Dashboard lights not working.

If I remember correctly, the dimmer switch can be slid out of its hole in the dash. There is a blank next to it, that you can pop off so as to stick your finger through to ease it out. Another part that might help is that the silver vent can be popped out (page 2 of Hobbit's guide linked in post #11), with moderate difficulty, and reveal perhaps enough of the dash innards to expose the problem.

 

Thanks Seilerts, I will try it out !!

 

Mine had the connector slipped off behind the dimmer control. I pop'ed it out from the front, and fished the wire to the hole. Reconnected and pushed it pack in the dash. Took 10 min max.

 

Thanks lesdit & Seilerts.
Mine had the connecter slipped off also, but was not able to locate the wire without removing the silver vent on the left. It is working now - Thanks again !!

 

Hey all,

You mind offering your thoughts/ suggestions?

The dashboard lights along with reverse beep on our 2004 Prius stopped working today. I've exhausted every step recommended in this thread including Patrick's suggestion (checking 7.5A PANEL fuse under steering column), popped off the silver vent and made sure dimmer wire was properly connected. I've also checked additional fuses in the engine compartment. All those things check out fine.

Curiously, I installed a new Optima D51 12 volt battery in the car last weekend. Everything's been working great until today. Wondering if today's issues could be related to last weekend's 12 volt install....?

Any ideas where to go/ what to address from here?

Thanks for taking the time to chime in!

 

If your fuses are all OK, it sounds like your Combination Meter may not be working. They are notorious for failing eventually. Our mail delivery person has had two replaced now, with different failure modes each time.

Other symptoms? Does the MPG data show up on the MFD? Does the car shut down normally?

Toyota has an extended warranty out on the CM, so it might get replaced for free.

 

@nh 7o Thanks! I'll call customer service to see if our vehicle qualifies.

 

Yeah mine went out a while back. I took it to one Toyota dealership and and was going to charge for a diagnostic so I left. Went to the Toyota dealership where i purchased it. They said they know how to recreate the problem since it is sporadic. Also just to let you know it's a 9 year warranty of the vehicles manufacture. So don't let them try to charge you. They replaced mine free of any charge and gave me a rental.

 

Check all the following fuses page 435-436 in Owner's Manual:
You may be able to narrow it down depending on what items are not working.
They all refer to multi-information display or gauge and meter.
In the fuse box under the dash, left of steering column:
#7-7.5 amp;
#8-10 amp;
#13-15 amp (may have to initialize windows after removing this one.;
#16-7.5 amp;
#20-7.5 amp

 

There's a new prius 9 year warranty extension for faulty combination meter. It extends 9 years from 36k miles or 9/2013. See Prius Combination Meter Warranty Extension

J

 

I'm having this issue now on my Prius. It's seems like a loose wire would be causing the problem. I'm outside the window so now I need to fix it.

Gus//

 

Speedometer sometimes does not come on when the ignition is on

 

T-SB-0172-09 Combination Meter - Intermittent Display | PriusChat

 

The wisdom of the internet strikes again! This was exactly the problem I've been living with for some time (thinking a dealer fix would be very expensive) but once I found this post, it was fixed in well under 10 minutes. I popped the dimmer control which fell out in my hands because nothing was connected to it. So I popped the blank plate next to it and was able to use a long forceps through the blank hole to fish the connector up to the dimmer hole and hold it in position while snapping the connector back on the dimmer. Now it works great!

 

This worked for me but try at your own risk