ES - 1st to 4th Gen (1990-2006) Forum for all 1990 - 2006 ES300 and ES330 models. ES250 topics go here as well.

Strange climate control problem

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-08-02, 07:44 PM
  #1  
Kyle Harty
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
iTrader: (17)
 
Kyle Harty's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: MN
Posts: 3,363
Likes: 0
Received 13 Likes on 12 Posts
Default Strange climate control problem

My climate control now lights up when the headlights are off, but turns off when you turn the lights on (kinda defeats the purpose of lighting ). It started doing this out of the blue, the display lights up fine when lights are off, but the lettering on buttons don't (I think they used to); when the headlights are on all you see are the green lights on the AC-type buttons.

I don't know why this would be happening, about all I can think of is to look for a new climate control unit on E-bay and see if something went screwy in the unit itself, if that doesn't work it's gotta be something in the wiring.

Anyone have any ideas on what to check, which wires; anything? Maybe just a little pity.
Old 07-09-02, 10:41 AM
  #2  
squarehat
Lexus Test Driver
 
squarehat's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Ohio, USA
Posts: 1,472
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Post

If I'm not mistaken, the climate and audio control LCDs, like the instrument cluster, are actually backlit brighter during the day when the headlights are off, to compensate for sun glare. In the late afternoon, the glare makes it pretty hard to read, despite the backlight.
Old 07-09-02, 08:16 PM
  #3  
Kyle Harty
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
iTrader: (17)
 
Kyle Harty's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: MN
Posts: 3,363
Likes: 0
Received 13 Likes on 12 Posts
Default

That very well could be, I have no problems seeing it during the day, but it's totally dark at night.
Old 07-09-02, 10:25 PM
  #4  
meZoom!
Super Moderator
 
meZoom!'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: California
Posts: 2,601
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 1 Post
Default

Originally posted by squarehat
If I'm not mistaken, the climate and audio control LCDs, like the instrument cluster, are actually backlit brighter during the day when the headlights are off, to compensate for sun glare. In the late afternoon, the glare makes it pretty hard to read, despite the backlight.
i agree with that but wait a sec, when i come home late at night and turn myheadlights off, everything goes dark. is there that notorious light sensor somewhere to blame?
Old 07-10-02, 11:35 AM
  #5  
1loudlex
Chicago Lexus Club Moderator
 
1loudlex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Illinois
Posts: 808
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Post

Sounds like you might also have afuse out or something. that is very strange...

Adam " Leixst "
Old 07-10-02, 11:52 PM
  #6  
Kyle Harty
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
iTrader: (17)
 
Kyle Harty's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: MN
Posts: 3,363
Likes: 0
Received 13 Likes on 12 Posts
Default

I think Mezoom's right about it at night when you turn the lights off, except now my LCD lights up when I do that.

I suppose I can check the fuses, always worth a shot, takes just a minute and doesn't cost anything.

This one's really confusing me, I've been living with it for a little while now but it bugs me and is inconvenient.
Old 06-12-03, 11:30 PM
  #7  
nooney
Driver School Candidate
 
nooney's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Colorado
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default stereo backlight issue 96LS400

Same thing with my 96 LS400, my backlight worked fine on my stereo unit but when I turn on the lights it goes out.

I read another post about physically wacking the unit, I tried this after my backlight completely stopped working and damned if the backlight turned back on. Still have the same problem when I turn on my headlights, it doesn't occur on my A/C controls however.

I'm shocked that so many people have experienced a similar problem with different Lexus models, seems to be a design issue.

Does someone know who to send this to at Lexus Corporate of some govermental agency.

Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Phil01
RX - 1st Gen (1999-2003)
0
10-28-18 06:05 PM
jewelberry
ES - 1st to 4th Gen (1990-2006)
1
05-24-11 10:17 PM
ls400808
LS - 1st and 2nd Gen (1990-2000)
8
04-07-09 12:42 AM



Quick Reply: Strange climate control problem



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 11:41 AM.