rhack1

I have a 1999 RX with 185k miles - runs great...however, today this problem started...

When the light stalk is set to off and the car is started the information display works as it should...however, when i twist the light stalk to any of the other positions (low, headlights, auto) the center console lights come on - as they should (radio button lights, ac lights, transmission shifter lights, etc) - but the information display goes blank...the buttons all work fine for the radio and the ac - it's just blank...

When the light stalk is in the on or auto position, and i start the car, the information display shows the clock and the radio buttons for a brief second and then goes blank...

any ideas what this could be?...where to start to diagnose?...

thanks...R

rhack1

more info:

my son was driving it...he said that he was using the radio tuner/seek button to find a station - holding it down as he scrolled up - and then the screen went blank...he went to a thing we have called "lights on the lake" a christmas light thing where he had to turn the lights on the car off as he went thru the display route...while the car was running, he turned the lights off - the display came back on...but only for a minute - and then went blank...all while the car was running...

now - when i start the car and the lights are off the display works...i didn't run the car for a long time to know if it would turn off after a minute like it did with my son...but once again, now whenever i turn the light stalk from off to on (any position of on) the display goes off...

R-

salimshah

Have you tried dialing up the dash light intensity ****?

Salim

rhack1

hi Salim -- yes...thanks...that doesn't change it...

the radio, clock and climate control work fine - the display just goes blank...and like i said, when i start the car with the light stalk in the on or auto position, the clock and the radio buttons show for a brief second - and then go off...when the stalk is off, the display works - but per my son, it went out after a minute or so...

thanks!...R

rhack1

problem solved!...

thanks salim --> i got to thinking after your post and remembered that the console has a "dimmer" switch...and yes - my son must have screwed up when trying to seek radio stations...and turned the console light all the way down...

argh!...

thanks...R