mandalay

I'm not sure this is by design but the buttons for sunroof and garage door are not illuminating at night. I would like to know if your vehicles have the same behavior. I try to look for any info in the manual but can't find anything. I thought there would be a switch somewhere that turns this on and off but I can't find it anywhere either. My brother-in-law has a 2012 Toyota Sienna van and these buttons do light up at night while my 2012 RX350 does not. I find it interesting for a luxury vehicle.

TexasRxh

Mandalay, welcome to the forum!

Mine may be different, as it's a 2013 Rx 450h, but the HomeLink buttons on the bottom of the mirror definitely light up at nite. I don't recall about the sunroof switch. My wife's ride is a 2012 ES 350 and hers do not, but they are not on the mirror like mine. Where are yours located?

mandalay

Thanks, John. With regard to the switch, I just thought there could be one somewhere. But I guess not. The HomeLink and sunroof buttons are on the ceiling as seen in the picture.

InRBigness

None of the lights in the overhead console are back lit unfortunately.

BertL

Right. Having lit buttons was one of the little things people complained about on the 2010-12, that was reinstated when Homelink moved back to the mirror on the 2013's, but the rest of the buttons (including sunroof) on the overhead console remain dark.

joeh80

I have learned to use the little red led that is near the the home link buttons as a guide to we're the buttons are. After awhile you get used to it but it is pretty crappy design work for a Lexus.

RGSW

The lights on the overhead panel went the same way as the "LEXUS" sign on the lift hatch on the back of the vehicle.

UCSB

Here is what is working for me. I moved my main garage door to button #2. When I reach up to press the button, light from the small mood light LED reflects off my hand and illuminates button #2. Problem solved.

mandalay

Thank you all for your replies. It's disappointing but I've enjoyed the ride so far

Ciege

Does anyone know if those physical buttons can be purchased separately (i.e. not as a part of the whole overhead console)?

I wouldn't mind getting an extra set (just in case) so that I can try and modify them to allow light bleed through the buttons themselves (make them backlit). I have a couple of ideas as to how to accomplish it, but I would need extra parts to destroy until I get something workable.

joeh80

Heres one for sale on Ebay. What was you plan for lighting the buttons? Do you think if you place a small led behind there it would glow through the light switch?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2010-LEXUS-R...r#ht_948wt_901

Cruiter

This is an old topic that started with the Gen III introduction. They were not designed to be back lit and there is no way to make them so as they are. It's one of the sniggling little details that are aggravating but we still love our cars .

There is a small LED light in the rear center area. You can hold your palm near it and the reflected light will find the buttons. I just memorized where mine were .

Ciege

Cool, thanks for this. But I don't really want to spend that kind of money on the entire setup...

I have a couple of ideas to make them backlit each of which will surely result in destruction of the button until I get it right...

In no particular order:
*) depending on thickness of the button itself, dremel the back side of the button enough to put a flat surface mount LED on it and far enough through the button so that there is light bleed. Then refill the dremeled out area with an epoxy to hold the light and keep contact on the back side electronics.
*) Similar to above, but punch holes through the front and again fill with a clear epoxy or gel skin (can make your own colors with this method).
*) Make a mold of the buttons and then create new backlight friendly buttons with another material.

Namjock

Has the Homelink (garage door) illumination issue on 2010 RX-350 been solved? If so, starting with which model year. Thanx