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Whats up with our stick shift knobs ?

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by Chris Wolfgram, Jan 3, 2020.

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  1. Chris Wolfgram

    Chris Wolfgram Active Member

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    Now if somebody says, "Yea, you just hit this or that button and hold it" ....or something like this, and it will literally light up, I'm going to feel stupid, as that's another thing I've never done. But if these don't light up, and glow a cool blue color, why do they use clear blue plastic, with the reflector / diffuser inside ??? Don't these stick shift knobs totally look like they should be internally lit ???
     
    #1 Chris Wolfgram, Jan 3, 2020
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    see @Georgina Rudkus

    btw, aren't you the fella whose park button didn't light up?
     
    #2 bisco, Jan 3, 2020
  3. Chris Wolfgram

    Chris Wolfgram Active Member

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    I'm am exactly that dum-bass :) lol So tell me now that this does light up... and how to turn it on ?
     
    #3 Chris Wolfgram, Jan 3, 2020
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  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    There is a little flood light in the ceiling, pointed at the shifter. IIRC with 4th gen it's aim is slightly off, like they moved the shifter up into the dash more at the last minute, didn't change the aim to follow?
     
    #4 Mendel Leisk, Jan 3, 2020
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  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    sorry, that one doesn't. but i wouldn't be surprised if someone has modded it.

    georgina does some shift mods, hopefully she'll chime in.
     
    #5 bisco, Jan 3, 2020
  6. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    Sorry but the shifter stalk itself does NOT light up.
     
    #6 sam spade 2, Jan 3, 2020
  7. Chris Wolfgram

    Chris Wolfgram Active Member

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    Well I felt dumb not knowing about the dash light thing.... But Toyota should feel really dumb for not redirecting that little light on the roof to hit the shifter. I always wondered what that little light on the ceiling was for. I noticed that it was a pretty narrow direct beam... but not really in such a great place to help you read anything, or something light that. Now I know it was just Toyota slipping...
     
    #7 Chris Wolfgram, Jan 3, 2020
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  8. Chris Wolfgram

    Chris Wolfgram Active Member

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    But doesn't it totally look like it should ?
     
    #8 Chris Wolfgram, Jan 3, 2020
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  9. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    I think most owners agree with that.
    Some have even gone to the trouble of adding a light to it.
     
    #9 sam spade 2, Jan 3, 2020
  10. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

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    Since I can use the shifter without looking at it, the light is merely a designer's touch...
     
    #10 RRxing, Jan 3, 2020
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  11. pianewman

    pianewman Active Member

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    Only 4 weeks or so with the new-to-us Prius, and I don't look anymore, either. Yes, the light would be cool, but, sigh...just another distraction to the driving experience!!!
     
    #11 pianewman, Jan 3, 2020
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  12. Chris Wolfgram

    Chris Wolfgram Active Member

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    That seems like a LOT of work, for something that would basically only be cosmetic. Hmmm.
     
    #12 Chris Wolfgram, Jan 3, 2020
  13. Pripearl

    Pripearl New Member

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    My gut feeling is that the light would be perfectly aimed if it were in the right side driver versions of the car (basically JP ones). Also a bit frustrating since there's obviously space for a even a tiny LED inside the thing to light it. But in the dark my Prius does provide enough lights from the 11 Inch display to show me where my stuff is so I'm not too bothered.
     
    #13 Pripearl, Jan 3, 2020
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  14. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    In Gen 2 the knob is backlit: a light down in the shifter mechanism shines up along the shaft, into the clear plastic of the knob, which conducts it out to the surface you see. It's a small incandescent bulb that may be burned out in a lot of Gen 2s by now. I replaced one recently.

    Gen 3 switched to the strange beam of LED 'moonlight' down from overhead.
     
    #14 ChapmanF, Jan 3, 2020
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  15. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    Are you kidding me?
    So Toyota kept the light in the ceiling that USE to illuminate the selection knob, but when they re-positioned the knob they didn't re-aim the light?
    That's disappointing hear, and just seems incredibly lazy form a design and execution standpoint. Come on Toyota, aim the light to execute it's intended purpose.
     
    #15 The Electric Me, Jan 3, 2020
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  16. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    or make it swivel
     
    #16 bisco, Jan 3, 2020
  17. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    Compared to the time and money that other car owners spend on cosmetic changes................
    It's not a lot of time OR money.
     
    #17 sam spade 2, Jan 3, 2020
  18. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Eh? The light illuminated the shifter and the tray/wireless charger.
     
    #18 Tideland Prius, Jan 3, 2020
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  19. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    The Gen 2, Gen 3, and Prius v has green covered T10 incandescent bulbs that light up the shift knob.

    The Gen 4 eliminated any internal lighting.

    Prius shift knobs are made for looks and style rather than function.

    I prefer a low profile "centered" shift knob that is totally intuitive. The Apollo command module navigation system designed in the 1960's by Charles S. "Doc" Draper at the MIT instrumentation lab still works today as it did 50+ years, ago. There's no need for a light. It works effortlessly by feel. 7.JPG closeup.JPG
     
    #19 Georgina Rudkus, Jan 3, 2020
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  20. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    Mine has a little light from above which hits directly onto the shift lever. Maybe yours is misaligned?
     
    #20 alanclarkeau, Jan 3, 2020
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