LED instrument panel/gauge cluster

[nspindel]

I assume you had some "bulb/LED" contacts exposed on the board traces as you were messing with the bulbs. Any chance you accidentally shorted something?

Need I mention this is a good example of why you should deactivate the circuit before swapping bulbs?

Is every light source that went dark an LED?

Well, sort of. Except I wasn’t working with a board. The instrument cluster is where the board is. The cluster had already been finished and reassembled. It was not exposed or being worked on. I was changing bulbs in the center console, specifically the seat heaters when this happened.

No, it’s not only the LEDs that are impacted. I haven’t swapped anything in the HVAC controls yet. They are all dark as well. Anything on the dimmer is dark. But the dimmer was assembled and installed normally along with the entire instrument cluster. Only the center console was being worked on, which doesn’t have a board in it.

 

[ramangain]

Well, sort of. Except I wasn’t working with a board. The instrument cluster is where the board is. The cluster had already been finished and reassembled. It was not exposed or being worked on. I was changing bulbs in the center console, specifically the seat heaters when this happened.

No, it’s not only the LEDs that are impacted. I haven’t swapped anything in the HVAC controls yet. They are all dark as well. Anything on the dimmer is dark. But the dimmer was assembled and installed normally along with the entire instrument cluster. Only the center console was being worked on, which doesn’t have a board in it.

So the "board" I am referring to is anything that has traces with exposed electrical contacts. Your seat heater switches would have a "board" by this definition. Sorry for the murkiness.

My hunch is that when you find and replace the blown fuse, the problem will go away.

 

[nspindel]

So the "board" I am referring to is anything that has traces with exposed electrical contacts. Your seat heater switches would have a "board" by this definition. Sorry for the murkiness.

My hunch is that when you find and replace the blown fuse, the problem will go away.

Agreed. It's got to be a fuse.

So I had already established that the fuse identified as #9 in the diagram I posted earlier had not blown therefore couldn't be the cause of my problem. But for giggles, I figured I'd pull it to see if the instrument cluster is affected. It is. By pulling the 15 amp fuse in the 4th slot of the middle bank, I no longer have several of my indicator lights at the bottom of the cluster, and the column of gear indicator lights is not working, and my gauges are all dead. So that fuse definitely involves the instrument cluster. However, I still have left turn, right turn, bright light indicators working, the door open indicator still works, and the airbag indicator works. So the instrument cluster definitely involves more than one fuse besides the one I've pulled. I'm just wondering if anyone knows what fuse those dimmable dash lights sit on?? Otherwise I just need to pull and pull until I find a bad one, and given the location of that fuse box, it just ain't fun.

 

[nspindel]

Or, if you also know that all dimmable dash lights are on that same fuse with all the other dash lights, that'd be helpful too. At least then I'd know my problem isn't the fuse. But I really think it's a fuse...

 

[nspindel]

Well, good news for me. It was indeed a fuse. I guess this is valuable information if no-one replied to my question. The circuit for the dash lights that are connected to the dimmer wheel to the left of the steering wheel is NOT on the fuse labeled GAUGE. Those lights are on the tail light circuit, labeled TAIL. Once I popped in a new fuse all was good.

 

[lesgarten]

Well, good news for me. It was indeed a fuse. I guess this is valuable information if no-one replied to my question. The circuit for the dash lights that are connected to the dimmer wheel to the left of the steering wheel is NOT on the fuse labeled GAUGE. Those lights are on the tail light circuit, labeled TAIL. Once I popped in a new fuse all was good.

Strange story! Thanx for the info.

 

[RPLX470]

Well, good news for me. It was indeed a fuse. I guess this is valuable information if no-one replied to my question. The circuit for the dash lights that are connected to the dimmer wheel to the left of the steering wheel is NOT on the fuse labeled GAUGE. Those lights are on the tail light circuit, labeled TAIL. Once I popped in a new fuse all was good.

Any chance you could post up a pic of the fuse/location?

My dimmer lights up low at it’s brightest setting. Hard to see the numbers on the speedo and tach., but all the other gauges light up well.
Took the dash apart and the motherboard but could not find the bulb locations to replace them.

At night I see it without a problem.

Thanks!

 

[nspindel]

 

[RPLX470]

View attachment 2561021

Muchas gracias!

 

[nspindel]

My wife and I swap back and forth driving the truck, so we change seats and mirrors frequently. Quite honestly it's bothered me for 20 years that Toyota held back the memory seat option in the LC so they could bundle it in the LX instead, when my Mitsubishi that cost half the price had memory seats and mirrors, but I digress...

One thing that has always bothered me was that my side view mirror switch did not have a light. I was surprised to see on the list of bulbs that the side mirrors took a T4 bulb. I've had the vehicle since it was new and it's never been lit. So when I pulled those switches out to install the new bulbs, I saw that the switch had a bulb socket that was empty. So... I put a bulb in. And it worked! Hooray! Except the switch doesn't have a clear lens, no light shines through! So let me guess... The Lexus switch was the one that was lit? And I suppose if I pop the Lexus switch on there, it'll be nice and lit up? The part numbers are different for that switch between Toyota and Lexus. Here is the Toyota switch:

Here's the Lexus:

So besides the obvious heater button on the Lexus switch, can anyone confirm for me that the Lexus part has the clear lens and would be lit if I swap it?

 

[jLB]

My wife and I swap back and forth driving the truck, so we change seats and mirrors frequently. Quite honestly it's bothered me for 20 years that Toyota held back the memory seat option in the LC so they could bundle it in the LX instead, when my Mitsubishi that cost half the price had memory seats and mirrors, but I digress...

One thing that has always bothered me was that my side view mirror switch did not have a light. I was surprised to see on the list of bulbs that the side mirrors took a T4 bulb. I've had the vehicle since it was new and it's never been lit. So when I pulled those switches out to install the new bulbs, I saw that the switch had a bulb socket that was empty. So... I put a bulb in. And it worked! Hooray! Except the switch doesn't have a clear lens, no light shines through! So let me guess... The Lexus switch was the one that was lit? And I suppose if I pop the Lexus switch on there, it'll be nice and lit up? The part numbers are different for that switch between Toyota and Lexus. Here is the Toyota switch:

View attachment 2564633

Here's the Lexus:

View attachment 2564635

So besides the obvious heater button on the Lexus switch, can anyone confirm for me that the Lexus part has the clear lens and would be lit if I swap it?

Actually the additional button is the “mirror fold” button.

I can tell you that the Lexus button is lit (in a LX470) but I don’t know if they use the same connector on the rear, or if all of the wires in the connector from the Lexus are present in the LC.

 

[lesgarten]

My wife and I swap back and forth driving the truck, so we change seats and mirrors frequently. Quite honestly it's bothered me for 20 years that Toyota held back the memory seat option in the LC so they could bundle it in the LX instead, when my Mitsubishi that cost half the price had memory seats and mirrors, but I digress...

One thing that has always bothered me was that my side view mirror switch did not have a light. I was surprised to see on the list of bulbs that the side mirrors took a T4 bulb. I've had the vehicle since it was new and it's never been lit. So when I pulled those switches out to install the new bulbs, I saw that the switch had a bulb socket that was empty. So... I put a bulb in. And it worked! Hooray! Except the switch doesn't have a clear lens, no light shines through! So let me guess... The Lexus switch was the one that was lit? And I suppose if I pop the Lexus switch on there, it'll be nice and lit up? The part numbers are different for that switch between Toyota and Lexus. Here is the Toyota switch:

View attachment 2564633

Here's the Lexus:

View attachment 2564635

So besides the obvious heater button on the Lexus switch, can anyone confirm for me that the Lexus part has the clear lens and would be lit if I swap it?

I think some folks will be interested in how this pans out, thanx!

 

[nspindel]

I think some folks will be interested in how this pans out, thanx!

Here's my bet. It's the same part. I want to dissect this switch a bit when I have some time. My suspicion based on other differences between the Lexus and the Land Cruiser is that the switch is the same but there's something in the housing that's not letting light pass through. On the Lexus version there's an opening for light to shine through. I want to see if I can get behind that switch cover with a flashlight and see if light comes through it. My bet is that there's a mod lurking back there. Or there's a purchase of the Lexus switch in my future when I break this one. Stay tuned...

 

[nspindel]

Nah. I popped it out and had a look at it. The back of the switch has two small Phillips which I loosened, but those don't appear to hold the housing of the switch into the larger trim piece that meets the lower dash trim. The switch pops into the housing with three plastic tabs that click in place, and they do not appear to be designed with the intention of ever coming loose again. I could attempt at horsing the plastic a bit more, but that'd just end up snapping it. And from the looks of the front of it, it's a solid white imprint on the switch, not a clear lens that allows light through. And I don't think it's worth the money for the Lexus part, so I think I'll just leave it be. I've lived with it for 20 years...

 

[lesgarten]

Nah. I popped it out and had a look at it. The back of the switch has two small Phillips which I loosened, but those don't appear to hold the housing of the switch into the larger trim piece that meets the lower dash trim. The switch pops into the housing with three plastic tabs that click in place, and they do not appear to be designed with the intention of ever coming loose again. I could attempt at horsing the plastic a bit more, but that'd just end up snapping it. And from the looks of the front of it, it's a solid white imprint on the switch, not a clear lens that allows light through. And I don't think it's worth the money for the Lexus part, so I think I'll just leave it be. I've lived with it for 20 years...

Here is an auction that shows pix of the back:

84870-60080 GENUINE OEM OUTER MIRROR SWITCH ASSY FOR LAND CRUISER LEXUS LX470 | eBay

LAND CRUISER. LAND CRUISER 100. Our dedicated sales team is always glad to assist your part related queries. Professional's proof is required, if item is not fit to your vehicle. What is the condition of this item?.

www.ebay.com

 

[nspindel]

Here is an auction that shows pix of the back:

84870-60080 GENUINE OEM OUTER MIRROR SWITCH ASSY FOR LAND CRUISER LEXUS LX470 | eBay

LAND CRUISER. LAND CRUISER 100. Our dedicated sales team is always glad to assist your part related queries. Professional's proof is required, if item is not fit to your vehicle. What is the condition of this item?.

www.ebay.com

I can see looking at the front that it's different. Seeing the up down left & right arrows in those photos, they're clearly lenses. On the Toyota part, they are white and not see-through. Definitely not the same part. But the back part of it is the same, where the bulb goes in the socket. And the electronics work in the Land Cruiser version, the bulb lights up. But the light has nowhere to go.

 

[nspindel]

The Lexus part is on eBay for around $100 shipped. But on my list of things I want to spend $100 on for my Land Cruiser, lighting that switch ain't making the top 5.

 

[nspindel]

Just another cheezy thing Toyota held back from Land Cruisers to create $10,000 of "value" for the Lexus package. That was the difference in retail price of the trucks in 2001 when I bought mine. The LC was $59K, the LX was $69K.

 

[ramangain]

Just another cheezy thing Toyota held back from Land Cruisers to create $10,000 of "value" for the Lexus package. That was the difference in retail price of the trucks in 2001 when I bought mine. The LC was $59K, the LX was $69K.

Speaking of which, I wonder if the LC side mirrors have the capability to fold if using a Lexus switch and maybe making some minor internal change in the mirror housing?

 

[nspindel]

Speaking of which, I wonder if the LC side mirrors have the capability to fold if using a Lexus switch and maybe making some minor internal change in the mirror housing?

The mirror fold button is a separate wiring harness, the connector isn’t there in the LC.