On my 2003 XK8 Coupe: Am I correct to say that the instrument lights are on full blast when the lights are off, and dimmed when the lights are on, and when overridden by turning the dimmer control until it clicks, they stay on 100% all the time?


I'm in the middle of replacing the stock radio. I wired the new radios dimmer control to the harness dimmer wire, and the radio dimmer works backwards! When the lights are on, the radio is brighter, and with the lights off, it is dimmer! This follows with the above, but I'm not sure how to get it to work alongside the dash lights. Has anybody dealt with this, or am just being a moron?

 

Yes

 

I can't decide from the one word answer whether SeismicGuy is responding to your first question or your second.

You'll certainly notice the difference if you ever have Instrument Pack bulbs blow. Very difficult to see the instruments in daylight without them.

Graham

 

First

 

brighter during day, dimmer at night

 

Thanks everyone. I've given up on connecting the dimmer input on the new radio. This new radio allows you to setup a clock time to dim and brighten the display automatically, so I'll probably use that.


Steve

 

Sorry for the one-word answer but I think I posted the same question years ago when I first bought the car. It would be nice to have a way of turning off the cluster lights during the day and perhaps them switch on if you go through a dark tunnel or something.

Doug

 

I am unsure if you are using the correct wire to dim the radio. I installed a JVC unit in place of my factory radio. I used my volt meter to find which wire on the factory radio harness was 12 volts when the headlights were turned on, wired that to the JVC dimmer input line. All works perfectly.

 

Thanks Steve. I was using the dimmer wire that is the normal input to the head unit, which is backwards. I didn't even think of finding and using the headlights directly. If I don't like the clock-based dimming, I'll go looking for that.

 

My first xk8 seeing my speed during the day became a problem quickly like on the drive home. Those dark tunnels (that house the dash gages) can make it instantly impossible to see especially in the convertible. I could never tell they were on during day light running..I replaced them all with LED and I saw a good change. If your concerned with them wearing out, the first set lasted over 100,000 miles. Unfortunately that car got totalled soon after the replacement but I got a newer XKR. My first order was the same $8.00 set of all new dash bulbs. I've not addressed the HVAC and radio bulbs, they are completely different and completely satisfactory.

 

it's very difficult to see them in daylight with them on. So difficult I never knew they were on. Lol. I bought a pack of new LED bulbs, replaced and significantly better, but still have some difficulty in certain angles of light during the day. It's a pleasant and simple task just remember with LED, you should identify the positive on each bulb tgen insert with positive down toward the bottom.