[Skiz]

I have a 2017 (August) Pacifica Touring. I noticed something totally dumb within 2 days of ownership.

There are two dials to the lower left of the instrument cluster. One is clearly supposed to be for adjusting the instrument cluster. The manual states that the other is for the interior lighting.

In fact, what I have observed is that one dial does everything -- in completely off position, it turns off the interior lights and dims the dashboard to where I cannot see anything in bright sunlight. After that, there's a bit of a notch, and things start to come alive. Continue moving the dial upwards and you'll brighten the dash.

Meanwhile, the other knob -- drumroll -- does NOTHING. It's like one knob is wired to both functions and the other is useless. Why the @#$* did they do that? I brought it to the dealership. The dealership says it's the same as the others on the lot. So I called Chrysler. According to the rep I spoke with, after several weeks of ignoring me, this is per engineering specs.

Why would they ship a knob that does nothing and a manual that is wrong? Does anyone have two functioning knobs? Does anyone have a wiring diagram so I can rewire it the way it should have been?

Alternately, what can I do to stop tinkering kids from turning on the super-bright-blind-the-driver overhead lighting? Maybe replace the super white LEDs with something softer. It would have been nice if they'd at least pointed them away from the driver. My night vision isn't what it used to be, but it's still pretty good. I can't believe there wasn't more thought put into this. It's a mini-van after all. You're supposed to take family trips with kids. Sometimes at night. That's kinda the point.

 

[generaltso]

Meanwhile, the other knob -- drumroll -- does NOTHING. It's like one knob is wired to both functions and the other is useless.

The other dial does control the brightness of the accent lighting, but it's very subtle. Try it in the dark and you'll have an easier time seeing it.

 

[ChryslerCares]

I have a 2017 (August) Pacifica Touring. I noticed something totally dumb within 2 days of ownership.

There are two dials to the lower left of the instrument cluster. One is clearly supposed to be for adjusting the instrument cluster. The manual states that the other is for the interior lighting.

In fact, what I have observed is that one dial does everything -- in completely off position, it turns off the interior lights and dims the dashboard to where I cannot see anything in bright sunlight. After that, there's a bit of a notch, and things start to come alive. Continue moving the dial upwards and you'll brighten the dash.

Meanwhile, the other knob -- drumroll -- does NOTHING. It's like one knob is wired to both functions and the other is useless. Why the @#$* did they do that? I brought it to the dealership. The dealership says it's the same as the others on the lot. So I called Chrysler. According to the rep I spoke with, after several weeks of ignoring me, this is per engineering specs.

Why would they ship a knob that does nothing and a manual that is wrong? Does anyone have two functioning knobs? Does anyone have a wiring diagram so I can rewire it the way it should have been?

Alternately, what can I do to stop tinkering kids from turning on the super-bright-blind-the-driver overhead lighting? Maybe replace the super white LEDs with something softer. It would have been nice if they'd at least pointed them away from the driver. My night vision isn't what it used to be, but it's still pretty good. I can't believe there wasn't more thought put into this. It's a mini-van after all. You're supposed to take family trips with kids. Sometimes at night. That's kinda the point.

Hi Skiz,

I know you had another question on a separate thread, so hoping to cover two things at once--if you wanted to send over your VIN in a PM, I can double-check this for you, as well as the shifting concern you described.

Kori
Chrysler Social Care Specialist

 

[CentralFla]

I too noticed that my Touring L has two wheels, and the one does as you mentioned adjust dash brightness. The other is nonfunctional, and I believe would adjust the ambient lighting on the ceiling of the vehicle if so equipped. I know my 2014 Touring-L had that feature and it was "mood' lighting, which was kinda of cool, but gimmicky. So this leads me to believe that they installed the same dual dial across all trim levels even though the lower levels don't have the lighting feature. It comes down to $$$.

 

[Norbert]

I agree the range for the ambient light is very narrow. Probably should have put it in UConnect as really, how often would you need to change it?

 

[billspreston01]

Agreed with rest. It adjusts the ambient lighting. It's so subtle it should just be a toggle on/off switch. And the cluster dimmer should be larger.

 

[Skiz]

When you say "ambient" lighting, I assume you mean some feature I don't have then. Because mine literally does zero, nothing, nada. I have a Touring-L with upgraded stereo and wheels/suspension (both of which are totally not worth it by the way).

All I have is the LED lights above each seat. No lighting on doors or in the roof or anything I'd consider 'ambient'.

As the driver, I should be able to control those LEDs in the back seats without putting my instrument cluster into the off position.

At least it seems I'm not alone in this...

 

[ed_wong]

When you say "ambient" lighting, I assume you mean some feature I don't have then. Because mine literally does zero, nothing, nada. I have a Touring-L with upgraded stereo and wheels/suspension (both of which are totally not worth it by the way).

All I have is the LED lights above each seat. No lighting on doors or in the roof or anything I'd consider 'ambient'.

As the driver, I should be able to control those LEDs in the back seats without putting my instrument cluster into the off position.

At least it seems I'm not alone in this...

I have a Touring L and I don't notice that knob doing anything either. I've tried a night to notice if it made any difference. Nothing.

One frustration I have with the Pacifica manuals is that, it talks about a feature but, does list which models that have that feature. So you can be left wondering if the feature is not working or does my model have it or not? I've seen other manuals that are written much better that state which models will have the feature that is being written about.

 

[Phissith]

Here

When you say "ambient" lighting, I assume you mean some feature I don't have then. Because mine literally does zero, nothing, nada. I have a Touring-L with upgraded stereo and wheels/suspension (both of which are totally not worth it by the way).

All I have is the LED lights above each seat. No lighting on doors or in the roof or anything I'd consider 'ambient'.

As the driver, I should be able to control those LEDs in the back seats without putting my instrument cluster into the off position.

At least it seems I'm not alone in this...

I have dual screen option and I can clearly see that the dimmer is working on HDMI input.

However, on other post, I couldn't for the life of me turn the cluster gauge off completely, it goes very dark but not off.

 

[Gohawks1224]

Ahhhhhh this issue relived in a new thread

Please Chrysler, is there some firmware that would fix this? I have to manually change my lights when the sun goes down because "auto" headlights make the dash lights way too dim during the day where we have to turn the switch to full on. This of course makes them way to bright at night, we we have to re adjust the lights. Probably the single most annoying thing on this van (from a short list of annoyance).

I was thinking.... does the Touring L even come with accent lighting? Check the lights on the door handle (interior) and see if they change.

 

[SurfNC02]

Ahhhhhh this issue relived in a new thread

I have to manually change my lights when the sun goes down because "auto" headlights make the dash lights way too dim during the day where we have to turn the switch to full on.

Our dash light wheel has the roll adjustment, bright, and all on bright. I have noticed the same thing with the auto headlights. I think we have resorted to leaving the wheel at the brightest setting while free spinning, but NOT clicking it into the bright position. Try it out. Might help a bit!!

 

[Joyxpac]

Okay, I have the Limited and that second wheel still does nothing! Mine was built on 3/7/17. I tried all the suggestions here in this post and there is not the slightest, not even a hint, of difference when I turn it from full on to off. The manual gives a good enough description of what it is supposed to do which is control the brightness of the overhead console, door handle lights, under I/P lights, door map pocket lights, and cubby bin lights. Obviously they forgot to hook this wheel up.

 

[generaltso]

Okay, I have the Limited and that second wheel still does nothing! Mine was built on 3/7/17. I tried all the suggestions here in this post and there is not the slightest, not even a hint, of difference when I turn it from full on to off. The manual gives a good enough description of what it is supposed to do which is control the brightness of the overhead console, door handle lights, under I/P lights, door map pocket lights, and cubby bin lights. Obviously they forgot to hook this wheel up.

Are those lights illuminated at all?

 

[Joyxpac]

Are those lights illuminated at all?

Yes, the lights are all illuminated, but they don't change when the wheel is moved.

 

[ChryslerCares]

Okay, I have the Limited and that second wheel still does nothing! Mine was built on 3/7/17. I tried all the suggestions here in this post and there is not the slightest, not even a hint, of difference when I turn it from full on to off. The manual gives a good enough description of what it is supposed to do which is control the brightness of the overhead console, door handle lights, under I/P lights, door map pocket lights, and cubby bin lights. Obviously they forgot to hook this wheel up.

Hi Joyxpac,

If you're Ambient Light Control switch doesn't work as described in the Owner's Manual we'd recommend visiting your local dealership for further diagnosis. I'd be happy to follow up with them for you if needed, just PM our page with your VIN and let me know!

Andrea
Chrysler Social Care Specialist

 

[Skiz]

Hi Joyxpac,

If you're Ambient Light Control switch doesn't work as described in the Owner's Manual we'd recommend visiting your local dealership for further diagnosis. I'd be happy to follow up with them for you if needed, just PM our page with your VIN and let me know!

Andrea
Chrysler Social Care Specialist

I'll send you my VIN. But I have zero hopes as I've already been to the dealership and spoken with 3 different people at Chrysler all of whom just shrug it off.

 

[byab]

In my Touring-L it only changes light brightness in front door handles. Al least that is all I noticed.

 

[Skiz]

Anyone else get a different answer on this? Chrysler told me that the dial doesn't do anything in my model. I find it odd -- I do have an extra PWM dimmer which I may try retrofitting once the warranty is expired.

 

[Haggy45]

I can't answer the first issue of the dimmer having no effect, but the issue of kids turning on and off the light, playing with the window blind and being general distracting was solved by carrying a pointy stick in the umbrella storage area next to the drivers seat. I found that it only took 3 or 4 initial uses when an infraction occurred to embed good behavior. The occasion random use also helps to reinforce the issue.
The stick is used in replace of an actual umbrella as any accidental opening of the deterant device would be a safety issue obviously, plus umbrellas aren't generally long enough to reach the back seats.

This would also work in any other vehicle, you don't need to have the dedicated umbrella storage area.

Paul

 

[bradly1101]

I have a 2017 (August) Pacifica Touring. I noticed something totally dumb within 2 days of ownership.

There are two dials to the lower left of the instrument cluster. One is clearly supposed to be for adjusting the instrument cluster. The manual states that the other is for the interior lighting.

In fact, what I have observed is that one dial does everything -- in completely off position, it turns off the interior lights and dims the dashboard to where I cannot see anything in bright sunlight. After that, there's a bit of a notch, and things start to come alive. Continue moving the dial upwards and you'll brighten the dash.

Meanwhile, the other knob -- drumroll -- does NOTHING. It's like one knob is wired to both functions and the other is useless. Why the @#$* did they do that? I brought it to the dealership. The dealership says it's the same as the others on the lot. So I called Chrysler. According to the rep I spoke with, after several weeks of ignoring me, this is per engineering specs.

Why would they ship a knob that does nothing and a manual that is wrong? Does anyone have two functioning knobs? Does anyone have a wiring diagram so I can rewire it the way it should have been?

Alternately, what can I do to stop tinkering kids from turning on the super-bright-blind-the-driver overhead lighting? Maybe replace the super white LEDs with something softer. It would have been nice if they'd at least pointed them away from the driver. My night vision isn't what it used to be, but it's still pretty good. I can't believe there wasn't more thought put into this. It's a mini-van after all. You're supposed to take family trips with kids. Sometimes at night. That's kinda the point.

Design/engineering quirks beg the curiosity into a tizzy. I go nuts wondering why Toyota doesn't light the Sienna's analogue instruments in daylight. My previous Previa didn't either BUT it was angled back to catch the daylight - perfectly usable. The Sienna's instruments are more vertical and unlit until night time lights come on. (I keep full lights on all the time; it's a dark car and needs visibility anyway).

My guess is that your car's dimmers' design didn't reach fruition in favor of efficiency which would also dictate not destroying the now half-usable controls. Or what you seek is on a higher model and either by mistake or intention the controls are retained.