I just purchased a 99 TL. I noticed that the Odometer area where the trip, odometer, temperature and door staus are is very dim. It's fine at night but I can't see anything during the day. Is this normal? Is there anything I can do to make this better?

 

Wearing sunglasses? Are your side markers or headlights on?

 

I took my shades off I swear! I see no difference when I turn my headlights on or off. I think something is broken... maybe a bulb or LED burnt out in the instrument panel.

Does the odometer area actually light up differently when the headlights are on and off?

 

there's a dial under the T/C button, Cruise control and all that cluster of buttons. You can either turn it right to left, that will adjust the brightness of the lights. If you can't see it during the day, then you definitely have a problem.

 

Make sure that your headlights are on.

 

Yup. The dial is at the brightest. It's perfect at night, but can hardly see any of it in the day. I hope to get my service manuals soon and I'll pop the cluster out and check the bulbs, etc. Thanks.

 

I know for a fact that the '99 TL cluster lights are dim and Acura made them brighter for '00.

 

darn! must look for an 00 cluster...

 

From E-Opinions, "And in the 1999 TL the digital dash readout is a bit dim. The 2000 TL fixes this problem."

 

I fixed this problem by taking out the tiny bulbs there and replaced with blue leds

 

What makes the guage cluster brighter for the 2000-2003 model TLs? Is it simply a matter of swapping bulbs? Mine is extremely dim on my 99 as well.

 

you can't make it brighter unless doing some drastic mod to the cluster. Swapping bulbs won't do much, if at all

 

Strange -- this was also one of the first things I noticed when I got my '99... My friends just sort of laughed when I told them it bothered me. I always drive with my full lighting system on. However, during the day, I always completely dim the interior lights using the switch. I figure having the interior gauges lit during the day is only wasting the bulbs and using them up faster... I don't need the lights on to read the dash during the day anyway. I also think that Acura could've done a much better job at designing the pods where the gauges lay.. Had they made the surrounding a bit deeper (especially at the sides of the gauge pod), it would've helped a ton by blocking out the glare from the sun - making the bulbs more efficient. I also think it would be much easier to read if they'd chosen a brighter/lighter coloured bulb instead of that deep orange colour.

 

when you turn on your headlights, your dash lights dim...

 

when you turn on your headlights, your dash lights dim...I dont notice at all durring the day. Maybe cause I really never have my headlights on...why would you have them on durring the day?

 

You adjust the contrast of interior gauge/instrument lights by using the dial. I always keep it on the dimmest possible during the day though since I don't need any light from the bulbs to see it - it's bright enough outside to read the dash just fine.

I drive with my full lighting system on all the time because I had it set to go on automatically with start-up on my previous car and am used to always using the lights.... Studies have found that it's much safer to drive with your lights on --- the more visible you are: the better. ...That is why Canadian models have DRL - they found it reduced accidents. Honestly, it really does make cars more visible during the day - especially on bright, sunny days. I just take it a step up and throw on my tail lights as well (and regular headlights instead of DRL).