Radio Backlight issue

I'm having a strange issue with the backlight for my stock head unit. If my headlights are off, the backlight for my radio flashes in and out. Radio display/sound still works fine, it's just the backlight.

Truck is stock as far as audio goes; I have some LEDs, but that's it electrically...

If I turn on headlights or parking lights, it stops. Doesn't do it all the time, but frequently.

Also, sometimes, upon initial start-up, the display is gone altogether, and I can't change stations. Whatever station it was on last time the truck was on, it just stays there. If I power down the radio, and turn it back on, it is good to go.

I just listed to regular FM radio 99% of the time. If anyone could help troubleshoot, that would be great! Thanks guys!

 

It might be a rheostat issue. Since the radio gets a signal from the headlights to tell it to dim, if the rheostat begins to go bad, you might get the same issue.

 

What's a rheostat?! Not an electrical guy...

 

The dial that controls your dashboard dimming. It's on the left side of the steering column. Try disconnecting it to see if the radio still has the same issue.

 

After doing a bit of research, it looks like that's tied into several other things... I just replaced a bunch of lights (tails, turns, reverse, map/done, license plate, DTRL, & fogs) to LEDs. Is it possible something got jacked up when I was switching those out?

 

Possibly... Did you install anything extra besides the bulbs?

 

Just resistors for the turn signals.

 

I would start by putting all the regular bulbs back into place. If the issue goes away, then at least you know there's a problem with the LED setup you have.

 

That's a whole lotta light to replace! I guess I'll give it a go this weekend. Thanks for the suggestions.

 

Try replacing the easily accessible ones first and drive around.

 

Hey @nvrenuf , did you ever figure this out? I just had it start on my Tacoma over the weekend.

Thanks!

 

Doesn’t look like he’s posted on the forums in over 2 years so I wouldn’t hold your breath for a response

 

Haha, I clicked on the wrong poster above. The one I clicked on was online a couple months ago. But yeah, you're right, oops! Thx

 

Same issue here...stereo backlighting goes bright then dark completely randomly...and when I bought my 2016 it already had Morimoto bulbs...gotta be related....anyone have this issue but have completely stock bulbs?

 

I just started having this issue and my truck is stock. 2012 prerunner v6. Issue is completely random as far as I can tell. Doesn't matter if headlights are on or off. Randomly flickers and then goes completely off and sometimes it stays lit just fine.

 

So I didn't know it, but my 2016 has auto-dimming for the stereo area, and it was dimming when I went under bridges and heavy tree overhang