Dashboard lights and touch screen dime when wipers go on during the day

[Jerseyman26]

So tell me if this makes sense to anyone. When I turn on my wipers during the day, my dashboard lights and touch screen dim to the point I barely can see anything. I talked to the dealers service and they tell me that this is the way it's supposed to work. Then told me that I can brighten them using the dial. I asked how can this be because it makes no sense. I asked if the vehicle has a light sensor, which I already knew it did, I just wanted them to acknowledge this point. Then I asked that if it's light out why should the lights inside the cab dim regardless if the wipers go on? They replied that because when the wipers go on, the headlights turn on because that's the law and when the headlights go on the interior lights automatically dim. I said I am glad the headlights go on but why should my interior lights dim if it's light out even if the headlights turn on because the computer should know it's light out by reading the light sensor. One service rep replied that it doesn't make sense but it is working the way it's supposed to. Even the FAC representative said the same thing - it works as it is supposed to. I insist that it maybe working the way it was intended, but in no way does it make sense. The way it is now I have to manually brighten my interior lights and have to take my eyes off the road to do so. All because they can't have the computer programmed not to dim the interior lights when the wipers go on during the day. It's seems like an easy fix instead of insisting things operate the way they are supposed to.

 

[DonsRam19]

So tell me if this makes sense to anyone. When I turn on my wipers during the day, my dashboard lights and touch screen dim to the point I barely can see anything. I talked to the dealers service and they tell me that this is the way it's supposed to work. Then told me that I can brighten them using the dial. I asked how can this be because it makes no sense. I asked if the vehicle has a light sensor, which I already knew it did, I just wanted them to acknowledge this point. Then I asked that if it's light out why should the lights inside the cab dim regardless if the wipers go on? They replied that because when the wipers go on, the headlights turn on because that's the law and when the headlights go on the interior lights automatically dim. I said I am glad the headlights go on but why should my interior lights dim if it's light out even if the headlights turn on because the computer should know it's light out by reading the light sensor. One service rep replied that it doesn't make sense but it is working the way it's supposed to. Even the FAC representative said the same thing - it works as it is supposed to. I insist that it maybe working the way it was intended, but in no way does it make sense. The way it is now I have to manually brighten my interior lights and have to take my eyes off the road to do so. All because they can't have the computer programmed not to dim the interior lights when the wipers go on during the day. It's seems like an easy fix instead of insisting things operate the way they are supposed to.

In the settings on the radio you can turn off that option.

 

[Jerseyman26]

Thank you for your reply, but what option exactly are you referring to?

 

[SpeedyV]

Thank you for your reply, but what option exactly are you referring to?

From your owner’s manual:

Headlights On With Wipers (Available With Automatic Headlights Only)
When this feature is active, the headlights will turn on approximately 10 seconds after the wipers are turned on if the headlight switch is placed in the AUTO position. In addition, the headlights will turn off when the wipers are turned off, if they were turned on by this feature.
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE
NOTE: This feature can be programmed through the Uconnect system. Refer to “Uconnect Settings” in “Multi- media” for further information.

And in that section...”Headlights With Wipers — If Equipped” (on or off)

 

[Jerseyman26]

In New Jersey it's the law that when the wipers go on, the headlights have to be on as well. That doesn't fix the issue. The interior lights should not go dim because the headlights turn on during daylight hours.

 

[Cmerkert]

I agree, I noticed the same thing 2 days ago. I had to turn the dial to brighten the screen turning it past the click to the always on mode. You then have to remember to turn it off because when it gets dark out the screen is super bright. It should default to the light sensor like all other cars do. I understand their reasoning but it's better to have the screen brightness set to the ambient light level outside rather than whether or not the headlights are going on automatically. Hopefully they can update this and switch it over. I totally understand what you're saying and even though it is working the way they intended to work it actually is choreographed the wrong way it should be based on ambient light levels

 

[sticker500]

I agree, I noticed the same thing 2 days ago. I had to turn the dial to brighten the screen turning it past the click to the always on mode. You then have to remember to turn it off because when it gets dark out the screen is super bright. It should default to the light sensor like all other cars do. I understand their reasoning but it's better to have the screen brightness set to the ambient light level outside rather than whether or not the headlights are going on automatically. Hopefully they can update this and switch it over. I totally understand what you're saying and even though it is working the way they intended to work it actually is choreographed the wrong way it should be based on ambient light levels

Totally agreed, they will not resolve this.

 

[Jerseyman26]

So, it's agreed that it's an issue. I know on the surface it's not a big issue but if the vehicle makes the driver take their eyes off the road to fix something, it has become a hazard to everyone in the vehicle and others around. Just like the sideview mirror issue requires the driver to take the their eyes off the road to manually adjust the side mirrors. FCA knows of these issues so I imagine if a crash occurs due to these issues they leave themselves open to a lawsuit for failing to fix the issues.

 

[Jerseyman26]

I agree, I noticed the same thing 2 days ago. I had to turn the dial to brighten the screen turning it past the click to the always on mode. You then have to remember to turn it off because when it gets dark out the screen is super bright. It should default to the light sensor like all other cars do. I understand their reasoning but it's better to have the screen brightness set to the ambient light level outside rather than whether or not the headlights are going on automatically. Hopefully they can update this and switch it over. I totally understand what you're saying and even though it is working the way they intended to work it actually is choreographed the wrong way it should be based on ambient light levels

EXACTLY!!!

 

[SpeedyV]

So, it's agreed that it's an issue. I know on the surface it's not a big issue but if the vehicle makes the driver take their eyes off the road to fix something, it has become a hazard to everyone in the vehicle and others around. Just like the sideview mirror issue requires the driver to take the their eyes off the road to manually adjust the side mirrors. FCA knows of these issues so I imagine if a crash occurs due to these issues they leave themselves open to a lawsuit for failing to fix the issues.

It’s the same display dimming behavior that occurs whenever your headlights turn on (automatically or manually). In Uconnect, your display dimming may be set to automatic by default. You can manually set the default brightness for “headlights on” and “headlights off” conditions to your liking.

 

[Jerseyman26]

It’s the same display dimming behavior that occurs whenever your headlights turn on (automatically or manually). In Uconnect, your display dimming may be set to automatic by default. You can manually set the default brightness for “headlights on” and “headlights off” conditions to your liking.

That does not take into account whether it's day or night, does it?

 

[Jerseyman26]

That does not take into account whether it's day or night, does it?

Almost. Except on your Toyota the headlights came on when the light sensor sensed it's dark enough to turn on. The situation with the RAM is different. The interior lights dim to night driving when the headlights go on when the wipers turn on regardless of the fact that it's still day time.

 

[SpeedyV]

Almost. Except on your Toyota the headlights came on when the light sensor sensed it's dark enough to turn on. The situation with the RAM is different. The interior lights dim to night driving when the headlights go on when the wipers turn on regardless of the fact that it's still day time.

Correct. And did you just answer your own question? lol

 

[TA TOM]

I know EXACTLY what you're saying and I have the same compliant. Daylight with wipers and light in auto mode, cluster should NOT dim as it would at night, I say this because my last truck (2016 Ram 1500 Crew) behaved exactly as I have just described (would not dim during daylight with wiper use and lights on auto), AND, if you were driving with lights/wipers on and the daylight started to get weaker, the cluster would just dim at the appropriate outside light levels as it should. My 2019 2500 crew dims the cluster with the wipers on/lights on regardless of daylight amounts, and I feel that's not right either.

 

[McBeats]

I know EXACTLY what you're saying and I have the same compliant. Daylight with wipers and light in auto mode, cluster should NOT dim as it would at night, I say this because my last truck (2016 Ram 1500 Crew) behaved exactly as I have just described (would not dim during daylight with wiper use and lights on auto), AND, if you were driving with lights/wipers on and the daylight started to get weaker, the cluster would just dim at the appropriate outside light levels as it should. My 2019 2500 crew dims the cluster with the wipers on/lights on regardless of daylight amounts, and I feel that's not right either.

Yep. I had a 2017 and went to a 2020 and this seems like a big oversight. In the daytime, wipers come on but not dim interior lights (as the sensor was still telling it hey it's bright). In the 2020, it feels like my 2012 did, it dims them when they come on. You could tell headlights with wipers on in the 2017 because the green light on the dash. It seems like when they made the new computer for the gen 5s they forgot to add that back.

 

[FastBlackRam]

Although I agree that the daylight sensor should keep the dash and display at the "lights off" brightness without intervention, there is another way they could have dealt with this. One of the first things I noticed was the range of brightness the dial by the headlight switch gives you. The brightness should adjust from dark to a lot closer to full brightness before it "switches" to full bright via the dial. I was very annoyed by this, and still am.

 

[Trooper4]

Fix what YOU can fix, live with what you can't fix, and know the difference. It will make your stress level go way down. No rig is perfect, but the RAM is one of the best. Otherwise we would be driving another brand and bitchin' about what is wrong with them.

 

[KcRay]

I run with ball cap on the dash covering up the light sensor, so the truck thinks it dark outside. I leave the headlights on auto, so the headlights are always on and they shut of with the truck. My dash and infotainment lights never change from how I have them set, as if a were driving at night. If that makes sense. I just like to be seen with more that just daytime running lights.

 

[Colette]

So tell me if this makes sense to anyone. When I turn on my wipers during the day, my dashboard lights and touch screen dim to the point I barely can see anything. I talked to the dealers service and they tell me that this is the way it's supposed to work. Then told me that I can brighten them using the dial. I asked how can this be because it makes no sense. I asked if the vehicle has a light sensor, which I already knew it did, I just wanted them to acknowledge this point. Then I asked that if it's light out why should the lights inside the cab dim regardless if the wipers go on? They replied that because when the wipers go on, the headlights turn on because that's the law and when the headlights go on the interior lights automatically dim. I said I am glad the headlights go on but why should my interior lights dim if it's light out even if the headlights turn on because the computer should know it's light out by reading the light sensor. One service rep replied that it doesn't make sense but it is working the way it's supposed to. Even the FAC representative said the same thing - it works as it is supposed to. I insist that it maybe working the way it was intended, but in no way does it make sense. The way it is now I have to manually brighten my interior lights and have to take my eyes off the road to do so. All because they can't have the computer programmed not to dim the interior lights when the wipers go on during the day. It's seems like an easy fix instead of insisting things operate the way they are supposed to.

thanks i thought i was losing my mind!