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Solved my own mystery of the tiny light

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by randallintacoma, Mar 20, 2010.

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  1. randallintacoma

    randallintacoma New Member

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    I have owned my Prius for about three weeks now. I have only needed to drive it at night twice. I had noticed the recess in the overhead console near the nav system microphone, but didn't pay much attention to it. I guessed it was probably access for a recessed screw or something.

    Then on my second night driving experience, I noticed light coming from this tiny hole. I thought that was weird and wondered what the heck the purpose was. I discovered the light turned on and off with the headlights. There is typical Toyota indicator on the instrument panel when the headlights are on, so I thought why would I need two such indicators?

    I poured through the owners manual again, seeing nothing in the index or any text reference. I went through it a second time, and AH HA! there, on page 363 is the one reference to the "shift lever lighting" easily overlooked in a drawing of the interior lights. There is no text other than the legend for the drawing. I thought "that's what that does?" and then checked it out in my darkened garage. Sure enough, that tiny light illuminates the shift joystick. In fact, it sort of makes the color plastic on the joystick glow.

    I know this isn't a big deal, but has the Prius always had a shift lever light? No other car I've owned has had anything like this.
     
    #1 randallintacoma, Mar 20, 2010
  2. Yossarian

    Yossarian New Member

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    My 04 Honda Accord had one.
     
    #2 Yossarian, Mar 20, 2010
  3. adamace1

    adamace1 Senior Member

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    LOL When i first got my car i was looking at the shifter trying to figure out how it was lit up. Then i looked up and noticed the light.
     
    #3 adamace1, Mar 20, 2010
  4. Russell Frost

    Russell Frost the whatdrives.us guy

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    Just sayin'

     
    #4 Russell Frost, Mar 20, 2010
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  5. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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    On the Gen II (2004-2009) the shifter was illuminated from inside. The shifter then was on the dash though so a light shining onto it from the ceiling really wouldn't have worked.

    Last year I was worried about the placement of the shifter on the Gen III but I like it and love the LED shining down onto it at night.
     
    #5 Paradox, Mar 20, 2010
  6. Much More Better

    Much More Better Active Member

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    It's useless mostly because you know where to shift: it's either left + up or left + down.
    I guess for legal reasons it has to be legible at night so anybody can drive it.
     
    #6 Much More Better, Mar 20, 2010
  7. mad-dog-one

    mad-dog-one Prius Enthusiast

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    I like the mystery light. It illuminates the shifter and adds to the uniqueness of the Gen III Prius.
     
    #7 mad-dog-one, Mar 20, 2010
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  8. stream

    stream Senior Member

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    Every car I've owned for the last 15 years has has this light.
     
    #8 stream, Mar 20, 2010
  9. mad-dog-one

    mad-dog-one Prius Enthusiast

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    Perhaps mine did too, but "I just saw the light."
     
    #9 mad-dog-one, Mar 21, 2010
  10. pingnak

    pingnak New Member

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    I noticed it a while back, and figured out what it was 'supposed' to be for pretty quickly, since it points right at the shifter, and nothing else.

    It's also handy for glancing at things, like printed maps or instructions in the dark. A nice, handy little night light that isn't so bright it wrecks my night vision, but not so dim to be wholly useless.
     
    #10 pingnak, Mar 21, 2010
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  11. pingnak

    pingnak New Member

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    It's also handy for glancing at things, like printed maps or instructions in the dark. A nice, handy little night light that isn't so bright it wrecks my night vision, but not so dim to be wholly useless.
     
    #11 pingnak, Mar 21, 2010
  12. Sneezy

    Sneezy Member

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    I can't stand the light in my wife's Prius. My 08 HHR SS has one and I hate it in that car as well. GM must have gotten a ton of complaints because on the 09's it's gone.
     
    #12 Sneezy, Mar 21, 2010
  13. Wiserone

    Wiserone Member

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    Whats funnier is when your driving your new car home through a blizzard and your the what the &%^%. How do I turn that light off. When it realized it was a spotlight for the shifter I fell in love.
     
    #13 Wiserone, Mar 21, 2010
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  14. bob brown

    bob brown Member

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    I have an '04 and a '10, and I prefer that backlit shifter.
     
    #14 bob brown, Mar 21, 2010
  15. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    First Prius then?
     
    #15 patsparks, Mar 22, 2010
  16. Bigchuckles44

    Bigchuckles44 New Member

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    Everyone who sits in my car at night comments about it. I like it, but then I love my Prius altogether. Best car I have owned.
     
    #16 Bigchuckles44, Mar 22, 2010
  17. stream

    stream Senior Member

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    Yes.
     
    #17 stream, Mar 22, 2010
  18. pakitt

    pakitt Senior Member

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    It is called also "map light" - 3 purposes IMHO:
    1) illuminate the Dashboard Central console in a "cool" way ;)
    2) illuminated the shift lever, since it is not illuminated from the inside of the lever
    3) as a map light, though personally not too strong - but better than the standard glaring roof console lights.

    In the US User's Manual it is called "shift lever lighting", but I am pretty sure to remember that on the German manual is called map light (I have to verify though).
     
    #18 pakitt, Mar 22, 2010
  19. stream

    stream Senior Member

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    At least in the US (and cars I've driven in many other countries, including Germany;)), many cars have map lights, which are in the overhead console (on either side of the main cabin light), and can be illuminated and light the lap area of either the driver or front passenger to read a map. Different than these dim LEDs intended to illuminate the shifter.
     
    #19 stream, Mar 22, 2010
  20. bob brown

    bob brown Member

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    Reminds me of my old '72 Monte Carlo....had a 'map' light built into bottom of rear view mirrror although it did have an on/off switch.
     
    #20 bob brown, Apr 13, 2010
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