Lights, Lights and MORE Lights. Good Grief.

The first time I started my 2023 Tacoma at night I was stunned by how much light this truck makes. I would like to start my truck (just start it, not drive it) and not advertise to everyone in the solar system and beyond that I’ve done so. Has anyone looked into making a “stealth mode” for the lighting system? I’m not talking about the headlights, those I can manage. I’m talking about the display screen, the little display screen below it, the instrument cluster display screen, and the 1.2 million or so indicator LED’s that blind me, my neighbors, the occupants of the ISS, residents of the Milky Way. It seems like every part on the truck has an LED on it. The overhead console, the mirror, the center console, etc. I understand that a switch with enough poles to run all of my lights through isn’t realistic but how many of these lights can be controlled through software? Is anyone else interested in taming this gaudy light pollution?

 

Welcome
Many here love LEDs,,, can’t get enough of them.
Maybe just dim them all the way down? I think they can be turned down to nearly off.

 

Pics or you're being too dramatic lol!

 

Um, do you have aftermarket lighting or something? Based on the description, we have pretty much the same truck. The interior lighting is fine. You can use the dimmer if it's too much for you.

 

Welcome to the forum
Congratulations on the new truck and humorous first post.

 

Toyota already thought of this. It's called the dimmer switch.

 

I’m aware that I can anti-clockwise the knob on the cluster to dim the cluster a bit but it goes nowhere near dark. I’m also aware of the general and camera brightness and contrast settings on my radio/nav screen which also goes nowhere near dark. I am interested if there are additional ways to dim the various remaining light emitting components, please share how to?

My neighborhood is relatively safe but when winter comes and I’m inside making coffee while my truck is warming up in the driveway I would simply rather not advertise the fact that it’s running unattended. No need to tempt any GTA gamers passing by, hehe.

(I mean no offense to you GTA gamers out there, I can appreciate a good joyride in a stolen vehicle as much as the next person, I just don’t want my vehicle to be used as such. Thank you for understanding).

 

N2 remote start would probably be easier, cost less, and more reliable than diving in to the system that controls this.
Or painters tape

 

Painters tape bleeds through. 3M Super 33+ electrical tape works but then I have to remove them when I want the lights back. It’s not that I hate the lights, it’s that I hate not having the choice.

What if I want to play hide and seek at night. My only options for staying dark are to go without heat/AC or tape up my LEDs and throw a coat over my dash.

I do appreciate all of the suggestions that don’t address my question, I really do but my question stands:

has anyone looked into controlling the ample lighting system through software?

what sort of programming tool(s) would be necessary to make such adjustments?

wouldn’t it be slick to install a ‘stealth mode’ switch that would kill ALL of the lights on the truck?

 

I like Ford's zone lighting feature. Why Toyota can't implement that on their new truck is unknown, I would think it's just programming and a tab that pops up to controll it. All vehicles should have a dark cab setting, for the interior lights.

 

look into illumination wire. it runs throughout the interior to light up all the buttons. but it also triggers the dimmer 'night mode' on the screens. so you'd need to cut it away from the switches, but keep it at the screens.

 

You and your passengers?

 

try a welding mask

 

Now we’re talking…

 

Exactly!

 

You live in the North Pole?

I start mine up and slowly drive away as per vehicle recommendation. On the utmost coldest days, I may wait a full minute... It actually warms up faster this way.

Okay, okay, I'm being delusional. I have a 2 way long range starter, which I may, or may not have used in the past.....

Oh sorry, this is a thread about lights.....

 

12v Solutions remote start kit. Uses the factory fob and it locks your truck while it's warming up. If someone smashed the window or somehow opened the door it shuts the truck off automatically. That's a typical safety feature on Toyota remote starts.

 

I agree...everything was too bright by default so I reduced the brightness on everything I could EXCEPT the interior lights. Replaced them with LEDs and now I have to warn everyone to squint before they flip the mirror cover in the visor. lol

 

So, are you saying you are going to get high, then drive? Even if you don't, I believe most states have laws about partaking in booze or drugs in a vehicle that is running or even has keys in it,parked in your drive or not. Might want to rethink that, since it can be dui charges in most places either way.