Dashboard lights are too dark - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

olympicgold · 03-03-2010, 11:28 AM

Hello fellow T owners !

I just bought this one about 2 days ago and it seems that instrument panel is way too dark. My friend used to have Gen 5 Camry and I seen other people's camry's and their lights are twice brighter than mine. I have brightness all the way up.

How can I fix this? I guess just replacing bulbs behind cluster? Should I buy new bulbs or try to intall LEDs? How hard is to remove the instrument panel?

Cheers

***Punks_Not_Dead5*** · 03-03-2010, 12:29 PM

did you try the dimmer switch? on the dash to the left or the steering wheel. is a wheel like thing up is brighter down is darker.

***coolhandsean*** · 03-03-2010, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Punks_Not_Dead5

did you try the dimmer switch? on the dash to the left or the steering wheel. is a wheel like thing up is brighter down is darker.

Dapuzzlar · 03-03-2010, 09:53 PM

I believe the Gen 5 uses small LED bulbs soldered onto the board. very difficult to change out if you dont know what you are doing. If you purchased the SE with the orange light, you're right, they do look a little on the dim side in general.

olympicgold · 03-03-2010, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Punks_Not_Dead5

did you try the dimmer switch? on the dash to the left or the steering wheel. is a wheel like thing up is brighter down is darker.

Lol. Yes I said that in my first post that I have dimmer switch turned all the way UP (max brightness) and it is still not as bright as it should be. I have 03 XLE.

2 Dappuzlar

You sure it uses LEDs? The guy at my local Toyota parts dep said that it uses bulbs. Does anyone know how many bulbs behind the dashboard? I want to know ahead of time so I can buy them before I take dashboard out. That way I won't have to take it out/in twice

iconman · 03-05-2010, 03:41 AM

I got an 03 Camry XLE also and I agreed that the instrument panel LEDs are on the dim side. 2005-06 Camry are definitely a lot brighter. Instrument panel uses soldered in LEDs and not the regular bulb that you can twist off. I could see how someone with some basic soldering skill could solder out those OEM LEDs for brighter one.

Deadly Sushi · 05-28-2010, 11:27 AM

I want to take the cluster out to change the LEDs.
Is there a guide on how to remove the cluster? I have an idea of how to but Im not sure.

iconman · 05-30-2010, 11:32 PM

Quote:

I want to take the cluster out to change the LEDs.
Is there a guide on how to remove the cluster? I have an idea of how to but Im not sure.

Deadly Sushi · 08-12-2010, 10:50 PM

Thanks!

Im going to try just taking off that trim panel before I even TRY to attempt takiong off the steering wheel crap.

fatngs · 11-25-2010, 05:10 PM

taking the cluster out is extemely easy; just tilt the steering wheel all the way down, pop off the trip piece under the cluster, remove the 2 bolts, remove, and disconnect the wires