Instrument Backlighting Daytime Use?

Recently purchased a 2016 Tacoma SR and slowly figuring out the features. One thing I'm not sure about is if the instrumentation panel should be backlit in the daytime when parking lights or headlights are not in use. I've got the truck without a multi-information display (just shift position status, odo/trip and temp LCD). Without backlighting sometimes it's just too dark to see the display and speedo and tach. I've tweaked the panel light control button and I can go full bright with the parking or headlights on, but with parking/headlights off there is no backlight illumination. The owners manual "hints" the backlight should be illuminated and dim when the parking or headlights are on. Got the truck from a non-Toyota dealer and they weren't quite sure and did not have another Toyota to compare to. I do have two other vehicles (2004 Toyota and 2007 Honda) that do backlight the instruments without headlights/parking lights, so I'm thinking the Tacoma should also do it, but it's not.
Am I missing some magic hidden switch or would it appear to need fixin'?

 

I had the same problem with my SR. Not only that problem, but the SR is the only model that has red needle indicators in the cluster. Red indicator needles on a black background wouldn't work for me. I didn't know at the time of purchase as my SR was the only one on the lot. I have an eye problem where I need as much light as possible to see. My dealer explained that it will not get any brighter. (My problem not the truck) Turned the brightness up to the max and it just wouldn't get any brighter in the cluster. However, It is a little brighter at night.

To make a long story short, after 3 months of frustration, I traded it in on an SR5 with WHITE needles in the cluster. It is much better especially with the multi function display showing a digital speed. I lost a bunch of money with the trade, but there is a price to pay for happiness.

 

I wish that there was a sensor built in, kind of like for automatic headlights, that would only dim the screen in low ambient light. I have the headlights on during the day, but the radio screen is too dim to read. As the clock is on the radio screen it is kind of a pain. Also makes selecting songs from the flash drive harder.

 

That is an easy fix. Just change the radio screen to daytime view. Not at my truck now. But it is in settings. Only need to set it once. Easy peasy.

 

I will take a look. I like my SR, but am surprised about some of the features that seem to be limited or missing. Like the ability to change the startup screen.

 

These are a couple pics of the instrumentation with the key to the on position. First with parking on and second with parking and headlights off. Just would like some confirmation with
parking and headlights off that there should be backlighting of the gauges and LCD display.

 

I have an SR also and couldn't see the gauges in the day time. I now leave the parking lights on all the time. The instrument cluster is lit when the truck is on and after turning off the motor and opening the door, the lights go out.

 

First to set your display screen to day mode, with headlights on, touch APPS, then SETUP, and then DISPLAY. At the bottom the the screen, you will see DAY MODE. Check the box to turn it on. At this point, the display will be bright whether day or night. If it is too bright for Driving at night, turn DAY MODE off.

When I had my SR, I always drove with the amber driving lights on. That way the cluster stayed on so I could at least see the middle read out. If the engine was running, the center readout was illuminated.

 

Like I said, I traded my SR for an SR5. The white indicator needles on the black are so much better than the red needles. Also, the center multi display on the SR5 seems to be much brighter than the LED display on the SR. Originally, I thought all 2016 Tacoma's had the red indicator needles, but it is only the SR. Here is an example of the SR5 cluster. Bright sun, and still displays contrast.

 

I've been looking around a bit more on this and the issue isn't just Tacoma's, but as well Tundra's....
http://www.tundratalk.net/forums/tu.../530673-dash-lights-do-not-come-daylight.html
And the owners manual implies that they should be on when when parking and headlights are not on by stating they dim when tail lights are turned on.

"■The brightness of the instrument panel lights

When the tail lights are turned on, the display’s brightness will be reduced

slightly unless the meter brightness level adjustment is set to the brightest

setting."

One big problem I've found is that the lighted display on the shift can get washed out in in bright sun and the indicator in the non-multifunction display may be too dark to easily tell which gear the shift is in. This in itself poses a safety issue if I can't readily tell if I'm in D or R and I hit the gas. What was Toyota thinking when they designed this scheme?

 

Same problem here. My 2007 Sport had the backlighting on all the time. Interested to see if anyone creates a mod for this.

 

My 2018 Tacoma Limited does the same thing panel lights are off during the day. Not good.

 

I have the 2016 SR, and I don't have the super duper radio Entune Audio Plus. The one I have doesn't have the Apps button so there is not much I can do with the radio. I believe the daytime dash backlighting is not available. It was explained to me that the SR or base model trucks are really meant to be work trucks and nothing more so they come with virtually nothing. That Multi-information display should be standard on all models. The crummy LCD display that you can't see when you're driving through shady areas is a joke. This setup is a safety issue, but Toyota prefers to put all these bells and whistles on more expensive models of trucks. This is my last truck, and I wish I had found out more, but I'm not going to trade the truck because it doesn't have the multi-information display or back lighted dash lights.

 

My new 2018 TRD Pro has the same issue. I was wondering why the cluster doesn't illuminate during the day. Every other car I've driven seems to always light up whether the headlights are on or not. It is very hard to see in there with the shadows. I don't understand why it won't turn on. I'm going to be talking with the dealer to see if there's something that can be tweaked. I have the Carista programmer but didn't see anything in there to turn on. Will have to double check again to make sure.

 

I think that because the instrument cluster numbers are white, then Toyota doesn't feel like you need a backlit display. It is the same with Jeeps and Dodge pickups. They have a white faced speedometer and tach so no backlighting. I have noticed this since I own a 2005 Dodge Ram pickup and have rented several jeeps.

 

Let those ambers flow full time

 

Parking lights on is like running with your DRL's on. Only difference is no instrument lights if the DRL's are on.

 

I found out today that I can run with the running lights only or the headlights full and of course the dash lights up but the best part is that the lights will auto shut off after 30 seconds. So no need to worry about leaving them on and will always run with headlights and fog lights and forget about auto mode.