CanadaCraig Posted December 20, 2003 Posted December 20, 2003 Hi Guys!! :) Tire update - as soon as I have driven a few more km's. Now - to the question. What are the odds? We often hear about the gauges burning out and the a/c and clock displays going black [on 1st and some 2nd generation LS400's] but how often does that really happen? Is it just a matter to time OR do most LS400's go on forever [as far as we know] WITHOUT having any gauge or a/c display problems? What I'm doing - in an attempt to keep my gauges alive and well - is making sure that at no time is the display set at its' brightest setting. I read once that the 'problem' had something to do with the 'fact' that the needles [not sure about the rest] were designed to handle 12 volts but the 'whatever' [at full brightness] puts in 14 volts. [if that makes sense] Not sure if my 'keep 'em dim' theory holds any water [maybe some of you electrical buffs can enlighten me!! lol] but it seems to make sense. Craig!! :)
VBdenny Posted December 20, 2003 Posted December 20, 2003 Yeah I've been lucky with my instrument lights as they function perfectly. I never thought much about the bright setting, but it makes sense I guess. I usually leave mine on as bright as they will go without going to the default brightest click.. Since I always drive with my headlights on, this works out well. From what I've read, many people have problems with the instrument lights, but for now, mine work fine. I also turned of the automatic steering wheel tilt. I figure if I don't use it, it won't break. besides, it is kind of annoying to begin with.
99lsguy Posted December 20, 2003 Posted December 20, 2003 Craig, I agree to keep the inst. lights on low level - I always have. Not just on LS, but every car I've owned because I didn't want burnout. But then again - I THINK WAY TOO MUCH ABOUT THIS KIND OF THING... (ex.....) Since the weather has cooled off, I only run the auto climate control once a month or so to give the A/C unit a rest. I just turn on the fan and run manual heat setting w/o AC. In summer, I always turn OFF the A/C unit when I'm within 1/2 mile or so of my stopping point. Just letting the fan run (but will still have cool air for a minute or so) ' Especially when I'm headed HOME. This allows a little rest for the A/C unit and the CONDENSATION to drain off as I drive instead of dripping in my Garage. All of this in the name of efficiency :D I only use Distilled Water mixed with the Coolant, Change (pan Drain) the Tranny fluid every 5K. Now I'm addicted to SWO's detailing MADNESS - It's worse than my wife going to get a PERM!!! Will the madness every end.................. NO - IT'S A LOT OF FUN :D
wwest Posted December 20, 2003 Posted December 20, 2003 Sorry................, Your LCD panel is BACKLIT using incandescent bulbs. The LCD failures have nothing to do with their brightness level. Probabilities.... I know of a 91, a 92, and a 95, LSes all, all with over 100k miles and no indication of failure yet. Also know of a 92 with failed LCD at 73k. Random?? For some reason I suspect higher average ambient temperatures might be the culprit, the one failure I know of was AZ.
SW03ES Posted December 20, 2003 Posted December 20, 2003 99ls, You dont have to worry about your gauges. They're designed differently than the first generation gauges that always fail. wwest- I think they were talking about the dimming of the lights helping to preserve the gauges instead of the LCD.
90LS400Lexus Posted December 21, 2003 Posted December 21, 2003 I have not had my Lexus long, but I was under the impression when the headlights/parking lights are off that the instrument cluster stays on full brightness and the dial does not dim the light even if it is turned to low. I thought that the brightness dial only worked if the headlight/parking lot light was switched on. I will have to check mine out tomorrow. I usually always leave mine on full brightness - even at night. My car is also a 1990 and all of the lighting still works fine- for now. I have also seen other 1990s with lights still working like new, but I have seen LS400s as new as 1995-1996 with instrument cluster lighting problems.
99lsguy Posted December 21, 2003 Posted December 21, 2003 swo, Thanks for the reassurance :D 90LS, I noticed today you are correct. When out for a drive in daylight, those lights are on full with NO adjustment. When I turn my HID's on at night - I CAN adjust. I will still keep them dimmed a little when HID"s are on for peace of mind.
90LS400Lexus Posted December 21, 2003 Posted December 21, 2003 swo,Thanks for the reassurance :D 90LS, I noticed today you are correct. When out for a drive in daylight, those lights are on full with NO adjustment. When I turn my HID's on at night - I CAN adjust. I will still keep them dimmed a little when HID"s are on for peace of mind. I was pretty sure that was something I noticed in my car. They can be turned off during the day, but the head/parking light switch has to be on. I was not sure though if it was on the other year LS400s or not from some of the other replies.
CanadaCraig Posted December 21, 2003 Author Posted December 21, 2003 VBdenny said... "I also turned of the automatic steering wheel tilt. I figure if I don't use it, it won't break. besides, it is kind of annoying to begin with." You know something - I've been meaning to do just that for a couple of weeks now. What's the point of watching that steering wheel go up and down. Doesn't really serve any purpose. And now that I'm no longer amused - I turned it off. Thanks for the push. Hi 99lsguy!! YOU are the type of guy I'd LOVE to buy a used car from!! lol As for not being able to dim the dashboard lights when the headlights are OFF - that doesn't apply to MY car. [a 1993 LS] Maybe it's because my LS is a Canadian car. We have DRL's. [daytime driving lights] Craig!! :)
99lsguy Posted December 22, 2003 Posted December 22, 2003 Craig, I have Daylight's on my LS too, but the guages are not adjustable (always on full) unless I run the parking/taillights ONLY on - or of course the HID's. Yes, the person who gets my LS is getting the ULTIMATE MAINTAINED VEHICLE :D I'm shooting for a minimum 300k, would feel great to get 400K.
90LS400Lexus Posted December 22, 2003 Posted December 22, 2003 Yes- I checked my lights today and they do not dim, even with the dial, unless the parking or headlights are switched on. It is like that switch is "dead" or not activated until the headlight/parking light switch is on.
CanadaCraig Posted December 22, 2003 Author Posted December 22, 2003 I checked - and checked again - and YES - I CAN dim the dashboard gauges with the lights OFF. Isn't that odd. Hmm... Maybe it's a combination of the year ['93] and the DRL's. I can not - however - turn the gauges completely OFF without the parking or headlights being on nor can I dim the gauges nearly as much as I can when the lights are ON. Craig!! :)
SW03ES Posted December 23, 2003 Posted December 23, 2003 I know on the 98 and 04 LS and the 03 ES that the lights will dim whether the lights are on or off. The difference between the LS and the ES if you have the dimmer switch set right below the full on click when the lights are off the gauges will be full intensity. On the LS there is a sensor that will toggle the gauges between full intensity and night mode (the dimmer setting) whent he lights are on and its during the day. Do a test, set the gauges right beneath the click and drive with the headlights on and drive under some underpasses, the gauges will dim while you're under the underpass and come back on full when you come out. On the ES there is no sensor and the gauges stay dim when the lights are on if the rheostat is at the same setting.
VBdenny Posted December 23, 2003 Posted December 23, 2003 Yeah Craig, I noticed the same thing. Unlike you Canucks, I have to turn my headlights on during the day. I just leave them on all the time as they shut off automatically anyway. It is rather a pain because on the brightest setting, they are fine during the day, but too bright at night. This means I always have to screw with them. If I used the system as intended (lights off day, on at night) they would work perfectly but ever since I have driven, I have driven with my headlights on. It is now a reflex. I figure if they burn out it is just one more expense in the life of a Lexus owner.
99lsguy Posted December 24, 2003 Posted December 24, 2003 OK - got it right this time, Did another test today and I CAN adjust the dimmer when only my DRL's are on! Just didn't notice (I guess) the first time I tried looking at it. Obviously, dimmer is adjustable at night with HID"s...
90LS400Lexus Posted December 24, 2003 Posted December 24, 2003 But it is normal for the 1990-1997 USA LS400s to not have adjustable instrument lights when the lights are off?
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