back lighting of the mirror control, dimmer & traction c

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05-09-2008, 02:14 AM

BobR

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back lighting of the mirror control, dimmer & traction c

I have a 06 xB and I can't see the mirror control, dimmer wheel or traction control buttons at night with my lights on. They don't appear to be backlit. My dealership says none of them (xBs) were backlit and I think they are mistaken. Any help here would be appreciated.

05-09-2008, 02:38 AM

TerribleTed

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They are not backlit. I noticed this lack of lighting right away in my 06 as well and it bothered me. Solution....get a prewired 3mm led from Oznium.com (I used yellow to match the dash lighting). Remove the dash top and drill a small hole (3MM)centered above the dimmer control in the upper flange of the dash above the dimmer control. Mount the led in the hole with some silicon and wire the led into the dash lighting circuit. Reinstall the dash top. Result......a nice yellow light that illuminates that group of switches any time the lights are on

Cost...a little time some small wire and $1.25 for the LED. This is one of the first mods I did on my box ( I installed underdash cathode tubes and LED's in all 3 of my cupholders at the same time tho).

05-09-2008, 11:50 AM

BobR

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TerribleTed, I will mod (and stop thinking bad about my dealer) Thanks BobR

05-10-2008, 01:30 AM

TerribleTed

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Pretty easy mod. Took about 30 mins total maybe.

05-10-2008, 06:59 PM

Skuff_Box

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Any pics of that an night so we can see how it lights up?

05-11-2008, 02:34 AM

TerribleTed

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Photos I can take do it no justice. This photo will give you an idea only, but, I assure you that more is lit than is caught in the photo. The entire little switch cluster is lighted well enough to see what you are doing with mirror, dimmer or trac switches.

05-11-2008, 04:24 AM

Sciond

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that is a very cool mod

05-11-2008, 12:55 PM

alltattooed

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Has anyone tried to put leds behind the buttons them selves. I am curious if the light would pass thought the area between the buttons and the dash?

05-11-2008, 08:12 PM

Skuff_Box

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The buttons would have to be clear (translucent) at some location to let the light pass through. I haven't taken the buttons apart to check if they have any clear spots. Might be easier to just do this mod.