Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Center Display Does Not Dim Or Brighten With Dimmer (Without Navigation) (2015-17)
NOTE: Check the vehicle 12 volt battery condition first - Refer to: 12 Volt Battery Test (Without SH-AWD), or 12 Volt Battery Test (With SH-AWD) .
- Problem verification
- 1. Turn the vehicle to the ON mode.
- 2. Make sure the Sync Display Brightness in the System Settings is ON.
- 3. Turn the combination light switch to the parking light position.
- 4. Press the brightness control button several times.
Does the center display brightness change?
YES
Intermittent failure, the system is OK at this time.
NO
The failure is duplicated, go to step 2.
- Determine possible failure area (audio unit illumination circuit, others)
- 1. Press the brightness control button several times.
Does the ODMD (TM) (touch screen) brightness change?
YES
Go to step 3.
NO
Go to ODMD (TM) does not dim or brighten with dimmer troubleshooting .
- System Diagnostic Mode check 1
- 1. Go into the System Diagnostic Mode, and use the System Links to check the icon status.
Are the Display icon, the XM icon, the HFL icon, and the Remote Tuner icon green?
YES
Go to step 12.
NO
Go to step 4.
- System Diagnostic Mode check 2
- 1. Go into the System Diagnostic Mode, and use the System Links to check the icon status.
Is only the Display icon red?
YES
Go to step 5.
NO
Go to step 6.
- Open wire check (GA BUS+ line, GA BUS- line)
- 1. Turn the vehicle to the OFF (LOCK) mode.
- 2. Disconnect the following connectors.
Audio unit connector D (12P) Center display unit connector A (12P) - 3. Check for continuity between test points 1 and 2.
Test condition Vehicle OFF (LOCK) mode Audio unit connector D (12P): disconnected Center display unit connector A (12P): disconnected Test point 1 Audio unit connector D (12P) No. 7 - Refer to: Audio Unit Connector for Inputs and Outputs (With Auto Idle Stop System) (2015-17), or Audio Unit Connector for Inputs and Outputs (Without Auto Idle Stop System) (2015-17) Test point 2 Center display unit connector A (12P) No. 1 - Refer to: Center Display Unit Connector for Inputs and Outputs (With Auto Idle Stop System), or Center Display Unit Connector for Inputs and Outputs (Without Auto Idle Stop System) Test point 1 Audio unit connector D (12P) No. 1 - Refer to: Audio Unit Connector for Inputs and Outputs (With Auto Idle Stop System) (2015-17), or Audio Unit Connector for Inputs and Outputs (Without Auto Idle Stop System) (2015-17) Test point 2 Center display unit connector A (12P) No. 2 - Refer to: Center Display Unit Connector for Inputs and Outputs (With Auto Idle Stop System), or Center Display Unit Connector for Inputs and Outputs (Without Auto Idle Stop System) Is there continuity?
YES
Replace the center display unit .
NO
There is an open in the wire (s) between the audio unit and the center display unit. Replace the affected shielded harness.
- Determine possible failure area (GA-Net related unit, others)
- 1. Turn the vehicle to the OFF (LOCK) mode.
- 2. Disconnect the following connectors.
Tuner unit connector A (12P) XM receiver connector A (14P) HandsFreeLink control unit connector A (32P) - 3. Go into the System Diagnostic Mode, and use the System Links to check the icon status.
Is the Display icon green?
YES
Go to step 7.
NO
Go to step 9.
- Tuner unit check
- 1. Turn the vehicle to the OFF (LOCK) mode.
- 2. Reconnect tuner unit connector A (12P).
- 3. Go into the System Diagnostic Mode, and use the System Links to check the Remote Tuner icon status.
Is the Display icon green?
YES
Go to step 8.
NO
Replace the tuner unit - Refer to: Tuner Unit Removal and Installation, or Tuner Unit Removal and Installation (KA/KC) (2018-19) .
- HandsFreeLink control unit check
- 1. Turn the vehicle to the OFF (LOCK) mode.
- 2. Reconnect HandsFreeLink control unit connector A (32P).
- 3. Go into the System Diagnostic Mode, and use the System Links to check the HFL icon status.
Is the Display icon green?
YES
NO
- Shorted wire check (GA BUS+ line, GA BUS- line)
- 1. Turn the vehicle to the OFF (LOCK) mode.
- 2. Disconnect the following connectors.
Audio unit connector D (12P) Center display unit connector A (12P) - 3. Check for continuity between test points 1 and 2.
Test condition Vehicle OFF (LOCK) mode Tuner unit connector A (12P): disconnected XM receiver connector A (14P): disconnected HandsFreeLink control unit connector A (32P): disconnected Audio unit connector D (12P): disconnected Center display unit connector A (12P): disconnected Test point 1 Audio unit connector D (12P) No. 7 - Refer to: Audio Unit Connector for Inputs and Outputs (With Auto Idle Stop System) (2015-17), or Audio Unit Connector for Inputs and Outputs (Without Auto Idle Stop System) (2015-17) Test point 2 Body ground Test point 1 Audio unit connector D (12P) No. 1 - Refer to: Audio Unit Connector for Inputs and Outputs (With Auto Idle Stop System) (2015-17), or Audio Unit Connector for Inputs and Outputs (Without Auto Idle Stop System) (2015-17) Test point 2 Body ground Is there continuity?
YES
There is a short to body ground in the wire (s) between the audio unit and the center display unit. Replace the affected shielded harness.
NO
The GA BUS+ and the GA BUS- wires are not shorted to ground. Go to step 10.
- Shorted wire check (GA BUS+ line to another lines)
- 1. Check for continuity between test points 1 and 2.
Test condition Vehicle OFF (LOCK) mode Tuner unit connector A (12P): disconnected XM receiver connector A (14P): disconnected HandsFreeLink control unit connector A (32P): disconnected Audio unit connector D (12P): disconnected Center display unit connector A (12P): disconnected Test point 1 Audio unit connector D (12P) No. 7 - Refer to: Audio Unit Connector for Inputs and Outputs (With Auto Idle Stop System) (2015-17), or Audio Unit Connector for Inputs and Outputs (Without Auto Idle Stop System) (2015-17) Test point 2 Audio unit connector D (12P) No. 1 - Refer to: Audio Unit Connector for Inputs and Outputs (With Auto Idle Stop System) (2015-17), or Audio Unit Connector for Inputs and Outputs (Without Auto Idle Stop System) (2015-17) Test point 1 Audio unit connector D (12P) No. 7 - Refer to: Audio Unit Connector for Inputs and Outputs (With Auto Idle Stop System) (2015-17), or Audio Unit Connector for Inputs and Outputs (Without Auto Idle Stop System) (2015-17) Test point 2 Audio unit connector D (12P) No. 2 - Refer to: Audio Unit Connector for Inputs and Outputs (With Auto Idle Stop System) (2015-17), or Audio Unit Connector for Inputs and Outputs (Without Auto Idle Stop System) (2015-17) Is there continuity?
YES
There is a short in the wires between the audio unit and the center display unit. Replace the affected shielded harness.
NO
The GA BUS+ wire is not shorted. Go to step 11.
- Open wire check (GA BUS+ line, GA BUS- line)
- 1. Check for continuity between test points 1 and 2.
Test condition Vehicle OFF (LOCK) mode Tuner unit connector A (12P): disconnected XM receiver connector A (14P): disconnected HandsFreeLink control unit connector A (32P): disconnected Audio unit connector D (12P): disconnected Center display unit connector A (12P): disconnected Test point 1 Audio unit connector D (12P) No. 7 - Refer to: Audio Unit Connector for Inputs and Outputs (With Auto Idle Stop System) (2015-17), or Audio Unit Connector for Inputs and Outputs (Without Auto Idle Stop System) (2015-17) Test point 2 Center display unit connector A (12P) No. 1 - Refer to: Center Display Unit Connector for Inputs and Outputs (With Auto Idle Stop System), or Center Display Unit Connector for Inputs and Outputs (Without Auto Idle Stop System) Test point 1 Audio unit connector D (12P) No. 1 - Refer to: Audio Unit Connector for Inputs and Outputs (With Auto Idle Stop System) (2015-17), or Audio Unit Connector for Inputs and Outputs (Without Auto Idle Stop System) (2015-17) Test point 2 Center display unit connector A (12P) No. 2 - Refer to: Center Display Unit Connector for Inputs and Outputs (With Auto Idle Stop System), or Center Display Unit Connector for Inputs and Outputs (Without Auto Idle Stop System) Is there continuity?
YES
The GA BUS+ and the GA BUS- wires are OK. Go to step 12.
NO
There is an open in the wire (s) between the audio unit and the center display unit. Replace the affected shielded harness.
- Center display unit check (substitution)
- 1. Substitute a known-good center display unit.
- 2. Reconnect all the connectors.
- 3. Go into the System Diagnostic Mode, and use the System Links to check the Display icon status.
Is the Display icon green?
YES
Replace the original center display unit.
NO
NO RELATED
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.