Instrument panel light dimming on and off

[pv7740]

Just wondering if anyone is seeing the problem I'm seeing.

It is a known fact that when ever the headlights are turned on that the instrument panel light automatically dims and they would go back to normal brightness when the headlights are off. Just a few days ago my instrument panel light started to act weird with the headlights turned on. The instrument panel light would go dim at initial turn on of the headlights and maybe after driving for about 10-15 minutes the instrument panel light would go back normal brightness for maybe 5 minutes and then reverting back to the dim mode. This would happen back and forth for a period of time with the headlights turned on. Sometimes the instrument panel lights would stay in normal brightness even when the headlights are turned on and then would eventually dim.

I'm thinking maybe it's the voltage regulator that is going bad. Any suggestions before I take it in to the dealer?

TIA

 

[scottdk]

Just wondering if anyone is seeing the problem I'm seeing.

It is a known fact that when ever the headlights are turned on that the instrument panel light automatically dims and they would go back to normal brightness when the headlights are off. Just a few days ago my instrument panel light started to act weird with the headlights turned on. The instrument panel light would go dim at initial turn on of the headlights and maybe after driving for about 10-15 minutes the instrument panel light would go back normal brightness for maybe 5 minutes and then reverting back to the dim mode. This would happen back and forth for a period of time with the headlights turned on. Sometimes the instrument panel lights would stay in normal brightness even when the headlights are turned on and then would eventually dim.

I'm thinking maybe it's the voltage regulator that is going bad. Any suggestions before I take it in to the dealer?

TIA

Is your headlight switch turned to "auto"? If so, this is probably happening around dawn and dusk due to the light sensors on the dash getting confused at this time of day/night.

 

[pv7740]

It is not on Auto mode.

 

[Stoofpilot]

Do you have anything sitting on the dark in front of the driver?

 

[pv7740]

Nothing in front of me. Happens night and day. I have an appointment this Friday so we shall see. Also doing a Technical Service Bulletin so the trip is not wasted.

 

[hcrspec]

We bought a 2012 sedan for my wife in February and it was doing what you described. I was going to take it to the dealer but I don't drive the car much so haven't really studied the issue. We have recently turned the lights on and left them on day and night, and I haven't noticed it so much. I was thinking that it had to do with the daylight sensing device at dusk, but haven't yet decided we have a problem. Will keep checking this thread to see what people say.

 

[Mark_888]

Both the headlights (if on auto) and the instrument cluster brightness are automatically adjusted in the Genesis using the two light sensors (small domes) on the dash near the bottom of the windshield. Even if the lights are not on auto, the instrument cluster brightness will still be automatically adjusted. Also, even if the headlights are on auto, the dash brightness may not be adjusted exactly in synch with the headlights turning on and off.

The light sensors can be fooled, especially in the winter or when there are long shadows, even on a sunny day. Obviously, when you under a bridge, etc, where the car is in the shade, it can also be fooled. In my experience, it is more likely to be fooled on a bright sunny day, than on a cloudy day, probably due the contrast between the brightest sunlight hitting the sensors and darkest shadows that might occur a moment later. But make sure there is nothing on the dash or windshield that would interfere with the sensors and be careful what you use to clean them (don't use anything like Amorall, etc).

 

[Gunkk]

My 2009 4.6 Tech does this as well, but only in the mornings on sunny days.

 

[waveman]

Both the headlights (if on auto) and the instrument cluster brightness are automatically adjusted in the Genesis using the two light sensors (small domes) on the dash near the bottom of the windshield. Even if the lights are not on auto, the instrument cluster brightness will still be automatically adjusted. Also, even if the headlights are on auto, the dash brightness may not be adjusted exactly in synch with the headlights turning on and off.

The light sensors can be fooled, especially in the winter or when there are long shadows, even on a sunny day. Obviously, when you under a bridge, etc, where the car is in the shade, it can also be fooled. In my experience, it is more likely to be fooled on a bright sunny day, than on a cloudy day, probably due the contrast between the brightest sunlight hitting the sensors and darkest shadows that might occur a moment later. But make sure there is nothing on the dash or windshield that would interfere with the sensors and be careful what you use to clean them (don't use anything like Amorall, etc).

The brightness on a back road that I take to work every day varies often during my drive, largely because of the changing density of foliage. I often find that my panel lights go up or down in brightness accordingly. In my case, the effect is most noticeable (and annoying) on cloudy days, when the ambient light fluctuates around a value that is probably close to the threshold at which the sensors are set to trigger a change the panel illumination. On bright days, there's enough light even in the more shaded spots so that the panel lights don't change. That's somewhat different than Mark's experience, but the mechanism is the same.

 

[tprjimmi]

What was the diagnosis of this problem? I had this experience yesterday: the lights suddenly went DIM and flickered back and forth for several minutes (highway trip) and then returned to normal. This is not stuff on the dash related-just plain old light to dark and in between.

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[Ambush]

I am just seeing this post..
Mine has been doing it forever let us know what the dealer says..

 

[BobbyC777]

Did anyone ever get an answer for this ?

 

[2015g5.0]

I have the same problem on a 2015 Genesis

 

[edizzle89]

my 09 does the same thing and I think even when the headlights aren't set on auto the gauges still auto-dim is the same way the head lights would go on/off if in auto mode based on the light sensor

 

[2015g5.0]

So found this article but Hyundai says mine doesn't qualify - still opened a case
2015 Hyundai Genesis recalled to fix glitchy instrument cluster

 

[GV80Fan]

Has anyone solved this? My instrument cluster has been set at max via the plus/minus control on the silver dash switch. It always stayed max cluster brightness. Sudden ythe last month it randomly goes from max brightness to total darkness, including HVAC cluster display, while 14” NAV screen remains full brightness. Am not using auto headlights dimming. Holding down + brightness button restores to Max brightness but later randomly goes full dark (not partially) again. Not stable.