Instrument Cluster Illumination - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

mikepa · 03-23-2018, 06:28 PM

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

Aipex8 · 03-23-2018, 06:42 PM

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.

Azurewrath · 03-23-2018, 07:18 PM

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?

mikepa · 03-23-2018, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azurewrath

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.

PetrolioBenzina · 03-23-2018, 08:44 PM

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

Dake · 03-23-2018, 09:49 PM

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.

reeves · 03-23-2018, 10:18 PM

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.

PetrolioBenzina · 03-23-2018, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reeves

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.

mikepa · 03-25-2018, 01:16 PM

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.

Aipex8 · 03-25-2018, 02:49 PM

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.

humfrz · 03-25-2018, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aipex8

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 .....

humfrz

sid_g · 03-25-2018, 08:40 PM

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

Aipex8 · 03-26-2018, 01:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sid_g

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.

03-23-2018, 06:28 PM	#1
mikepa Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Drives: 2017 86 Location: Florida Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	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

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
LED Swap on Instrument Cluster	Lickwid Apex	Cosmetic Modification (Interior/Exterior/Lighting)	1	01-25-2018 03:38 PM
Instrument cluster lighting question	demariners	DIY (Do-It-Yourself) Guides	4	07-26-2017 06:07 PM
F/S: FR-S instrument cluster	MissDeb	Audio/Visual, Electronics, Infotainment, NAV	5	04-08-2014 05:02 PM
WTB: FRS instrument cluster	jabbajaw99	Interior Parts (Incl. Lighting)	3	02-14-2013 02:31 PM

03-23-2018, 06:42 PM	#2
Aipex8 Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Drives: 2017 Toyota 86 860 Special Edition Location: Vancouver, WA Posts: 97 Thanks: 69 Thanked 61 Times in 37 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	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.

03-23-2018, 07:18 PM	#3
Azurewrath Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Drives: Toyota 86 2017 Location: LA Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 7 Times in 3 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	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?

03-23-2018, 08:44 PM	#5
PetrolioBenzina Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Drives: 17 86 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,671 Thanks: 75 Thanked 1,133 Times in 647 Posts Mentioned: 10 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	The analog speedo is almost useless, illumination or not. Is there a reason you prefer that over the digital?

03-23-2018, 09:49 PM	#6
Dake Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Drives: FR-S Location: Houston Posts: 1,081 Thanks: 469 Thanked 840 Times in 423 Posts Mentioned: 5 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	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.

03-23-2018, 10:18 PM	#7
reeves Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Drives: BRZ Location: ATL, GA Posts: 1,021 Thanks: 289 Thanked 397 Times in 265 Posts Mentioned: 13 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	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.

03-25-2018, 01:16 PM	#9
mikepa Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Drives: 2017 86 Location: Florida Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	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.

03-25-2018, 02:49 PM	#10
Aipex8 Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Drives: 2017 Toyota 86 860 Special Edition Location: Vancouver, WA Posts: 97 Thanks: 69 Thanked 61 Times in 37 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	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.

User Name		Remember Me?
Password