No dash lights? Dimmer not working? Help

[mrprius]

Hello all. I'm a new Prius owner and board member. :nodding cordially:

I just got my Prius from a dealer. It's an 05. Great deal couldn't pass it up. Weird thing is, I have no dash lights except the digital clock. I turned the dimmer dial all the way up and still no lights. I have the odometer lit of course, the LCD screen is lit, the digital clock, but no other lights on the dash. Also, there seems to be no difference in the LCD brightness based on whether or not the headlights are on.

Could I have a blown fuse? Any other ideas?

Car's under warranty so I'm not worried, just hate to make another trip to the dealer.

Thanks!!

[Tideland Prius]

If you turn it all the way up til it clicks, you're in DAY mode and the dash lights won't be on when the headlights are turned on. You'll have to rotate it down past that click. Check to see if your MFD is in DAY mode too (DISPLAY --> DAY MODE)

If neither works, you might have a blown fuse.

[mssmith95]

Yes it sounds like a blown fuse.

Do you have a OEM radio or aftermarket? Could it have had an aftermarket radio in it?

That is usually the most common reason for a blown instrument panel fuse. You could also have a bad dimmer control switch, but that is a lot less likely.

Better to just pull the instrument illumination fuse and look at it to see if it is burnt.

Let us know

[galaxee]

if the dimmer wheel is all the way up, i think the screen stays in day mode even with headlights on. i'll have to double check that to be sure.

do the dash lights come on when you turn on the headlights?

[mrprius]

Hi again.

No, it does not have an after market radio.

Lights do not come on when dimmer wheel is in ANY positgion.

Also, where is the instrument panel fuse?

Thanks

Mark

[mrprius]

Now I'm really wondering if everyone is understanding what i'm asking about... .the dash lights such as the ODOMETER and SPEEDOMETER are working fine. The lights on the steering wheel for the button are on too. But the LCD screen buttons (display, audio, etc) are dark and I THINK they should be lit, right? Also, the gear shifter knob is dark, which makes it impossible to put the car in reverese at night time. I'm thinking these things should be lit up... shouldn't they?

Help

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mrprius @ Jun 6 2006, 10:37 AM) [snapback]266661[/snapback]</div>

Now I'm really wondering if everyone is understanding what i'm asking about... .the dash lights such as the ODOMETER and SPEEDOMETER are working fine. The lights on the steering wheel for the button are on too. But the LCD screen buttons (display, audio, etc) and the CD buttons and cassette buttons, etc are dark and I THINK they should be lit, right? Also, the gear shifter knob is dark, which makes it impossible to put the car in reverese at night time. I'm thinking these things should be lit up... shouldn't they?

Help
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[Tideland Prius]

ok... then it's probably a blown fuse if half the lights are fine and half of them aren't. You are correct in that they should be illuminated.

[galaxee]

the audio buttons, steering wheel buttons, etc only come on when the headlights are on in my 05. when the dimmer wheel is all the way up, the screen will not go into night mode.

[mrprius]

OK. dealer figured it out.. when they put their stupid "Karr" security system in, they unplugged something. It's fixed now. Got a free tank of (premium) gas out of it.

Thanks all