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What is purpose of this part?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by TomasG, Feb 11, 2018.

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  1. TomasG

    TomasG Junior Member

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    Hi everybody,
    I wonder what is the purpose of this red thing near on panel. In my older car there was sensor for interior temperature. But it was a bit different (it had like little dots on it)

    I tried to read about it in owners manual but couldn't find confirmation that it really is interior temperatures sensor.

    What could it be?
     

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    #1 TomasG, Feb 11, 2018
  2. William Redoubt

    William Redoubt Senior Member

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    It might be a daylight sensor or rain sensor. Do you have automatic lights or wipers?
     
    #2 William Redoubt, Feb 11, 2018
  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    I think that's light level detector, for controlling dash light brightness, for one.

    Interior air temperature sensor is in the lower dash, near your right knee when you're in the (left side) driver's seat, behind a little grill.
     
    #3 Mendel Leisk, Feb 11, 2018
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  4. TomasG

    TomasG Junior Member

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    I think I have neither one.
     
    #4 TomasG, Feb 11, 2018
  5. TomasG

    TomasG Junior Member

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    That's really good idea. I'll try to cover it and see if it have any influence for brightness. Although sometimes brightness is a bit too hihg so I just rotate that wheel to lower the brightness.

    But from here comes another question. Does that click sound when rotating that wheel all the way to brightest position means something? Or it is just reminder that wheel is in its highesh position? Maybe this is auto mode for brightness?
     
    #5 TomasG, Feb 11, 2018
  6. royrose

    royrose Senior Member

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    First of all, I think the light sensor is not used for controlling dash brightness. I believe that the climate control system uses it (along with other inputs) when on the auto setting to adjust settings like air intake fan speed, heater or air conditioner output, etc. It assumes that sun contributes to warming the car interior.

    When you go up past the click on the wheel you defeat the normal effect of dimming the dash when you turn on your headlights. If, for example, you turn on your lights on a rainy day but find the dash too dim, rotate the wheel up past the click to get full brightness. Anything below that will be dim compared to the normal daytime brightness.
     
    #6 royrose, Feb 11, 2018
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  7. BZzap!

    BZzap! Senior Member

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    Automatic headlight timer sensor. Can be toggled in setup display to turn offi/on.
    Setup>Vehicle>HeadlightAuto-Off Timer>Seconds delay or Off/On
     
    #7 BZzap!, Feb 11, 2018
  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    If I recall correctly, pushing the wheel all the way to the top, through that click, it'll stay bright all the time. One below the click, the dash lights will dim if the sensor detects ambient light levels drop. You can notice this when you go under an overpass sometimes.

    I was reading up on the heat/vent this morning a bit, and there was mention that this sensor is also used by that system, which makes sense.
     
    #8 Mendel Leisk, Feb 11, 2018
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  9. TomasG

    TomasG Junior Member

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    In my car I can only see Maintenance option when I open vehicle settings. I read somewhere that lights turn off automatically after 30 seconds
     
    #9 TomasG, Feb 11, 2018
  10. WolfpackBill

    WolfpackBill Senior Member

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    It is a light sensor for your automatic climate control. If you have "Auto" position in your headlight switch, it also senses ambient light so the headlights can turn on or off automatically. BZzap's instructions don't apply to 2010 and 2011 Prius models but it applies to 2012 to 2015 Prius.
     
    #10 WolfpackBill, Feb 11, 2018
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  11. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    I never knew where the sensors were. Where is the one that reads outside temperature?
     
    #11 padroo, Feb 11, 2018
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  12. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    In the front of the car, along the bottom edge of the bumper line;).
     
    #12 Raytheeagle, Feb 11, 2018
  13. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

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    This is the correct answer...
     
    #13 RRxing, Feb 12, 2018
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