That is exactly what I described in an earlier post. I have an 2007.

 

Yeah, that's what I don't understand about some of the other posts. My dash lighting also definitely goes to full bright whenever the headlights shut off, whether because I set them to OFF, or they shut off in daytime in AUTO setting. When they turn back on, the dash lighting dims back to where it was.

 

I have to say that I was a bit confused too.

 

I have a stupid question that relates to this. After reading this post a while back the next time I got into my car I played with the little selector stick by the speedometer that also controls the brightness of the display. Other than making it the brightest level is there any impact by turning it all the way to the right until it clicks?

 

When it clicks I believe that means "always on." Does it also turn on the dome lights? In my older cars the dimmer controlled this function. I have the moon roof so I have a separate button for the "dome light" and I cannot test it. I generally don't play with that much.

The manual probably could tell us.

 

No it doesn't turn the dome lights on. That was the first thing I looked for when I got in to test drive my car. I looked in the manual but didn't find anything about it's functionality other than change the MFD and the brightness of the panel lights.

 

"To adjust the brightness of the instrument
panel lights, turn the ****.
With the **** turned fully clockwise, the
intensity of the instrument cluster lights
will not be reduced even when the tail
lights/headlights are turned on."

From the owners manual!!!!!

 

Excellent. Now the interesting thing is this....I turned my instrument panel lights all the way up (just before the click). When I manually turned on the headlights (and running lights) there was no change. This was during broad daylight. I am going to go out when it gets dark to see if they dim to my previous "dark" setting.

 

Ok. I think I see what the OP was saying.

Although there are essentially three levels of brightness, there is only one level to set. Each of the three levels are a function of where the **** is set.

Since I set mine just above off, the brightness is low for all levels although it is brighter during daylight hours.

Day - brightest
Dusk - semi-bright
Dark - dimmer

If I am understanding the OP, he wishes you could set the three levels independently using the ****. Not just having the three levels a function of one set **** position.

I cannot vouch for other car makes and models and how they work. Apparently Honda's allow such a desired function? I do not have a way to test. I did not have this function on my 1997 Ford Ranger. The instrument panel lights were off until the parking or head lights were on. Even then there was just one setting via the ****.

Boy I hope that made sense.....

Mike