Why do my dashboard lights go out when headlights go on?

Asked by kfmmoon Nov 07, 2014 at 08:14 AM about the 2010 Toyota Camry XLE

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

When Day Running lights are on, dashboard lights work fine.  When they auto switch to headlights, dashboard (including radio) go out.   Local mechanic says he can't fix, but probably dealer can.

19 Answers

240

Check for ground And Check switch with olms meter

12 people found this helpful.

Check tail light fuse. they may be out. When taillights go out, dash lights go with so you will know, and not be driving around without taillights and not know. The way it works, is in daylight, the dash lights are on all the time and are not adjustable, (unless you turn on headlights manually). But when headlights are on, they are on a different circuit, and can be dimmed..and that's one thing you can check, see if you have them dimmed to nothing

38 people found this helpful.
400

I have the exact opposite problem. On my 2003 Highlander, the dash lights are off when the daytime running lights are on but when the headlights (or even parking lights) are on, the dash lights are on. The dash lights used to be on when the DRLs were on. Does anyone have any ideas?

28 people found this helpful.
210

I had this problem and found that it went away when I adjusted the dimmer switch. I have a 2013 Toyota Highlander Limited.

21 people found this helpful.
150

Guru5HC5G, Thanks for your comment. Not sure how it got off but when I adjust the dimmer switch it got back on.

15 people found this helpful.
1,240

Find the trip button by the speedometer and turn it clockwise

125 people found this helpful.
400

Don't you think that if the dash lights are on when the headlights and parking lights are on, then the dash lights would be on when the DRL are on??? That is NOT the problem.

9 people found this helpful.
100

I have Toyota Rav 4 and the same issue happened. I turn on the dimmer switch which is on the left-hand side of the dashboard and issue resolved.

10 people found this helpful.
110

Idk how mine got off either but the dimmer light definitely worked thanks guys!!

11 people found this helpful.
100

It dims automatically when headlights turn on are ambient light is less and less brightness is needed to see illumination. to bypass this. Turn the dimmer switch located on the speedo cluster clockwise until it clicks

6 people found this helpful.
30

I WENT 2 MY 09 CAMRY DASH BOARD LITES OUT MESSED AROUND WITH THE TRIP SPEEDOMETER BUTTOM AND LITES CAME ON TURNS OUT GOT OIL CHANGED AND THEY REPROGRAMED TRIP THING AND DID SOMETHING SO I GIGGLED IT CAME BACK ON

3 people found this helpful.
60

My dimmer switch was turned down after I got my car washed. At night when lights set to AUTO my dashboard lights did not turn on. They only turned on in daylight. I was all set to by a new light sensor but investigated further on this website. I just turned on dimmer switch and THAT WAS IT. Sounds easy but this was hard to diagnose because it never happened to me before!

6 people found this helpful.
160

My dash lights and radio light go off when I switch light switch to on I check the little switch and its all the way up my light that lights up that switch works my cargo light works anyone have any idea what it could be?

16 people found this helpful.
10

Dimmer was down. How, no idea. Had just replaced the Original Honda battery prior to dash light issue. Doing a parasitic drain test on it just to make sure there's nothing else. Thanks!

1 people found this helpful.
40

My problem with my Honda EX 2010 the dashboard lights go off when Headlights are on. No its not the dimmer switch. ?

4 people found this helpful.

The headlights in my 2017 Leaf were doing the same thing when I returned from a week camping trip with my other vehicle. I discovered the dashboard display has two settings, one for headlights ON and one for headlights OFF. You have to have the headlights ON to set the brightness for the headlights ON mode, otherwise you're just adjusting the display brightness for them OFF. I don't remember dimming my display to black when the headlights were on but the other driver in my household did remember complaining about how bright the display was when driving at night. My lights don't auto dim but I assume those that do use the same set of settings to adjust the dashboard display brightness.

Thanks, the dimmer switch suggestion worked fine, don't usually me3ss with it but had some work done on the wiring(rat chewed the ABS wiring cable into) the mechanic probably moved it . Good call !

20

I have been having issues with my Toyota Camry 2001. The lights doesn't come up when the day going dark at evening cos it's comes up by itself buh it's not working. I dont know what might be the cause

2 people found this helpful.

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