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Improving Luminosity of Ignition Switch Light Ring
1995 - 2000 (1990 -1994?) LS400 feature illumination ring around the ignition Switch.
A single T 1-3/4 incandescent bulb with a green silicone rubber cap color filter provides illumination.
Very useful at night. but somewhat dim due to placement of bulb in black plastic pocket....and black is a poor reflector of light.
So used highly reflective outdoor rated high temperature Aluminum foil tape with high rack pressure sensitive adhesive to improve efficiency of the light pipe assembly.
No problem finding ignition switch key slot in daylight. This is the illuminating ring at night to help locate ignition switch key slot. The camera actually makes it appear brighter than it is.... A close-up of the illuminating ring on a yard pull. One screw holds the assembly in place.. Requires removal of the lower and middle dash cover for access. Light ring assembly removed from steering column. Where the incandescent bulb nestles. The bulb pocket is black...absolutely the worst color for reflection...especially with a green color filter. Three piece light pipe assembly...All parts separate. Use cash receipt paper to create a template and fine line Sharpie on foil. Foil applied to bulb socket pocket using a wood skewer stick to work it in evenly. Significant improvement in reflection of light with Aluminum foil. Also applied Aluminum foil to exterior of light pipe...to direct and reflect more light to task of illuminating light ring. Light pipe assembly reassembled. Had to trim the foil where light pipe plugs into black ring... tolerances are tight... excellent plastic molding by OEM vendor.
Will post "after" night images of key ring illuminated and report whether improvement.
An inexpensive project, but somewhat time intensive..a lot of patience when trimming tacky Aluminum foil.
I don't want to fault any of your work cuz some of your other light projects are helpful to other people who want brighter lights so they can actually see. Me, I like the calming feel of the dim lights. But I don't really see a need for this project versus the time needed to complete it. Would a brighter bulb do the same thing if one is available?
On my 94 the light doesn't work, if it even came with the light I don't know. I've never had a problem finding the ignition switch with the key in any car. (except back when I was drinking alot) Do people forget where it goes? When I sit in the seat my arm just reaches to the exact length it needs to, to go exactly in the switch. How many people actually look at the ignition switch when they put the key in?
Like I said, I'm not faulting your work. I'm impressed that someone would take the time you do to do all the improvements on your vehicle.
I don't want to fault any of your work cuz some of your other light projects are helpful to other people who want brighter lights so they can actually see. Me, I like the calming feel of the dim lights. But I don't really see a need for this project versus the time needed to complete it. Would a brighter bulb do the same thing if one is available?
On my 94 the light doesn't work, if it even came with the light I don't know. I've never had a problem finding the ignition switch with the key in any car. (except back when I was drinking alot) Do people forget where it goes? When I sit in the seat my arm just reaches to the exact length it needs to, to go exactly in the switch. How many people actually look at the ignition switch when they put the key in?
Like I said, I'm not faulting your work. I'm impressed that someone would take the time you do to do all the improvements on your vehicle.
Not sure if you knew from a prior post a half decade ago, but have OEM engineering background calling on Automotive instrument cluster manufacturers;: Motorola , Stewart Warner , Autometer..Pinball/video games:Mylostar-Gottlieb, Bally, Stern...
Backlighting, color diffusers, color filters, light pipes, reflectors, bulb sockets, and custom incandescent bulbs, LED's, LCD's (Toshiba) were one of my specialties.
Aside from the many excellent attributes of the LS400, the overhead interior lighting, door pocket lighting, footwell lighting, shifter plate lighting, glovebox lighting ignition switch ring lighting and trunk lighting are, from my trained eye, inefficient...also...climate control switch and door switch backlighting is weak...but very reliable.
Guess what is the color inside a black plastic switch housing? The backlighting bulb does not stand a chance.
It did not have to be this way...simply selecting white or painting silver instead of gray or black plastic as a reflecting color makes a functional difference.
And as I survey new Lexus vehicles...it is more of the same, but instead of warm white incandescent light, am greeted by bathroom fluorescent color temperatures paired with the scent of out-gassing plastic that makes me queasy.
With so many positive attributes, Consumer Reports and Car & Driver simply gloss over interior lighting.
So for me, when it comes to interior lighting or backlit components, can immediately see the design proficiency of the engineer.
I don't want to fault any of your work cuz some of your other light projects are helpful to other people who want brighter lights so they can actually see. Me, I like the calming feel of the dim lights. But I don't really see a need for this project versus the time needed to complete it. Would a brighter bulb do the same thing if one is available?
On my 94 the light doesn't work, if it even came with the light I don't know. I've never had a problem finding the ignition switch with the key in any car. (except back when I was drinking alot) Do people forget where it goes? When I sit in the seat my arm just reaches to the exact length it needs to, to go exactly in the switch. How many people actually look at the ignition switch when they put the key in?
Like I said, I'm not faulting your work. I'm impressed that someone would take the time you do to do all the improvements on your vehicle.
I replaced my shift indicate plate on 1999 LS400.
While disassembled, observed the shifter plate backlight bulb nestled inside a non-reflective black plastic pocket.
LS400 shifter plates exhibit inefficient use of incandescent backlighting.
Several images depicting night time backlight light pipe leakage issues:
Not sure if you knew from a prior post a half decade ago, but have OEM engineering background calling on Automotive instrument cluster manufacturers;: Motorola , Stewart Warner , Autometer..Pinball/video games:Mylostar-Gottlieb, Bally, Stern...
So for me, when it comes to interior lighting or backlit components, can immediately see the design proficiency of the engineer.
Yea I think I remember reading something about that back then.
Originally Posted by YODAONE
I replaced my shift indicate plate on 1999 LS400.
While disassembled, observed the shifter plate backlight bulb nestled inside a non-reflective black plastic pocket.
LS400 shifter plates exhibit inefficient use of incandescent backlighting.
About 1 cent worth of foil improved luminosity at shift plate.
This I can understand because you had it disassembled and cost nothing to do it. But personally, I think all the backlighting is good in my Lexus. (I have it all turned off with the dash light dim switch anyway) I don't want brighter backlighting in my eyes sight when I'm driving. As for footwell lights, how bright should they be? I know where to put my feet when I get in, on the floor. For me, the only bright lights should be trunk and under hood, when you have to see what you're doing.
But back to this project of the "ignition switch ring lighting" I don't see a purpose of making it brighter. And like I said before, again, I'm not faulting any of your work.
I used to wish that light around the ignition was brighter but never took it on as a project. The shifter gate also but I could never find the correct replacement bulb.
I used to wish that light around the ignition was brighter but never took it on as a project. The shifter gate also but I could never find the correct replacement bulb.
Improving reflector efficiency of existing light assembly yields improved luminosity and uniformity.
Quality LED replacement bulbs for
T-3 1/4 wedge base, but have seen few for
T 1-3/4 wedge base.
A post concerning right and left side foot well dash under cover lighting...another example of black plastic employed as a reflecting surface:
The foil make a noticeable difference, however am interested in recommendations for LED wedge base bulbs (plug and play) demonstrating improved brightness over stock incandescents bulbs used in foot well lighting.
Another post discussing treatment of the black plastic socket pocket of glove box lamp...
you don't want to make backlighting too bright to contrast against the dark, which would fatigue the eyes. of course the ignition switch dims away once the engine is on but not the shifter. also everything is now LED as mentioned.
you don't want to make backlighting too bright to contrast against the dark, which would fatigue the eyes. of course the ignition switch dims away once the engine is on but not the shifter. also everything is now LED as mentioned.
The backlighting and interior lighting lacked execution.
At night, the shifter plate was barely legible, the door pocket, footwell and overhead lighting are poor. The door switch lighting is poor.
Inadequate brightness due to small wisp incandescent bulbs (good quality bulbs though) and poor reflecting surfaces (gray or black plastic) precipitate poor luminosity.
The clear.plastic light pipes on the shifter plate and illuminated ignition switch ring are superb in light uniformity, ...but bad execution on reflection around the light source.
I worked with design engineers on backlighting of instrument clusters (Motorola and Stewart Warner) and gauges, so know well design parameters and night glare issues...there is zero possibility of that by improving efficiency of light transfer of a T-1 3/4 incandescent bulb with a green color filter onto a shifter plate.
The reflectorized light ring assembly, appears to increase usable luminosity about 25%-33%....
Accessing the ignition switch light ring assembly did not require removal of dash upper and lower undercovers. after all...
The plastic escutcheon ring around the key switch easily pries off. Next, one small access panel is removed to gain full access. 1 minute.... Key switch plastic trim ring front side. Key switch trim ring back side. There is an index slot to align when reinstalling. Mine is at12:00 Keyswitch shown with dash panel access cover section removed. Light ring is held by one screw at bottom. One plug to unplug on right. The wire harness for bulb is on left is gently raised over top to right side to unscrew twist lock socket/bulb from light pipe assembly. Front side of dash trim piece removed. Backside of dash trim depicting clips. I used a trim tool to gently and evenly pry on it until it simply pops out. One phillips head screw at bottom and light pipe assembly is unfastened. The light pipe easily slides off ignition switch.. Gently move the bulb wiring harness over the top of keyswitch to allow adequate room to unsrew the socket from the light pipe.
After reassembly, this is the end result. Increased Luminosity for those who want it.
While at it, captured a night image depicting improved luminosity of shift plate...
Improving Luminosity of Ignition Switch Light Ring
Do people forget where it goes? When I sit in the seat my arm just reaches to the exact length it needs to, to go exactly in the switch. How many people actually look at the ignition switch when they put the key in?
