Twisted99

The backlight on my wife's Nav and climate and radio do not work at night when the lights are on. During the day they work and at night if the lights are off they work. Did a search and could not find similar problems. Anyone have this happen?

i2fat

iTrader: (2)

On the left hand side of your steering wheel there is a **** to adjust the brightness of your dash at night. If you turned the **** fully to the right (after the click), the nav will not adjust to night time mode. Turn the **** all the way to right, before it clicks and it should work.

Twisted99

Yeah, I checked that earlier today. No difference. Thanks.

Twisted99

Really need to fix this. Anyone have any idea where I can start to diagnose this?

iyaoyas247

have same problem in kids 04 rx330 just joined to find a clue, no luck yet

mrblister

When the lights are working are you able to adjust the brightness with the dash control or does the brightness **** just work the gauge panel cluster ? The climate control and computer information panel has a backlight in it and i dont think you can see it well when it is on in daylight. At night this panel would be obviously out. if it was dark.:If yours is out it may just be the back light has gone bad. I have seen this happen before

Twisted99

Turned on lights and covered sensor on dash. I can see changes in odometer and radio when I adjust ****. If I turn and click **** the climate goes full bright, but no gradual changes from all they way left up to the click.

JohnnyCake

This is a strange one. The NAV has a separate brightness adjustment accessed via the DISPLAY button. I don't think it ever changes with the dash control. Climate and radio should be controlled via the dash control.

Just to clarify the symptoms, when you say, "The backlight on my wife's Nav and climate and radio do not work at night when the lights are on" you are saying:

At night, headlights on = NAV completely dark, climate and radio completely dark.
At night, headlights off = NAV, climate, and radio backlight are on

Twisted99

I will check again tonight. I KNOW there is no light on the radio and climate at night when the lights are on. I think the lights are on radio and climat at night with the lights OFF.

mrblister

It sounds like the back light has gone bad on the display head . You can sometimes find them on ebay in the 200.00 and up range

jasone36

I've seen the backlight on the gear shifter of another early 2000s Lexus go out entirely, but not (yet) on the SC430.

mrblister

I believe the gear shifter is a replaceable bulb. Where the back light on the computer display panel is not replacable. I have seen the backlight on the display go bad on a 2006 sc430. I have been told when removing the computer display by pulling and wiggle it this stress can possible disturb or make useless the backlight. Friend of mine had to remove his computer display to gain access to the radio so he could install the harness for a sirius radio install. After he re- assembled everything the back light was out. Car was under warranty and the dealership replaced the digital display n/c

Problem solved

mbk8

I'm going from memory but I believe there is another adjustment to try. Have car in park, ignition on, move the headlamp switch to 'parking lights' and adjust the **** on the dash. It should change brightness of either climate controls or stereo. Moving the headlamp switch to 'headlights' and adjusting should change the other. May not be the issue but I remember you can turn the background lighting completely off and is an easy try.

TaninAuto

We can repair these climate control units and any other lighting problems. Much cheaper than a $200 replacement that may have the same issues!

PM me any questions.

mrblister

This is good to know that you can repair theses things . What other related electronics for a
lexus sc430 are you able to repair. I am sure the forum members would like to know especially that your also a sponsor..

Thanks

Buddy