the bright button lighting!!!!!

 

Probably resistor controlled inside the unit. If you were inclined to open it up the easiest thing to spot on the pcb is the ground plane. The leds will connect to that with a resistor either before or after, probably smd and could be an effing tiny one at that(0603) since current will be single digit milliamps. Often an 0805 size will fit on 0603 solder pads. Get more of the same value and stack one one each or replace with a new value resistor.(like 1/5 or 1/10 resistance) brightness perception is non linear so it takes several time the lumen output to look twice as bright. Not something I'd do unless I were contemplating shitcanning it otherwise.

 

Look at your instrument cluster for the trip odometer reset button. It pokes thru the cluster lens.

Twist it clockwise to brighten dash lights
Counterclockwise to dim them.

The info is in the owners manual.

I looked it up right after buying my truck because I hate the dash lights so bright at night.

 

thats not what he is talking about, he means the home, apps and all the other buttons on your head unit.

 

That dimmer makes my radio buttons bright and dim...so yes, it is what he's talking about.

 

does it change yours to a normal, daytime brightness?

 

The radio button illumination is controlled by the trip reset button/dimmer... just like the instrument cluster lights and every other illuminated knob/control button on the dashboard.

I can't tell you specifically how bright it gets.

Twisting the trip reset will brighten and dim everything on the dashboard, INCLUDING the radio buttons specified by the OP.

 

The instrument cluster knob does change the brightness of the radio buttons but not as much as the instrument panel lighting. Try this and you will see what I'm talking about. Turn your headlights on (to the auto setting) then turn the instrument panel knob that you are talking about all the way to the right to brightest setting. You will see that the radio button lighting stops getting brighter on the last 2-3 clicks, while the other lights seem to get brighter. Now turn your headlights off to the DRL function and you will see that the radio button lighting gets much brighter. I agree "at night", those buttons are pretty bright, but in the daytime on a sunny day "to me" they are hard to see, if you leave your headlights on the "auto" setting. Also, changing the Display setting to the daytime mode DOES NOT change the brightness of the buttons, it only changes the screen image. Again, this may just be me, to other Taco owners the lighting on these buttons may be sufficient. Thanks for your input, if you think of something else I may be missing, please share...

 

So I emailed Toyota and they had a Support Tech to call me and I ending up speaking with them today. He went through all of the obvious settings that would effect these "touch screen" type buttons and determined that there is not currently a way to make this button lighting remain in the bright mode when headlights are turned on. He suggested that I call the dealership and ask a Service Advisor if they are aware of a way to brighten these lights. I know everyone on this forum means well, but before you suggest or tell me the fix is very easy and all I have to do is check the "daytime mode" box on the display settings (which only adjust the brightness of the screen, NOT the buttons around the screen) or to adjust the stem near the tachometer (I have that to it's brightest setting, with headlights on and off), please read this thread in it's entirety and understand that I have tried both of these options NUMEROUS times in different ways. Even though this is a little frustrating that I can't see these buttons in the daytime, I still very much like my new Tacoma and unless something major happens, I'll never consider another truck product. Thanks to all who have tried to help with this!!!

 

@Jerez
You do 3rd genz?
He cant see his shit


Oh and welcome to T. World

 

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