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No dimmer control - DNX5120

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Old Mar 10, 2009 | 08:38 PM
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Default No dimmer control - DNX5120

Got the DNX5120 installed this weekend!! Everything is working beautifully. Only problem is no dimmer function. I have it properly programmed, I assume I haven't properly wired it. Where do I locate the factory dimmer wire (Gray) on my 96 CE. Do I need to worry about the SYS light? Thanks.
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Old Mar 11, 2009 | 08:30 AM
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Originally Posted by vettfvr
Got the DNX5120 installed this weekend!! Everything is working beautifully. Only problem is no dimmer function. I have it properly programmed, I assume I haven't properly wired it. Where do I locate the factory dimmer wire (Gray) on my 96 CE. Do I need to worry about the SYS light? Thanks.
I don't know the C4 so I can't answer the question you posed, but for the ILL wire all you need is 12V that switches on when the lights come on. If you have any lighted buttons on the dash or console that only come on when the lights go on you can tie off to that and it will function as the ILL wire.
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Old Mar 14, 2009 | 06:29 PM
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From: Bugs Bunny should'a made a left turn here
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Originally Posted by TheKomoman
I don't know the C4 so I can't answer the question you posed, but for the ILL wire all you need is 12V that switches on when the lights come on. If you have any lighted buttons on the dash or console that only come on when the lights go on you can tie off to that and it will function as the ILL wire.
i left my ILL button unconnected when i installed my 5120 last week.

what is the function of it? does it just make the screen darker when there are interior lights on? is it a useful feature to have?
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Old Mar 14, 2009 | 06:48 PM
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Originally Posted by jdmvette
i left my ILL button unconnected when i installed my 5120 last week.

what is the function of it? does it just make the screen darker when there are interior lights on? is it a useful feature to have?
It is what dims the unit when the lights are on so it's not blindingly bright inside the cabin at night. It's actually opposite what one might think - bright during the day, dim at night.
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Old Mar 15, 2009 | 06:34 AM
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From: Bugs Bunny should'a made a left turn here
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Originally Posted by TheKomoman
It is what dims the unit when the lights are on so it's not blindingly bright inside the cabin at night. It's actually opposite what one might think - bright during the day, dim at night.
i see. i might have to consider hooking mine up.

can you recommend an easy wire on a c5 to hook this up to?

---another edit:

i just found this old pic and info, would this climate wire work for my ILL wire?

Connect the illumination wire to the cream colored wire on the climate control harness. (optional). Solder and tape the connection. Once again I use an extra extension piece gray of wire, incase I needed to pull the HU out. That is why the wire connecting to the cream climate control wire is gray.

Last edited by jdmvette; Mar 15, 2009 at 06:57 AM.
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Old Mar 15, 2009 | 07:11 PM
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^^^ That wire does not work with illumination on 5120. Ask me how I know Leave it disconnected and use the unit feature for dimming etc.
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Old Mar 15, 2009 | 07:40 PM
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From: Bugs Bunny should'a made a left turn here
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Originally Posted by FactoryRaceCar
^^^ That wire does not work with illumination on 5120. Ask me how I know Leave it disconnected and use the unit feature for dimming etc.
thanks, N.

i kinda like the idea of automatic dimming when you turn on the parking/headlights tho.

do you know any easy access interior wire activates when you turn on the headlights?
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Old Mar 15, 2009 | 08:23 PM
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I had a similar problem when I installed my N4 in my Z.

I ended up using a transistor and a few resistors to get it to work correctly.
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Old Mar 15, 2009 | 08:28 PM
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Originally Posted by FactoryRaceCar
^^^ That wire does not work with illumination on 5120. Ask me how I know Leave it disconnected and use the unit feature for dimming etc.
i have used this wire with a 5120 more then once and it dimmed just fine
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Old Mar 15, 2009 | 09:40 PM
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From: Bugs Bunny should'a made a left turn here
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Originally Posted by pentavolvo
i have used this wire with a 5120 more then once and it dimmed just fine
hmm. i wonder why it didn't work with the big N's car. i'll give it a shot when i get back in there.
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Old Mar 15, 2009 | 10:08 PM
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yeah thats weird no reason it shouldnt work

i will say this the wire does work but it may not be setup right in the radio u have to go into the dimmer settings, set it on sync i believe, and you should be able to set brightness, turn lights on, and set again, and they should swap between the 2 individual settings
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Old Mar 16, 2009 | 07:00 PM
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Originally Posted by pentavolvo
yeah thats weird no reason it shouldnt work

i will say this the wire does work but it may not be setup right in the radio u have to go into the dimmer settings, set it on sync i believe, and you should be able to set brightness, turn lights on, and set again, and they should swap between the 2 individual settings
Tried all that. It worked weird. The brightness etc changed with the time of the headunit but not with that wire. I knew for a fact that wire works for dimming because I had 3 (boost, fuel pressure, air/fuel) gauges tied to that wire and they dimmed just fine.

BTW, I need to take some advice from you with the sound system I am doing to my new car. Using factory navigation, 2 amps, components, boxology with subwoofer, lockpick, rearview camera and iPod etc
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Old Mar 16, 2009 | 08:01 PM
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curious how much more it would be for u to do to a dnx5120 or something similar vs the lockpick
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Old Mar 18, 2009 | 11:05 PM
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From: Bugs Bunny should'a made a left turn here
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i hooked up my ILL wire to that cream colored wire on the HVAC and it works perfectly.

Nouman,

i believe the problem you had was that there is an option to have the illumination sync with the navi (which you said yours was timed with the headunit) or to sync with a switched wire. choosing to sync with that wire then adjusts the illumination when the lights are turned on.

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Old Mar 19, 2009 | 09:55 AM
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Originally Posted by jdmvette
i hooked up my ILL wire to that cream colored wire on the HVAC and it works perfectly.

Nouman,

i believe the problem you had was that there is an option to have the illumination sync with the navi (which you said yours was timed with the headunit) or to sync with a switched wire. choosing to sync with that wire then adjusts the illumination when the lights are turned on.


Good to know. I never even had time to go thru one full CD thru my headunit. I sold my car way before I ever got to enjoy it
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Old Mar 19, 2009 | 09:57 AM
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Originally Posted by pentavolvo
curious how much more it would be for u to do to a dnx5120 or something similar vs the lockpick
The ONLY reason I don't want to go with aftermarket unit is because I want to keep the Navigation function in HUD with the factory unit. Can you still get Nav in HUD with any other aftermarket (Garmin based) units? That would be awesome!
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