2005 Toyota Tacoma HVAC dash lights burned out

I have a 2005 toyota tacoma and just recently the dash lights that illumintae the HVAC controls on the fan selection went out. Not the bulbs that illumintae the fan speed or temperature, but the ones that illuminate which direction the fan blows. For example like the defroster, feet, and face selection button.

I was tryin to look around the dash to take it apart but couldnt find any screws anywhere near there to take it apart or in the glovebox . Has anyone ever replaced this bulb before on there 2005+ tacoma? If so, how did you go about taking the dash apart and changing the light bulbs?

I desperately need this fixed because its so dark at night time without the light on that part of the dash that i have to use the light from my cell phone just to illuminate it, which is very dangerous. Especially on dark two lane coutry roads while towing my trailer with all my equipment.

 

The whole hvac unit is a press in, meaning if you slide a butter knife or some other dull flat surface under it, it should just pop out. As far as the lights go, there is only actually 2 lights that illuminate all of the orange background. So once you pop out the unit, you'll have access to the twist in bulbs that are there.

 

I was able to take it out. I took out the black plastic piece under the a/c vent and reached into the dash and popped it out. Once I popped it out I took off the silver piece that surrounds the dials. But when I tried to take the white piece off the back of the dials by unscrewing them to get to the lights I wasn't able to undue the four tabs that hold them together. Even after I broke 2 of the tabs that hold them together. Is there anyway I can get to the lights without removing the back white plastic piece?

 

There are two bulbs that light it. there is no need to take the climate controls apart to get them out. you can see two round things on the back with a slot in it for a screwdriver. twist them with a screwdriver and they come right out.

 

exactly what he said. They should look like brown circular disks with a slot.

 

And to source this light you have 2 options. Spend days reading old threads like I just got done doing, and see that the dealership charges $15+ bucks for one light. Or option two (what I just did on mine) was grabbed an aftermarket set off ebay. Seem to work fine so far. Sorry to blow up an old thread, but there is a tun of info out there and I wanted to share what worked for me.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/153892138896

 

Mine went out on the right side, direction selector, but the a/c button light is also out. I only see 2 bulbs on the back. Do the buttons have their own bulbs? Both happened at the same time.

 

2 lights illuminate all 3 selector knobs. It looks like 1 of the 2 lights is out. The a.c. button light should still come on when you press it.

 

Yes, 2 lights for all 3 selector knobs and 1 of the 2 is out but I don't know about the a/c button. The light circled in green lights up when I press the button but the letters "A/C" should be lit like the car symbol on the recirc button. There seems to be another bulb in there somewhere but don't know how to access it. Just seems odd that the button on the left and the selector dial on the right would both go out at the exact same time.

 

Could be a relay switch. See article referenced in this link.

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/ac-switch-doesnt-light-up-and-ac-does-not-blow-cold-air

Not 100% sure this is the answer, but its worth a shot. It is strange that they both went out at the same time. Did you take the dash light out of the dead side and put it in the other side to see if in fact it is burned out?

 

These little suckers are the ticket.

You need neo wedge T4 bulbs, I ordered my replacements from autolumination.com

 

Thanks for the link. I don't think it's a relay issue since the heat and a/c both work. Just the light for the button doesn't work. I have the T4 bulbs on order for the selector dial but don't know what to do about the A/C button light.

 

When you replace the burned out lamp, the AC button will again be backlit. The lamp which backlights the right side of the AC control panel also backlights the AC button. It's counterintuitive but true.

If you wish, swap the good lamp to the right side and watch the AC button light up along with the right side of the panel.

 

Thanks for that. I thought that might be the case but figured it didn't make sense. Weird! Why would they design it like that?