Instrument Cluster Illumination
 

New (2017) 86 owner here with a question about the instrument cluster lighting. At night it looks great, nicely illuminated. But during the day it's dark and I can barely read the analog speedometer. If I turn the sidelights\headlighgts on, I get some light on the speedometer. Should there be any illumination during the day with the headlights off?

Regards
Mike Palmer

I'm new to the 86 as well and am noticing the same thing. I'm coming from an RX-8 that had blacked out gauges when off, illuminated bright white when the car is on and illuminated red when the lights are on. The dimmer switch had a click at the end so you could run day mode gauges (white) while the lights were on as well. I miss those gauges :(

So, you care correct, no illumination during the day and very hard to read during the day with headlights on.

On the bottom left side next to the trunk release button there is a sliding button that illuminates your instrument cluster. Have you tried putting it to the max?

Yes, I tried playing with the illumination control, but it has no effect when the side/headlights are off and there is zero illumination in the cluster.

The analog speedo is almost useless, illumination or not. Is there a reason you prefer that over the digital?

I could barely read the analog speedo if someone shined a spotlight on it.

All you really need is the tach and knowing what gear you're in. :D

Is it that much darker on the 2017+ models? Any pics?
Like others have said, all I need to look at is the digital speedometer & RPM tach while driving.

No changes.

This seems to be a Toyota thing to avoid drivers running without lights at night.

Instrument illumination with lights off may confuse drivers into thinking that if the instruments are illuminated, their lights must be on.

I have noticed that when the side/headlights are off, turning on the ignition briefly illuminates the cluster, but then the illumination is snuffed out with the click of a relay.

The speedo with lights out isn't the problem for me, it's the tach with the lights on during the day (I live in the PNW, so it's rainy a lot, so lights on).

The tach when off is white face with black numbers. When you turn on the lights, the number glow white. At night, the face is dark enough, but during the day the face still looks white and the illuminated numbers are basically the same white... disappearing. Maybe swapping with the BRZ face is my answer. I actually would prefer red illumination, so maybe a whole cluster swap.

Obviously the port didn't install the optional PNW instrument cluster lighting module .....:iono:


humfrz

Ft86speedfactory has a cluster face overlay with white numbers on a black background.

http://www.ft86speedfactory.com/magn...l#.WrgzPqAXY0M

Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk

I've got the 860 SE with the little screen in the cluster. I don't think there's an aftermarket option for me yet.