How to light up the buttons when driving in the night? - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

qqzj · 12-18-2013, 01:17 PM

When I drive in the night, all the buttons have no backlight. So I literally cannot see any of them. For example, when I arrive my home and need to press the button on the rear view mirror to open garage door, I have to try several times to hit the right button. This is also true for all the other buttons. I believe all my other cars by default will have backlight for, at least, some important buttons. Is there anyway to solve this problem? Thanks in advance.

Cjymiller · 12-18-2013, 01:21 PM

I find it hard to believe that all your console buttons are not lighting up. Are you just referring to the buttons on the homelink mirror?

qqzj · 12-18-2013, 01:24 PM

I am serious. The odometer button, the display button, the audio/gps button, none of them light up in the dark. I set my headlight to auto.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cjymiller

I find it hard to believe that all your console buttons are not lighting up. Are you just referring to the buttons on the homelink mirror?

kALMIGHTY · 12-18-2013, 01:35 PM

Did you at least try to turn your headlights on manually instead to see if that helps?

And make sure this furthest left dial by the trunk button area is turned up to maximum. This is the dial for the interior gauges and buttons lights.
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Size: 98.2 KB

Frost · 12-18-2013, 01:37 PM

Gonna sound crazy to you but nothing happens when you turn on your headlights?

Do your headlights even come on?

Get that checked ASAP. Usually the headlight switch has three settings, OFF, daytime lights and headlights ON (or something to that effect). Stage 2 and 3 should turn on your backlighting.

Is this on BRZ?

qqzj · 12-18-2013, 01:53 PM

Thanks for your guys help. I went downstairs and checked again. But it is day time, so I might be wrong. Will double check again.

It seems that the button on the mirror for garage door never lights up.
I turned the dial to 'headlight' it seems that I got some backlight. But I can swear I cannot get any backlight when driving in the night under 'Auto'. But let me double check again tonight to make sure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frost

Gonna sound crazy to you but nothing happens when you turn on your headlights?

Do your headlights even come on?

Get that checked ASAP. Usually the headlight switch has three settings, OFF, daytime lights and headlights ON (or something to that effect). Stage 2 and 3 should turn on your backlighting.

Is this on BRZ?

BRZfan · 12-18-2013, 02:17 PM

Please tell us that you have tried using the "Illumination Brightness Control" dial. This is located on the lower left area of the instrument panel and next to the "headlight Beam Leveler" dial. See KALMIGHTY's post # 4.

It is described on page 10 of your 2013 BRZ Quick Reference Guide panphlet that should have come with the purchase of the vehicle.

Let us know if this works. Be sure your light switch is ON. This is for your INSTRUMENT PANEL BACKLIGHTING.

LET US KNOW...

ntron1 · 12-18-2013, 02:39 PM

Those buttons do not light up on mine either....I think it is the way they are...

tanner · 12-18-2013, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ntron1

Those buttons do not light up on mine either....I think it is the way they are...

Correct, that's how it is.

BRZfan · 12-18-2013, 03:10 PM

Hmmmm.... no answer yet. Does the original poster read the posts??? The poster still hasn't qualified if he/she is talking about JUST the 'mirror' illumination or the instrument panel illumination or both.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cjymiller

I find it hard to believe that all your console buttons are not lighting up. Are you just referring to the buttons on the homelink mirror?

BRZNutt · 12-18-2013, 05:30 PM

Homelink mirror garage door button is easy to find by muscle memory. Just program the first button on the left. Simple. (1st world problems for sure)

Chee-Hu · 12-18-2013, 06:27 PM

must be the OP's first car.

qqzj · 12-18-2013, 06:37 PM

Sorry, just came back from lunch. From all the responses, I believe the home link buttons simply do not have back light.

For the instrument brightness control nob, I always set it to the middle. So I guess it is not a concern ever.

What I need to compare is whether it makes any difference whether I set the head light to 'auto' or 'on'. My suspicion is that that 'auto' is not smart enough. When I played in day time today, with, it on 'on', I saw some back light I never saw before. Will report back tonight. Thanks for the help.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRZfan

Please tell us that you have tried using the "Illumination Brightness Control" dial. This is located on the lower left area of the instrument panel and next to the "headlight Beam Leveler" dial. See KALMIGHTY's post # 4.

It is described on page 10 of your 2013 BRZ Quick Reference Guide panphlet that should have come with the purchase of the vehicle.

Let us know if this works. Be sure your light switch is ON. This is for your INSTRUMENT PANEL BACKLIGHTING.

LET US KNOW...

BRAWL · 12-18-2013, 07:39 PM

With AUTO on, it will only backlight dials (also dim the head unit) when the headlights come on (low light conditions) otherwise just your parking lights/DRL's stay on. I would personally prefer auto to turn on all the instrument lights but NOT dim the head unit when in day light

12-18-2013, 01:17 PM	#1
qqzj Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Drives: MDX, Camry Location: SF, CA Posts: 399 Thanks: 54 Thanked 69 Times in 44 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	How to light up the buttons when driving in the night? When I drive in the night, all the buttons have no backlight. So I literally cannot see any of them. For example, when I arrive my home and need to press the button on the rear view mirror to open garage door, I have to try several times to hit the right button. This is also true for all the other buttons. I believe all my other cars by default will have backlight for, at least, some important buttons. Is there anyway to solve this problem? Thanks in advance.

12-18-2013, 02:39 PM	#8
ntron1 Sarcastic Bastard Join Date: Apr 2013 Drives: '13 DGM BRZ, '13 Mini, 1999 Blazer Location: Amish Land, PA Posts: 586 Thanks: 341 Thanked 336 Times in 182 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Those buttons do not light up on mine either....I think it is the way they are... __________________

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12-18-2013, 01:35 PM	#4
kALMIGHTY Banned Join Date: Nov 2012 Drives: TRD Ultramarine '13 Location: Calgary Posts: 1,377 Thanks: 190 Thanked 766 Times in 347 Posts Mentioned: 24 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Did you at least try to turn your headlights on manually instead to see if that helps? And make sure this furthest left dial by the trunk button area is turned up to maximum. This is the dial for the interior gauges and buttons lights.

12-18-2013, 02:17 PM	#7
BRZfan Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Drives: 2013BRZ Premium St Silver Metallic Location: USA Posts: 824 Thanks: 79 Thanked 212 Times in 156 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	Please tell us that you have tried using the "Illumination Brightness Control" dial. This is located on the lower left area of the instrument panel and next to the "headlight Beam Leveler" dial. See KALMIGHTY's post # 4. It is described on page 10 of your 2013 BRZ Quick Reference Guide panphlet that should have come with the purchase of the vehicle. Let us know if this works. Be sure your light switch is ON. This is for your INSTRUMENT PANEL BACKLIGHTING. LET US KNOW...

12-18-2013, 06:27 PM	#12
Chee-Hu Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Drives: BRZ Location: Elk Grove, CA Posts: 964 Thanks: 360 Thanked 323 Times in 221 Posts Mentioned: 12 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	must be the OP's first car.

12-18-2013, 07:39 PM	#14
BRAWL Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Drives: Toyota 86 GTS Velocity Orange Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 447 Thanks: 74 Thanked 102 Times in 64 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	With AUTO on, it will only backlight dials (also dim the head unit) when the headlights come on (low light conditions) otherwise just your parking lights/DRL's stay on. I would personally prefer auto to turn on all the instrument lights but NOT dim the head unit when in day light

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