Ascension

So, this is peculiar. At first, I assumed something was wrong with my car, a 2011 6MT. Then, I began looking at current cars for sale in order to determine if other cars also have this "issue." So, the brights (blue headlight icon) indicator is slightly dim at all times on my car.

Out of 14 cars that I looked at, only 4 of them had the dim icon turned on. I have some pictures to show you as examples. The first 3 pictures showcase the dim brights icon as turned on. The final 2 pictures showcase that the icon is not on.







Note that this is a dimly lit icon. If I turn on the actual brights, the icon lights up brightly on the gauge cluster. There is a stark difference between dim, and turned on.

My 2012 6AT does not have this "issue," and I'm going to assume, for the moment being, that no 2012-2014 models have this peculiarity.

Can others please chime in and tell me if their cars also have the dim light on?

Frankyy

you did turn up the brightness right?
what happens when you turn it all the way up does anything happen?

altair47

Indeed, it lit lights up. I think this is a factory defect inside the instrumental cluster. We will have to live with this

Ascension

I'll play around with the brightness settings tomorrow, and report back.

Thanks for confirming. How big of an undertaking was it to swap out the gauge cluster lights to blue? I'd be interested in a red gauge cluster, just as the 2007 Type-S had.

altair47

I used a soldering iron

altair47

SMD https://www.ebay.com/itm/19361620890...Bk9SR5zdvL6XYQ

altair47

Wire https://www.ebay.com/itm/23406259524...Bk9SR-ar3r6XYQ for 2009 TL

BROlando

Isn't this just an indicator that the DRL are on?

Does it stay dimly lit when you turn the regular low beams on?

Ascension

In other vehicles, there's a designated DRL light. From my perception, this faintly dim light seems out of place, so I assumed it's not intended. Just as @altair47 stated, it might be a defect.

When the low beams are turned on, the faintly dim light disappears completely.

@Frankyy , here is a picture at night with the brightness on maximum:

Edward'TLS

Ascension, does your car has Daytime Running Lights ?

BROlando

^Yes, the 2009+ TL has DRL.

OP....a lot of cars indicate DRL function via dimly lit brights indicator.

Because a lot of DRL's are just dimly lit brights.

Cars that have a separate bulb for DRL will have a separate indicator.

However, the TL just uses dimly lit brights as DRL.

E-brake off, low beam/parking lights off = brights dimly lit = DRL on.

Don't you have 2 of these TL's? Do both do it?

I would check your owner manual to see if its normal operation.

csmeance

Working as designed for 09-11 models:

BROlando

^Yep. Figured it was a 2009-2011 thing. My 2012 doesn't indicate that way, IIRC.

So...buy a 2012?

Edward'TLS

If your Honda/Acura vehicle has Daytime Running Lights (DRL), it is normal that the High Beam Indicator light is lit up dimly, because the DRL is supplying half power to the high beam bulbs.

When you manually switch on the high beam, then the high beam bulbs are running at full power, and the High Beam Indicator light will be lit up at maximum brightness.

Ascension

@csmeance , thank you for the information! It's curious, especially since this is a 2009-2011 caveat, then. My 2012 doesn't have this "nuisance." Did you find this in the service manual? I still have to find myself a copy.

csmeance

Yes, I have a digital copy of it that I found here that cover 2009-2010! Send me a PM with your email address, I'll dropbox it over to you!

Ascension

I appreciate this very gesture very much! I'll PM you.

WDPanda

You should be able to confirm by having your handbrake up when starting. The DRLs turn on when the hand brake comes down. My 2013 doesn't do this.

Ascension

My handbrake is always up when the car is parked. What you're stating is correct, that the DRL's don't turn on until the handbrake is released. This occurs in both my 2011, and my 2012. However, the 2012 doesn't have the dim light lit up on the dashboard.

If your 2013's DRL's do not turn on when your handbrake is released, then that means you have an aftermarket setup, or a modification of some sort.

echodigital

I agree about the "handbrake' behaviour. I switched out my halogen DRL/Highbeam bulbs to LED and I had my parking brake on and I thought I blew a fuse.

WDPanda

What i meant is, to check that the DRLs are in fact lighting up your highbeam indicator dimly, you could check when starting the car to see if the highbeam indicator is lit.
With handbrake up and car just started, the DRLs should be off; along with the dimly lit indicator.
When you put the handbrake down, the DRLs activate and you should notice that dimly lit light also activate at the same time (if you have this issue).
It seems the 09-11 will have to live with it.

Ascension

I've come to terms with the matter, and found peace. Now, I know that my next car must be a 2012-2014 6MT.