I need help with a dim dash at night. It looks like the brightness is on the lowest setting when it is actually on the highest. When the headlights are off it is exactly like normal.

Since buying this car I have been having problems with it blowing fuses. When I was under the hood changing the transmission fluid recently I touched the battery to a piece of metal by accident causing a bunch of sparks to fly. I think this has something to do with it, but it xould be coincidental.

Should I try replacing the battery posts or check the voltage on the battery? Could I have caused damage to the battery itself? There was a large spark and a small mark was made on the battery terminal attached to the post and on the wrench. I know I should have disconnected the battery before working but in all honesty I am lazy and do not do that every time I am going to work on the car. Please help.

 

Anyways what happened is I was taking out the fill plug for the transaxle and using a 12" extension and luckily a breaker bar with a rubber handle or else I migthve been fried some. The breaker bar must have grounded to the trans and it touched the positive post.

After this I disconnected the battery. I had to re enter the radio code and all the setting were back to default. I didnt get to play with it much but I noticed it was dimmer right away.

 

when the headlights are on, the dash lights go into a "separate" setting that is usually dimmer. try changing the brightness once the dash lights dim.

also when you max out the brightness, it makes the navi screen stay in daytime mode all the time

 

Yeah dude I am retarded and was doing it wrong. I was trying to turn up the brightness when apparently you have to press the MAX button. So relieved. I really thought I damaged the alternator or something ha.

Gotta be more safe about working near the battery though and cover it and disconnect when needed. That scared the crap out of me and blow a small chunk out of an extremely sturdy 24" breaker bar. Still wondering why my TL likes to blow fuses though.

 

Paperboy's suggestion is best: use the dash button to control brightness levels for both light off and light on scenarios. I tend to use MAX button when sunroof is open on bright day to see navigation screen only- guages are plenty bright for me.