2022 radio backlight changing dim/bright back and forth on rainy day.

I am on red Tacoma number four. My 2022 SR5 which I got last month has an annoying funk. On a rainy day with the headlights not in auto but in the regular manual on position, the radio backlight will go from bright to dim rather often. Like when going under a bridge or through tree shaded roads.

Anyway to stop this funk? Don't know if it matters, but today I had my cellphone plugged in with Waze map up on the radio screen.

 

Deep in the vehicle settings under Lights, there's a sensitivity setting for the automatic headlights that I'm assuming controls the auto-dimming of the interior panel lights as well. Turn down the sensitivity and see what that does.

 

I do have that set to extra sensitive. I did not figure it would be a factor when the headlights are in the manual on position. I will set it back to the default spot.

 

Awesome. Yeah I think the intent is to have the screen be useful in situations where you're using your headlights during the day, instead of just going full dim whenever they're on. I've had a touchscreen radio that was useless in that situation. Other radios have a Day Mode that you can dig out of a menu, but that's not optimal when the screen is super dim AND you're trying to drive..

 

There's three ambient light situations / modes that affect both the gauge cluster screen and the radio screen:

1. Bright daylight (no headlights)
2. Dim (no headlights, dimmer screens)
3. Dark (headlights on, dim screens)

If you set your screen brightness settings while the light sensor is in a particular mode, it will keep that setting. For instance, when you notice the screen go from bright to dim but no headlights (Dim mode), change your screen brightness.

This way, the flip flops will be less noticeable.