Hi,

Just a quick question about using the climate temperature controls at night. Are the green and red dots on the climate control wheels suppose to be lit-up at night with your lights on? On mine...only the center dot on each wheel is dimly lit. Is this the way it is...or do I have a problem?

Thanks

 

Mine light up, but not terribly brightly. dumb question: is your dash lighting turned all the way up?

 

Yes...dash lits are up all the way...so your red and blue/green dots all lite up so you can tell where you are on the dial?

 

I actually just went out to my garage and checked. All the dots glow slightly but only the first red and green are clearly visible. I also noticed they only light with the key "ON" and not just by turning on the lights. Still one of those features that I think is sort of cheezy on these cars. They should have digital controls.

 

Same thing on mine, that entire upper section is very very dim, regardless i turn the dash lighting up or down.

 

mine are also dim - can see the difference between the white dot and the red/green ones - it is a subtle difference but enoght to tell me where i am on the wheel

 

None of mine are lit except the white dot in the center. Does anyone know if they use fiber-optics to lit the wheel...maybe it may be some type of alignment problem.

Does anyone else have this problem,,,or a potential solution?

Thanks

Also...can someone look and see if there is any information in the maintenance manual? Thanks again

Ben

 

Not that this is any help, but my climate dials on both sides are lit up well and very easy to see at night. Also they are lit up with the lights on, dont have to have the keys in the on position. They are blue, single white, and red. Kind of thrown off with people saying thiers are green? Maybe I'm just color blind. lol

 

I'm kind of fond of the wheels, actually.

 

Pics would help as mine is in the shop

 

What is inside the climate control is only two small 194-type bulbs....They use a big clear plastic "light-pipe" assembly that is supposed to transmit light from two bulbs all the way across face of both dials and into the wheel. Short of replacing the existing bulb with an arc lamp, this ain't gonna' cut it, and they always look dim. This is because original SLK design used yellow lamps on cream-colored fascia, andcontrast was much higher (same as speedo instrument binnacle).

One quick fix - replace existing existing t1.5 incandesent with LED Lamp. Or Eat More Carrots!

 

Hi ctsemicon,

Thanks for the explanation. And for me, carrots just wont cut it! I am the rabbit wearing glasses!

Anyway...so if I understand this right, since the white dot on both my climate wheels lights-up...the light pipe is doing its job...but whether it's an alignment problem...or a bulk briteness problem...I would need to get back behind the dash somehow to align or replace the bulbs.

From some of the other responses...that the wheel is "dimely lit", and others that say its lite up well...this is probably a design flaw...or install position sensitive for the "lite-pipe".

Has anyone ever attempted to replace these bulbs...or replace them with LED's...or reposition the "lite pipe"?? Any inputs on how difficult the job is would be appreciated.

Another thought...since many of the back-lite buttons are dimly lit...has anyone tried any external LED lights or other type to lite up this area?

Thanks...and since this seems to be a common problem...does everyone else just put up with it? ...or is it just a "set it and forget it" item.