I recently purchased an '01 Prius that needed work. I was driving it last night, and noticed that the dash does not light around the heater controls or radio. The whole center dash area does not light with the headlight switch. I took a look through the owners manual for any fuse that might control this, but did not find any. I would not think that all of the bulbs would be burned out. Any recommendations as to where I should check? Thanks. Steve
You might find the electrical wiring diagram, EWD414U, very useful not only for this but down the road. You can download it section by section with a subscription to techinfo.toyota.com (last I knew you could get a per-day subscription for about $10) or buy it bookbound for under $50 (last I knew) from their materials distribution center at 800 622 2033. -Chap
Is your case similar to this thread? http://priuschat.com/forums/generation-1-prius-discussion/89761-burned-out-dash-lights.html If it is, I think you need to replace some light bulbs which hide behind the HVAC control.
I did see that post while searching for info. Thanks for the link. Mine is similar, I suppose, except that none of the lights in that area work. None of the radio (except the display), and none of the heater controls. Guess I can just start by pulling the cover and checking the bulbs. Steve
Ok, if you're really serious about doing this without the manual, you might take a look at this thread too. The light bulbs you're looking for are the ones you'll see after removing the cluster finish panel, MFD and audio head unit, clock, heater control cover and control board, and finally the switch-and-lighting circuit board. If, as you say, all the lights are out, it seems possible the trouble could be elsewhere, making that unnecessary work. -Chap
Well those bulbs are certainly buried in there.... Anyone have a good finish panel for sale (Yes it truly was extremely brittle and is now 3 pieces)? No force required. I did find that the other lights that I believe are on the circuit were getting power (the hazard switch and the ashtray). The hazard bulb is also burned out. So now just a matter of getting new bulbs, replalcement finish panel, transferring everything over and reinstalling. Steve
partswebsite.com hosts online parts databases for a number of actual dealers who are willing to sell online. Once you select Toyota you'll be taken to a page of links to participating Toyota dealers. The page is shuffled every time so no one dealership is always at the top. You can click any of these dealers and search the parts catalog. If you try two or more of them you'll notice that you're viewing exactly the same parts database (that's what partswebsite does for the dealerships) and the same MSR pricing is shown but the dealerships offer different discounted pricing. The one called "Toyota Parts People" (a consortium of Toyota dealers in the Pacific NW) often has pretty good pricing. The path to your part through the database is something like Body electrical -> Instrument panel -> Cluster and switches -> Finish panel. -Chap
Thanks for the direction to those parts dealers. Pricing ranges from 127 to 165 or so. I will make a decision in the next couple of days. BTW - the Autozone.com website has a repair section and has the Prius information for 2002+ models. I did find the wiring diagrams for the '02 and the dash lighting. Looks like it will be helpful to figure this out. Steve
