ESchris

I have a 1995 ES300 with 155,000 miles on it. In the gauge cluster, some of the lights appear to be fading, especially in the corner behind the fuel gauge. Also, the needles for the tachometer and speedometer are completely black. In addition to that, the needle for the temperature gauge is flickering when the interior lights are on the highest setting. On the console, the hazard button does not light up and the fan speed control button does not light up. My question is, how do I fix this and is it an easy fix?

lexusk8

To deal with the backlighting problems behind the gauge cluster, you can try this quick method: with your hand, wack the black plastic casing in front of the cluster and behind the steering wheel, but not too hard. You may need to do it a few more times. My friend did it to his '95 SC, and brought his backlighting to life. There's a good possibility that one or more of the light bulbs are loose from their socket connections.

This is obviously a common problem on most of the older ES and SC. I believe Lexus improved it in the '97 ES model with the white illumination of the backlighting, and electronic-powered needles, instead of the LEDs. Good luck.

amf1932

When I had my 94ES I also noticed that the illumination was always dimmer near the gas gauge. I checked out other ES's from 92 to 96 and I found out they all had that problem. I also remember that one day I started the car and the backlight on one part of the instrument cluster was not working. I gave the top of my dashboard a shot with the side of my fist and the lights went on......I never had this problem again.

Alan

Moonsin

Let me start off by saying that you guys just saved me some money!!!! i was gonna go get the instrument panel fixed bc i thought all the bulbs burnt out.....but i just wacked it with my fist and BAM!!! the lights came back on!!!! THANK YOU GUYS!!!

lexusk8

No problem man. It's stuff like this that makes all the difference in the world...

meZoom!

LOLOLOL
wooohooooo OMG!!! i'm sitting here dying!!!!!!!!
LOL!!!!!!!!!

lexusk8's suggestion and biznaz's testimonial to it working is just soooooo darn funny. i'm imagining a saturday night live parody skit or a fake infomercial being made out of this.
you guys are killing me.

Invisibleman

I agree with the "Whacking method"... it worked for me when my lights behind the A/C panel went out.

amf1932

Lexus just opened up a school to teach you the proper way to whack the dashboard. Since there are multiple ways to hit it they flew in from Japan their top Karate experts. Call up Lexus and they'll tell you when and where the next class will be held. hehehe

Alan

Jayson

Do we remove the clear plastic cover first? I've got the same problem on my 1995 SC400. Thanks for the tips you all!

lexusk8

No need to remove the plastic cover, unless you suspect one or more of the bulbs are burnt out. Lexusdash.com has a set of instructions with pictures on how to remove the gauge cluster from the dash for the SC

Jayson

So in order to correct some of the lights all I need to do is just bang on the clear plastic piece and they'll self-correct? Sorry to sound so "dim-witted," but I don't want to bust my car all up.

Thanks,

lexusk8

Well if you were to try to bang on the clear plastic cover, then you'd end up possibly cracking the plastic

As some of us have experienced, we usually wack the black plastic cover that's located between the clear plastic cover and the steering wheel. It's also the plastic piece that covers the odometer trip buttons. Let us know if you have any luck with it.

richma7175

I tried the whacking method and all the needles are still black, anyone know what the next method might be?
I guess back to the original question, is it a big job?

squarehat

The whacking method will only fix a loose backlight bulb (in the cluster or the A/C, radio displays). The needles are LED arrays, and eventually need replacement. If you look in the SC300/400 forums (the 92-00 SC has the same type of dash as the 92-96 ES), you'll find a very informative thread written by onelasttry, who is an electrical engineer.

Kyle Harty

iTrader: (17)

I have successfully used the "whacking" method a few times as well. Like lexusk8 said, hit the black trim piece surrounding the guages, but not too hard.