The tC1, from what I gather, has illuminated audio controls on the steering wheel. The tC2 on the other hand does not or at least mine just do not work. So does the tC2 have illuminated controls or no?

 

it is not illuminated.. you get used to it though..

 

I would expect them to be illuminated. I guess I'll have to dig into it to make them light up.

 

search before you ask questions this is on here at least once maybe even two of three times

 

I actually did search, not my first day on a forum.

If you would like to point me to some threads that have already been posted about possibly retrofitting illuminated controls into the tC2 or even making your own setup that would be cool.

 

heres one start at post 23 and down
and here starting at 14

 

Those do answer my question, I guess no one made them light up? I know what my next project is.

 

this was your question no other question has been asked

 

I think you missed the part where I said those do answer my question, and by question it means original single question as I did not pluralize the word question. Regardless, thanks for answering my question, I'll figure out the rest on my own here.

 

I actually thought about asking a tC1 guy about this. I had a tC1 for 6 years and when I got my tC2 I totally forgot if they light up or not. Too bad, but yea you will get used to it.
On the tC1 the AC control LCD was towards the bottom and that illuminated the cabin quite well. The tC2 is dark as hell inside at night time. Yet another one of those cost cutting measures that take away from what the TC should be.

 

I plan on adding some diodes into the interior that light up at night and illuminate the cup holder area for example.

 

I did the cup holder thing in the tC1. It was nice, I used 4 color changing LED's, it was badd! But whenever I put a big drink or open the drink holder console the LED's would pop out the LED holder. Can be held in with silicone.

I plan on adding a LED pointing downwards underneath the AC Controls.
The TC1 had a 'cubby' hold light (where you can put sunglasses and CD's, etc; it lit up the interior nicely, i had a nice blue bulb in there.

 

The cup holder has a middle section in between the two cups that I was thinking of putting an LED for each cup but angled towards the cup. That way containers don't hit the LED's.

As far as the cubby hole, I was going to put one wide angle LED in there just to illuminate the area. Only thing is I need to figure out what resistor to use because I do not want them to be blinding bright. Luckily my mom's 2010 Rav limited already has these and has some in the foot wells too so I can kind of play with resistors till I get the correct brightness.

Making the steering wheel audio controls illuminate shouldn't be a big issue aside from the fact that nothing on the steering wheel is lit up with the lights on. So I wouldn't have any power source to tap into for illuminations. It is possible the cruise control has a constant hot wire, but that still doesn't help with only turning on with the lights.

 

How the hell do you plan on illuminating the steering controls? I don't even think they have bulbs in them.
But otherwise; for the cubby hole i'm going to use a pre-wired LED.

 

I would make a small circuit board using bread board. Problem is trying to get a power source in there. Worst case I would use a constant power source so they would be lit all the time when the car is on.

 

I'm just not getting this bro. Are the buttons even translucent a little bit? Or is the plus sign, etc just painted on?

 

Not sure, I'll have to take it all apart and see. I may have to use flush mount LED's which are more of a PIA.

 

If they are not translucent already, I think it will be a failed project sir.

 

I'll have to look into it. If they are not translucent then I may have to find out what buttons can fit in there that are.