65 plate Transit instrument cluster brightness?

[Reman]

Well this is about as off-topic as I've got here, but works put me in a bottom of the range Mk8 Transit whilst my usual Mk7 is being fixed.

The problem I'm having is that the instrument cluster is like a friggin spotlight and I can't find any way to dim it ! I've been working ridiculous hours for the last few weeks and haven't had time to try and Google an answer at home (and a mobile phone isn't the easiest thing to use whilst searching for technical info online). This instrument cluster really is migraine inducingly bright when driving on unlit roads !!!

The manual says that the controls should be either side of the light switch dial below and to the right of the steering wheel, but all this one has there is a button for the fog lights.

I'm wondering if anyone out there who has more experience of 65 plate Mk8 Transits could point me at where else to look? As I said it's one of the base model versions with the blue LCD / LED trip computer screens. I've gone through the menus on that and can't find any reference to dimming the damn lights even there.

Any help would be useful as at the minute when I'm on country roads at night I'm having to put a couple of sheets of paper in front of all the gauges so I can see where the hell I'm going. It doesn't seem to matter how many times I clean my glasses, all I see are bloody star bursts of colour coming from the gauges !!!

HEEEEEEEEELP! !!! :)

[Bad Raven]

Seems to be a more widespread Ford issue with various owners inc Focus, etc complaining. Over a few years, too!

Seems also that the MFT section has an auto setting for night dimming, but still owners complaining its too bright for country lanes.

Some but not all Mk8 Transit's have two buttons by the headlight switch to adjust dash lighting??

[Reman]

No, that's the place on the dash I mentioned,  all I've got there is a fog light button next to the headlight controls.

If this thing has an auto dimming dash light setup it ain't bloody working. The dash stays just as bright with the headlights on and off. Even my bloody 1986 Capri had a knob to adjust the dash brightness. If Ford have omitted a brightness control on this then they are really losing the plot !!!

[Two-Six]

How about getting some of that tinted film people tint their windows with and cut out a bit that neatly sticks over the screen? 

The next person who has the vehicle will thank you for it too.  I don't think there is a law about the levels of tint allowed on your instrument panel, yet.

Actually I was seriously thinking about making a little roller blind to cover the stupid stupid stupid stupid in car screen on the dash of my car.  Its stupidly bright and mostly useless as actually using it is a horrible distraction.  Easily as bad as using a mobile phone.

[Reman]

My transit is only off having an oil leak sorted out so I'm hoping I won't be in this van for much longer. If it was my permanent van the tinting film idea could have legs, although I think maybe using some of that cheap crap that sticks on by static would be a better option so it could quickly be removed if necessary.

Mind you, if I owned this van I'd probably hack into the wiring loom and fit some sort of variable step down regulator for the dash illumination (This is of course if I'm not missing something and there really is some factory fitted way to dim the dash).

[Powernumpty]

The 2016 Manual says it's on the end of the light stalk similar to [<-O+>]
From www.fordservicecontent.com/Ford_Content/Catalog/owner_information/2016-Transit-Owners-Manual-version-1_om_EN-US_06_2015.pdf

INSTRUMENT LIGHTING
DIMMER
E175219
Press it repeatedly or press it and hold it
until the desired level is reached.
Note:
If you disconnect the battery or it
loses charge the instrument lighting will
return to its brightest setting

[Two-Six]

Failing that, how about some sweet wrappers and blu-tack? 

You could have purple lights!

[Reman]

The 2016 Manual says it's on the end of the light stalk similar to [<-O+>]
From www.fordservicecontent.com/Ford_Content/Catalog/owner_information/2016-Transit-Owners-Manual-version-1_om_EN-US_06_2015.pdf

INSTRUMENT LIGHTING
DIMMER
E175219
Press it repeatedly or press it and hold it
until the desired level is reached.
Note:
If you disconnect the battery or it
loses charge the instrument lighting will
return to its brightest setting

Yeah, On page 71. That's the controls I mentioned. The right button is just a blanking plate, And the left one's a momentary button to turn the rear fog light on and off.