Ambient light near glove box
11-04-17, 08:04 AM
#16
Racer
Really, tofuprod? Your eyes must be better than mine. If it gets brighter again then I couldn't detect it. I will have to take a closer look next time. Last night it seemed to dim by 90% when I moved out of Park and it didn't seem to get appreciably brighter after that until the next engine start.
11-04-17, 08:36 AM
#17
Thanks comotiger and satiger. My total cost was $230 from my mechanic. Lexus dealership quoted $312. I originally planned to do it myself 4-5 months ago and found the part for about $150 online. I never got around to ordering it and just scheduled the appt with my indie instead.
A shame it stays dim even after moving back into Park, comotiger.
A shame it stays dim even after moving back into Park, comotiger.
I will ask dealer if covered under factory warranty, else will fix it myself.
11-04-17, 08:50 AM
#19
Racer
Satiger, I find it odd that mine failed and yours is only partially working. It is not a part I expected to have problems on the LS. LEDs are supposed to be pretty resilient. I wonder if Pattern 1 (light-saber pattern) is more prone to burnout than the gradual Pattern 2 illumination, like on the 4-inch strip above the side-mirror controls. Granted, our cars represent just two incidents but perhaps the ambient strip burns out more frequently and most owners might not even be aware that there's supposed to be a strip of light above the glove compartment. I certainly missed the fact when I was inspecting the car for purchase, and so did my mechanic.
11-04-17, 09:40 AM
#20
Instructor
Really, tofuprod? Your eyes must be better than mine. If it gets brighter again then I couldn't detect it. I will have to take a closer look next time. Last night it seemed to dim by 90% when I moved out of Park and it didn't seem to get appreciably brighter after that until the next engine start.
02-15-18, 06:43 PM
#21
Thanks comotiger and satiger. My total cost was $230 from my mechanic. Lexus dealership quoted $312. I originally planned to do it myself 4-5 months ago and found the part for about $150 online. I never got around to ordering it and just scheduled the appt with my indie instead.
A shame it stays dim even after moving back into Park, comotiger.
A shame it stays dim even after moving back into Park, comotiger.
I wonder where I can find this setting on my 2013 LS460.
I searched my manual and did not find anything about this ambient light setting.
Mine does not illuminate at all, but I open the glove box I can see a white strip there under the trim. Am I miss something or the light is broken?
Thank you.
02-15-18, 08:23 PM
#22
Racer
Thank you for the video.
I wonder where I can find this setting on my 2013 LS460.
I searched my manual and did not find anything about this ambient light setting.
Mine does not illuminate at all, but I open the glove box I can see a white strip there under the trim. Am I miss something or the light is broken?
Thank you.
I wonder where I can find this setting on my 2013 LS460.
I searched my manual and did not find anything about this ambient light setting.
Mine does not illuminate at all, but I open the glove box I can see a white strip there under the trim. Am I miss something or the light is broken?
Thank you.
I wanted everything working so I went ahead and paid the cost. In hindsight I would rather spend the money elsewhere because I barely notice the ambient light strip when it is working. It is nice when in Park but dims too much when in Drive, to the point that I don't notice the ambient light at all because I seldom sit in Park for very long (at night).
Last edited by FatherTo1; 02-15-18 at 08:27 PM.
02-16-18, 05:06 AM
#23
Hi lizhekb, I had to order a Bluetooth OBDII scanner and paired it with the Carista Android app to toggle between Advanced Illumination patterns. My mechanic also offers to make personal setting changes for free but I just wanted to learn more about the available options myself. If yours is also broken or burned out then I wonder if the strip of ambient lighting above the glove box is prone to failure (unfortunately, maybe more so in 2013 model years)?
I wanted everything working so I went ahead and paid the cost. In hindsight I would rather spend the money elsewhere because I barely notice the ambient light strip when it is working. It is nice when in Park but dims too much when in Drive, to the point that I don't notice the ambient light at all because I seldom sit in Park for very long (at night).
I wanted everything working so I went ahead and paid the cost. In hindsight I would rather spend the money elsewhere because I barely notice the ambient light strip when it is working. It is nice when in Park but dims too much when in Drive, to the point that I don't notice the ambient light at all because I seldom sit in Park for very long (at night).
When I purchased the car I did not check the ambient light as well and did not expect a problem like this.
I would get it fixed but don't know how long it will last if it is a common problem.
I think from the video there are two parts illuminating, the trim left of steering wheel and the trim above the glove box. Did you have to fix both or just the glove side?
Cause both won't work on mine.
Thank you.
Last edited by lizhekb; 02-16-18 at 05:46 AM.
02-21-18, 01:00 PM
#24
Racer
Thank you for the information.
When I purchased the car I did not check the ambient light as well and did not expect a problem like this.
I would get it fixed but don't know how long it will last if it is a common problem.
I think from the video there are two parts illuminating, the trim left of steering wheel and the trim above the glove box. Did you have to fix both or just the glove side?
Cause both won't work on mine.
Thank you.
02-22-18, 05:37 AM
#25
It seems the parts only cost 150 for both side. Is there any instruction on how to fix it on our own?
the left side trim is easy to dismemtal, just pull it out gentlly. The globe box one I did not figure out how to remove.
02-22-18, 06:34 AM
#26
Racer
Thank you. actually your original post said that you only had the problem with the glove box one, I just want to confirm.
It seems the parts only cost 150 for both side. Is there any instruction on how to fix it on our own?
the left side trim is easy to dismemtal, just pull it out gentlly. The globe box one I did not figure out how to remove.
EDIT: I can't remember if there was a YouTube video documenting the disassembly and I couldn't find one this time. I have attached a PDF from one of my online repair subscriptions. It covers both the left- and right-side ambient strips. Hope it helps, lizhekb. Oh, and interestingly, I came across a page about some "M2 ambient light sensor". It looks more like a plug with six contacts and it resides beneath the hood. I wonder if we can somehow disconnect it or fool it into keeping the ambient light on instead of dimming it while in Drive. I will have to look into it more when there's time.
Last edited by FatherTo1; 02-22-18 at 07:10 AM.
02-22-18, 02:49 PM
#27
lizhekb, I do recall finding instructions before and was about to try to replace it myself too at first. It is definitely doable and you just have to be careful around the airbag beneath the glove box. I will try to find and post the instructions.
EDIT: I can't remember if there was a YouTube video documenting the disassembly and I couldn't find one this time. I have attached a PDF from one of my online repair subscriptions. It covers both the left- and right-side ambient strips. Hope it helps, lizhekb. Oh, and interestingly, I came across a page about some "M2 ambient light sensor". It looks more like a plug with six contacts and it resides beneath the hood. I wonder if we can somehow disconnect it or fool it into keeping the ambient light on instead of dimming it while in Drive. I will have to look into it more when there's time.
EDIT: I can't remember if there was a YouTube video documenting the disassembly and I couldn't find one this time. I have attached a PDF from one of my online repair subscriptions. It covers both the left- and right-side ambient strips. Hope it helps, lizhekb. Oh, and interestingly, I came across a page about some "M2 ambient light sensor". It looks more like a plug with six contacts and it resides beneath the hood. I wonder if we can somehow disconnect it or fool it into keeping the ambient light on instead of dimming it while in Drive. I will have to look into it more when there's time.
It would be nice if we could personalise some of the options to the car, I will fix it first and join you for a not dimming ambient light solution.
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