Illuminated Off On Light Switch on a car.

[Formaleins]

I just bought a new "secondhand truck" A Hilux Vigo Champ. Originally when I bought it the two fog lights in the low front bumper were not working at all. The guy selling it fixed the problem and the lights were working. however in the bright sunlight, I did not realise but the switch under the dash is illuminated when the lights are on and off! 

 

Firstly, to get the lights to work you have to switch on your side or head lights, then you would expect to press the switch and the fog lights come on and the indicator neon in the switch would light up. However, in my situation, as soon as you switch on the side or heads, the switch neon comes on, press the switch the fogs come on, neon remains illuminated, press the switch again, the fogs go off but switch neon is still illuminated!

 

I don't want to rip the dash out if it is a minor issue, but I was wondering if they have simply mixed up one or more of the three wires going to the switch, what do you reckon men? (or women, gays, LGBT, Trans Gender, Non Gender specific - need to include all these days)

 

Cheers!

[AndyAndyAndy]

I have Toyota Hilux Vigo 2015 and my fog light switch works exactly as yours.

[Formaleins]

2 minutes ago, AndyAndyAndy said:

I have Toyota Hilux Vigo 2015 and my fog light switch works exactly as yours.

Thanks for that, seems a bit daft? Why bother with the illumination if it indicates nothing? All the other illuminated switches behave as expected, crazy.

Edited July 24, 2020 by Formaleins

[AndyAndyAndy]

When it's dark it's hard to see/find this switch because of its position under steering wheel. So maybe to be more easy to find... .

[Formaleins]

2 minutes ago, AndyAndyAndy said:

When it's dark it's hard to see/find this switch because of its position under steering wheel. So maybe to be more easy to find... .

Agree about it being a bit hard to see but if you forget it is on you will be driving around blinding everyone. Anyway, glad to hear it is "normal" I thought someone had screwed up the wiring. Wonder if anyone out there knows how to modify it to get it to illuminate only when switched on. Doubt it is going to be that simple as it is obviously ganged into the sidelights and headlights. Maybe just rewire it onto its own circuit....Jesus, not worth the effort I guess. Thanks for the info though.

 

Maybe you can let me know some more details about the Vigo, I will post here again tomorrow with some pictures, see if my truck matches yours. Mine is a 2012, there seems to be some bits missing under the front end near these  lights..... I have two pieces of under body cowling flapping around that I tied up with cable ties. If I post a photo tomorrow, I would be extremely grateful if you could take a peek at yours and see what you have connected to them. I just do not believe Toyota would leave these flapping in the wind at 140KMH!

 

Many thanks!

[ballpoint]

It's common on all vehicles to have the switches illuminated when the lights are on, as has been said already, it helps to find them at night.  Most Toyotas have an indicator light on the dashboard that tells you when the fog lights are on.  Something like this:

Do you see this when the fog lights are on?

 

 

Edited July 24, 2020 by ballpoint

[Formaleins]

11 minutes ago, ballpoint said:

It's common on all vehicles to have the switches illuminated when the lights are on, as has been said already, it helps to find them at night.  Most Toyotas have an indicator light on the dashboard that tells you when the fog lights are on.  Something like this:

Cheers I will check that out too! I have only had the car two days and it is all new to me going from a 20 year old Hilux 4 x 4 to this thing that has USB audio, auto door locking, a key that unlocks your doors and no pre heaters for your cold starts...technology has left me behind! Hell, the seats even go up and down instead of just back and forward. Talk about a time warp, I have been living in a vehicular bubble for 15 years. It is amazing how you grow accustomed to things, I got in this truck and drove it back like a drunk, there was no play in the steering! Last 10 or more years I had been compensating for the play in the steering on my old truck and was driving all over the road in the new one! So smooth I am running at 120KMH thinking it is 80.

Edited July 24, 2020 by Formaleins

[AndyAndyAndy]

Yes, mine has that indicator on dashboard too.

[Formaleins]

2 minutes ago, AndyAndyAndy said:

Yes, mine has that indicator on dashboard too.

Thanks guys! I'll check it out tomorrow, my son has taken it to work tonight.

[Formaleins]

There are so many lights that come on at start up it is like the Starship Enterprise, I just ordered a blank seatbelt fitting to stop the damn thin flashing seatbelt warnings all the time.

 

I sat there first time looking for the glow plug lights and apparently this does not have it, then I have to contend with the standard handbrake instead of the old Hilux one that pulls out from under the dash a bit unnerving when you pull up on a hill and go for the handbrake and nothing is there, old dog new tricks!

Edited July 24, 2020 by Formaleins

[AndyAndyAndy]

You could use relay.

 

You would split power wire to your fog lights and run it through 1  - 3 pins.

Then you would split wire to your fog button. And run it through 2 - 4 pins.

 

It will activate switch (and let pass electric to button) only when energy is passing to fog lights. === button lights up only when fog lights are ON

[Formaleins]

2 minutes ago, AndyAndyAndy said:

You could use relay.

 

You would split power wire to your fog lights and run it through 1  - 3 pins.

Then you would split wire to your fog button. And run it through 2 - 4 pins.

 

It will activate switch (and let pass electric to button) only when energy is passing to fog lights. === button lights up only when fog lights are ON

Many thanks! I had been looking at a solution like this but pulling out switches and messing about is starting to make me think if it actually worth it. Like I looked at how many times I used the 4 WD in 20 years, maybe 10 times, it was not worth the effor for lugging a 2ton truck around every day on the off chance I would need 4 x 4 - the Pig let me down at least 50% as you could not lock hubs or the diff.

 

As long as the wiring is from the factory I might just leave as is........however....I might go and extend the battery leads as I have a brand new battery but the terminal are reversed so the leads will not reach, paid over 4K Baht for it a week before my stupid son trashed the truck!

[Formaleins]

You know something, I trawled Google today and came up with zilch! One post on here and you guys answered everything in 10 minutes, many thanks, it is appreciated believe me!

[Formaleins]

22 hours ago, Formaleins said:

Cheers I will check that out too! I have only had the car two days and it is all new to me going from a 20 year old Hilux 4 x 4 to this thing that has USB audio, auto door locking, a key that unlocks your doors and no pre heaters for your cold starts...technology has left me behind! Hell, the seats even go up and down instead of just back and forward. Talk about a time warp, I have been living in a vehicular bubble for 15 years. It is amazing how you grow accustomed to things, I got in this truck and drove it back like a drunk, there was no play in the steering! Last 10 or more years I had been compensating for the play in the steering on my old truck and was driving all over the road in the new one! So smooth I am running at 120KMH thinking it is 80.

Cheers, that light is not working on my dash, it is there but not lighting up! Thanks for that. Probably pop down to Toyota next week and see if they will fix it.