Anyone else a little befuddled by the non-lighted HomeLink buttons? I really like using the buttons, but they are really hard to pick out at night. Solutions? Someone in the Prius II forum suggested a small, resistor-ed LED shining directly at the buttons from above (near where the overhead control light is, I suspect).
my wife's hycam is the same way. it can be very frustrating, but i havn't seen a simple fix yet. at least my mini garage door opener on my visor is much more tactile.
I would suggest a led like you mentioned from above but use a very low brightness "round top" one so that minimal light reflects from the mirror and cause a glare/distraction. (the round top directs the light in a narrow beam to prevent glare) Also point it down as much as possible. You can also tap into the stock led that's up there pointing at the shifter for pwr.
you get used to it after you use it for a while. I added my homelink mirror in the Fall of 2009, no problems finding any of the 3 door buttons in the dark .
Mine is on an '06, but I assume they are the same? If the auto-dimming feature is "on" there is a green light between the buttons, with two positioned to the left and one to the right. I set the one on the right of the light to the door I use most often, and that helps me find it in the dark easily. There is a little indentation for each button that also helps. The three doors I have linked to the car are all in different locations, so it's no big deal if I hit the wrong one. It would be handy if they lit up like the buttons on the steering wheel.
Now there's a good idea! Never thought to use any button but the 1st one. Using the one directly to the right or left of the green light should do the trick. I only have 1 door on the double-space garage anyway. Thanks for the idea.
You know, you can program all 3 of the buttons to operate the same device if you wish (and only have one...) This way hit any button and....
If you operate only one, just program the only button smack dap in the center to the right of the green light. Program the 2nd one on the far left as it's easy enough to grasp the left end and slide until you catch this button.
Topic reminds me of an issue that happened to me last year. When my GF comes to my house for the weekend, I let her drive my car (she has a 2003 Prius). She needs to adjust the seat and mirrors etc. Well, once she did that and I'm in the pass seat. She started slowly backing out of the garage and after a foot or so we heard a light crunch and bump. Wth? She stopped quick and I got out of the car - noticed the garage door was going up. Apparently the last thing she did before backing was to fine tune adjust the rearview mirror. And no doubt depressed homelink button #1 - my garage door opener. It's a very quiet door closer and windows were closed. Good news, the door must have reversed quickly and the door/rubber gasket only hit the rear wiper arm. A mark about a foot long which rubbed off. No glass, antenna, roof damage. Fortunate to happen at the perfect time. And avoided damage and a very POd me..... phew.
