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Minor Tweak to Improve the Driving Experience

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by DeadPhish, Nov 13, 2009.

  1. DeadPhish

    DeadPhish Senior Member

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    This from a 3-generation owner that puts in mega miles every year. His normal usage is 8-10 hours per day and 45000-ish miles per year.

    In the Gen 3 he mentioned that at night the empty storage area under the console is pitch black. It's hard to find anything in that utility tray. It's actually worse when the overhead personal lights are turned on since the console casts a shadow over the tray. Proposed solution: Add another very small LED down below in order to illuminate the tray and the seat heater buttons.

    Regarding the seat heater bottons; why are they situated North/South? That seems uncharacteristically unintuitive. Why not situate them West/East in the way the Driver/Passenger seats are situated?
     
    #1 DeadPhish, Nov 13, 2009
  2. TalkingMuffin

    TalkingMuffin New Member

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    mmmmmmkay.....

    :bored:
     
    #2 TalkingMuffin, Nov 13, 2009
  3. ttait

    ttait Active Member

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    I actually put my phone charger down there. It has a blue LED that was so bright that I had to put tape over it. It still shines through the tape and illuminates the area nicely now.
    I couldn't agree more on the seat heater orientation, what were they thinking. For that matter, why did they put them way down there? They could have put them in the upper console closer to the climate system, since that's what it relates to.
     
    #3 ttait, Nov 14, 2009
  4. venom700

    venom700 Just call me Brian...

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    How does a light down there improving DRIVING? I'm lost.
     
    #4 venom700, Nov 14, 2009
  5. DavidA

    DavidA Prius owner since July 2009

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    Agree with the OP on the lighting.

    I'd be interested if anyone comes up with a workable LED idea for the front storage. I thought it strange that there would be illumination at my feet in the IV and V models, but none where I place belongings. Actually, if one could tap into the LED circuitry of the foot lighting, that might be the easiest way, although a small switch would add to usability.
     
    #5 DavidA, Nov 17, 2009
  6. randalll

    randalll New Member

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    how about this?
     

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    #6 randalll, Nov 23, 2009
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