Interior Backlights Illuminate while braking?

[Specialeyes]

Just as the title suggests I noticed yesterday that the blue backlighting for things like the switches and buttons comes on when pressing the brake pedal. I have always ran my stalk in the auto setting. Everything functions fine but I find this a bit distracting seeing things glow every time I touch the brake pedal. I checked some fuses but didn’t pull every single one thinking it could be a short or something. Lately I have noticed issues with the head unit resetting itself mid drive as well. Not sure that the two are related but mentioning that as a side note.

 

[doru]

It looks like you have random electrical issues.
Usually those are hard to troubleshoot, but you start with the battery. Modern cars have lots of electronics that strat behaving random when there is not enough juice. So, test the battery.
A fuse can also be the cause sometimes.
Wire damage is harder to troubleshoot. Damage can be caused by rodents or by water. Water damage in our rigs is more common than you may think, caused by windshield replacements, sunroof drains, roof rack replacements, or the infamous cowl (search for water damage).

 

[Specialeyes]

Will check the battery out, had not thought to give it a look. Looks like the day time running bar is tied to the interior lighting as well. I was able to pick up on this while being stopped behind someone at a stop light where I could see the reflection of my headlights. Sure enough, pressing the brake pedal made the running lights flash on and off simultaneously with the instrument backlighting.

 

[lx200inAR]

Are the lights that are coming on when the brakes are applied not supposed to be on?

When they are supposed to be on, do they work fine? Does pressing the brake affect them then?

I have seen low voltage cause the head unit to reboot before. When i was messing with my power seat plugs for the 3rd row to use them as a 12v source, if i drew too much power off of them it would cause my head unit to reboot. It was fairly repeatable. Possibly your battery is getting weak and too much voltage drop while driving is causing the head unit to reboot. I don't think it mattered for me whether the car was running or not. But I could be misremembering that.

 

[Specialeyes]

Are the lights that are coming on when the brakes are applied not supposed to be on?

When they are supposed to be on, do they work fine? Does pressing the brake affect them then?

I have seen low voltage cause the head unit to reboot before. When i was messing with my power seat plugs for the 3rd row to use them as a 12v source, if i drew too much power off of them it would cause my head unit to reboot. It was fairly repeatable. Possibly your battery is getting weak and too much voltage drop while driving is causing the head unit to reboot. I don't think it mattered for me whether the car was running or not. But I could be misremembering that.

Yes, the interior backlighting/daytime running lights are on the same circuit. You can manually turn them off, on, or set to auto using the stalk on the left of the wheel. That all works fine, it’s just weird that if I have them set to auto or off they will turn on when holding the brake pedal down.

I’m going to check the battery out tomorrow. It looks to be the original battery meaning it would be 4 years old so maybe/hopefully that’s all this is.

 

[Specialeyes]

Welp, battery is good. Fuses are good. I’m stumped on the easy stuff. Looks like a trip to the dealer is next.

 

[ryanCA]

any water leak in the truck?

 

[Leaky2014]

You have water in your junction boxes located in the driver footwell kick panel.

 

[Specialeyes]

any water leak in the truck?

To my knowledge no. We had a few heavy storms here in Dallas a couple weeks ago but I haven’t driven thru any high water. Sounds like this is not going to be fun. I’ll try and check those j boxes that @Leaky2014 mentioned.

 

[ryanCA]

You have water in your junction boxes located in the driver footwell kick panel.

yup

exactly why i mentioned water

 

[Specialeyes]

Just wanted to add resolution on this for anyone who might experience the same problem down the line. After checking fuses and battery I eventually sucked it up and got around to removing the drivers door interior panel and kick panel to check for moisture in the connectors and boxes. Everything dry. Took it in to the shop this week for routine service and had them diagnose.

Turns out the problem was my own doing. A couple of months prior to this issue I replaced the left rear tail light and went with an amazon special since OEM's were on back order. The connector in that taillight started causing a short. Dealer now has new OEM tail light on the way. So thankfully no water/electrical problems per se. Just don't recommend using cheap, aftermarket lights on your Land Cruiser. Lesson learned.

 

[gasman4u]

Just wanted to add resolution on this for anyone who might experience the same problem down the line. After checking fuses and battery I eventually sucked it up and got around to removing the drivers door interior panel and kick panel to check for moisture in the connectors and boxes. Everything dry. Took it in to the shop this week for routine service and had them diagnose.

Turns out the problem was my own doing. A couple of months prior to this issue I replaced the left rear tail light and went with an amazon special since OEM's were on back order. The connector in that taillight started causing a short. Dealer now has new OEM tail light on the way. So thankfully no water/electrical problems per se. Just don't recommend using cheap, aftermarket lights on your Land Cruiser. Lesson learned.

Or buying any auto parts off Amazon.