Dimmable Illumination

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2013 Ford F-550 Super Duty, 2013 Ford F-450 Super Duty, 2013 Ford F-350 Super Duty, and 2013 Ford F-250 Super Duty. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The dimmable illumination is used to provide backlighting to the IPC, switches, and control components when the parking lamps are on. The level of intensity is adjustable by pressing the instrument panel dimmer switch either up to increase intensity or down to decrease intensity.

The dimmable switches and components are illuminated when the parking lamps are ON with the exception of the TBC module that also needs the ignition key to be in the on position. The instrument panel dimmer switch is a double detent rocker switch used to control all dimmable interior illuminated components, and to control the courtesy lamps. The first up detent increases dimmable backlighting intensity. The first down detent decreases dimmable backlighting intensity. The second up detent turns the courtesy lamps on. The second down detent turns the courtesy lamps off (allowing other features to control the courtesy lamps).

On vehicles equipped with autolamps, if the exterior lamps are activated during daytime sunload conditions, the message center illumination remains at full intensity and does not dim from the instrument panel dimmer switch during this condition. If the vehicle travels under a bridge or a tunnel, the low level of ambient light causes the illumination level of the message center to change to the level set by the instrument panel dimmer switch. The message center illumination changes back to full intensity when the intense ambient light is restored.