Thread: Dash Light Dimmer Controls

My problem is that dash lights were on and working at night, then I go for a night drive and no dash lights.
That's when I started looking for a dimmer and evidently there is NO dimmer. D2 2003.
Is it more likely that the actual sensor that adjusts dash lights has failed, rather than the actual dash globes?
If so where is the sensor? Is it that knob in the centre of dash under windscreen?

There is no sensor for the dash lights at all

Originally Posted by sierrafery

There is no sensor for the dash lights at all

OK, so no "sensor" (I'd somehow got the impression that on some there was a sensor that automatically set the level of dash brightness), and no way to adjust the dash with a dial rheostat or such.
Since I cannot find any "adjuster" on this vehicle I assumed I must have got one of those that came with a "sensor".
Cannot find any way to adjust /turn on/off the dash lights.

Have also lost the lower rear bumper tail lights (21w globes so assume they might be brake lights).
Wondering if the problem is linked??

Originally Posted by vbrab

OK, so no "sensor" (I'd somehow got the impression that on some there was a sensor that automatically set the level of dash brightness), and no way to adjust the dash with a dial rheostat or such.

Originally Posted by vbrab

Since I cannot find any "adjuster" on this vehicle I assumed I must have got one of those that came with a "sensor".
Cannot find any way to adjust /turn on/off the dash lights.

Have also lost the lower rear bumper tail lights (21w globes so assume they might be brake lights).
Wondering if the problem is linked??

Your dash lights come together with parking lights around the cars (2 on front headlight, 2 on the bull bar if you have a bull bar, 2 on rear tailight which in fact they come as what people call Taillight and will stay together with the brake light in one single bulb with dual filaments, and 2 for the number plate light), which actually needs you to turn on the left tab on the steering wheel, one step before you go two steps for the main headlight.


In my experience, the most effective way to adjust the light on your dash, or whatever light you want to show off, would be changing your dash light bulbs to LED, then you install one of 12V dimmer switch right on the power wire before it goes to the dash light. This means you can simply adjust the power going into the dash light system. And because LED will response very sensitive with low power, you will see them a lot dimmer or brighter on your turn of switch.

I do believe that the original halogen dash light would response quite well to the dimmer switch as well.

Something like this would work.

E67B 12V 8A LED Strip Light Switch Dimmer Brightness Lighting Controller Tool 691006106393 | eBay

(Please correct me if I am wrong).

Didn’t the NAS model D2’s come standard with a dimmer?
Positioned near the drivers right knee I believe.

Originally Posted by maxperformance

Your dash lights come together with parking lights around the cars (2 on front headlight, 2 on the bull bar if you have a bull bar, 2 on rear tailight which in fact they come as what people call Taillight and will stay together with the brake light in one single bulb with dual filaments, ... ..

Pretty sure the D2 tail brake lights are separate, unless they changed it on some models.
All three I have here have separate tail light, single filament 5w, and the brake light is the lower more inboard red square 21w again single filament.

Bar lights are tails too. Could be out due to bulbs or wiring, there's a take off point from up in the D pillar that sends power down to both bar tail lights.

Using the AMR 47.. (whatever numbered) part is the nicest option. Only prob is finding one at a reasonable price. They all seem to cost about $100 or so delivered at the moment.
I found one a few years ago out of the UK, very cheap(cost $27 posted!) and fitted to my D1.
Best thing for those dark roads, very easy to fit, was worried about cutting the square out of the dashpod, thinking the plastic is extremely brittle, which it is! .. but it cut well.
Small file on the rough parts, you may need to play a bit with the file to get clearance for the rheostat to turn smoothly. Couple of carefully chosen screws for size, again to be sure plastic didn't split for the screw posts on the back.
D1 had the loom wire there, so a matter of plug 'er in and

I didn't add any PWM, or electronical gizmology .. and LEDs run nicely around town at full brightness, and nicely dimmed for dark back roads.

Originally Posted by AK83

Pretty sure the D2 tail brake lights are separate, unless they changed it on some models.
All three I have here have separate tail light, single filament 5w, and the brake light is the lower more inboard red square 21w again single filament.

Bar lights are tails too. Could be out due to bulbs or wiring, there's a take off point from up in the D pillar that sends power down to both bar tail lights.

Using the AMR 47.. (whatever numbered) part is the nicest option. Only prob is finding one at a reasonable price. They all seem to cost about $100 or so delivered at the moment.
I found one a few years ago out of the UK, very cheap(cost $27 posted!) and fitted to my D1.
Best thing for those dark roads, very easy to fit, was worried about cutting the square out of the dashpod, thinking the plastic is extremely brittle, which it is! .. but it cut well.
Small file on the rough parts, you may need to play a bit with the file to get clearance for the rheostat to turn smoothly. Couple of carefully chosen screws for size, again to be sure plastic didn't split for the screw posts on the back.
D1 had the loom wire there, so a matter of plug 'er in and

I didn't add any PWM, or electronical gizmology .. and LEDs run nicely around town at full brightness, and nicely dimmed for dark back roads.

On a 99 to 2003 D2 the rear bar lights are called “rear guard” lights and are intended for use when driving in fog. The on / off switch is at the top left on the instrument binnacle and they only operate in conjunction with the with front main-beam lights.

Originally Posted by onebob

On a 99 to 2003 D2 the rear bar lights are called “rear guard” lights and are intended for use when driving in fog. The on / off switch is at the top left on the instrument binnacle and they only operate in conjunction with the with front main-beam lights.

Never knew. will check on the D2 next time.