Guage cluster and climate control lights turn off when head lights are on

[surferofthesnow]

My gauge cluster lights do not work. I've checked that they were plugged in and I checked the fuses. The climate control lights turn off when the headlights are turned on. What could this be? I searched already and tried their solutions, but none have worked as of yet.

 

[RazoE]

is your dimmer switch on the dimmest/off setting.?

switch it out with another and see if that fixes your problem...

 

[Jeff Lange]

Rheostat not plugged in, turned down all the way, or broken.

Check that it's not turned down, check that it's plugged in, then try replacing it.

If none of these things fixes it, chances are you have some wiring issues.

Jeff

 

[1988ma70supra]

My gauge cluster lights do not work. I've checked that they were plugged in and I checked the fuses. The climate control lights turn off when the headlights are turned on. What could this be? I searched already and tried their solutions, but none have worked as of yet.

That happened to me about a year ago and it was the dimmer switch.

 

[T-MA71]

That happened to me also, Felt really really stupid after i figured out my dimmer was all the way down. I hate where it is, me knee always turns it towards the off position when i get out of the car.

 

[1988ma70supra]

That happened to me also, Felt really really stupid after i figured out my dimmer was all the way down. I hate where it is, me knee always turns it towards the off position when i get out of the car.

Sorry i didn't make it clear. The dimmer was broken and i had to replace it. :biglaugh:

 

[surferofthesnow]

Dimmer is plugged in and on, so it's probably broken, right?

 

[RazoE]

That happened to me also, Felt really really stupid after i figured out my dimmer was all the way down. I hate where it is, me knee always turns it towards the off position when i get out of the car.

that's why I'm switching to a 90+ panel on my 89...

the dimmer switch is moved to where the rear window defroster went (which moves one slot to the left, next to the fog switch), and the lower panel overlaps where the old panel used to be, looks more complete in my eyes..

here's a pic of the panel I bought (hope the guy I bought it off of doesnt mind..!)

 

[T-MA71]

that's why I'm switching to a 90+ panel on my 89...

the dimmer switch is moved to where the rear window defroster went (which moves one slot to the left, next to the fog switch), and the lower panel overlaps where the old panel used to be, looks more complete in my eyes..

here's a pic of the panel I bought (hope the guy I bought it off of doesnt mind..!)

Oh wow, that looks so much better. Maybe i should start looking for one of these. I absolutley hate the one i have.

I'm assuming it all plug and play?

 

[RazoE]

yup...

 

[1988ma70supra]

Dimmer is plugged in and on, so it's probably broken, right?

Yeah its probably broken. I changed mine and problem solved :icon_razz

 

[sethron71]

I have had the same problem since I bought my car. All the accessory lights work, blinker indicators, brights, all the gauges everything just the back lights don't work. Also the Climate control lights work with the lights off but don't with the lights on. I have tried 3 different dimmer switchs and nothing. I also pulled the dash apart and seem to be getting power where I need it, maybe a short in the circuit board?

Seth

 

[turbogeek87]

I'm having the same issue. A new dimmer switch did not solve the problem. I'm getting weird effects like the turn signal indicators and the bright indicators coming on and the dimmer switch will dim them even though the brights and turn signals are off. Does anybody know if you can get just the gage cluster circuit board from Toyota?

 

[RazoE]

oh, and an update, switching to a 90+ lower panel is not plug and play...

You need the support bar, and I'm assuming the hood latch pull, nothing major, just something I wasn't aware of..

I might tackle it again soon, I have all the parts minus the bar..

 

[shaeff]

Another common reason for the dash lights going out when you turn the headlights on is if your hazard light wiring is unplugged from the switch.

 

[mkIIIman089]

^Hmm... my 89 doesn't behave like that. Don't ask how I know... :nono:

 

[CRE]

To check if it is the dimmer jumper the white wire with black stripe to the white wire with green stripe on the dimmer plug. This will also get you by for a while if you don't have a replacement dimmer or can't get one right away.