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Headlights too high?

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by BoltonJoe, Feb 7, 2017.

  1. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

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    I remember in the 70s when Halogen bulbs came out, how bright they were compared to the regular (orangey) filament bulbs of the era.
     
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  2. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    On my car with electronic dash, it is bright with the lights off & dim with them on. It is always on when the car is running.

    Is your old Prius different? Old mechanical speedometer? :) :ROFLMAO:
     
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  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    I forget what, but I can usually tell. The easiest mistake to make is driving with just the parking lights, then everything but headlights is on, no clue, as long as you're driving in an area well lit with street lights.
     
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  4. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    Because the dash still does light up - unlike in the olden days [remember them] when it got dark, you couldn't see your speedo, so turned your lights on.

    Too many people are unaware of how cars work, too few read their owner's manuals.

    And it will get worse. Back in our time, we learned how cars worked.

    We knew what a clutch did, why there were 3 or 4 gears, how to double-declutch - actually understanding how cars worked. We could strip and repair an inner-tube and reassemble and hand-pump a tyre with the pump we kept in the boot.
     
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  5. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    I've been driving on the Motorway with my parkers on lately, particularly if it's a dull day - the parking lights are quite dull, but they put the tail-lights on, I'd rather be seen from behind. Off the motorway, I put it back on AUTO.

    Parkers vs DRL

    upload_2019-1-30_8-37-17.png upload_2019-1-30_8-37-37.png

    My headlights don't have DRLs lit:
    upload_2019-1-30_8-38-58.png
     
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  6. Frederickdawg

    Frederickdawg Active Member

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    My parking lights are just the main led but dimmer as well the amber markers being on. Taillights are also on.

    SM-N960U1 ?
     
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  7. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Are your DRLs also the main LED headlights but dimmer? If so, do they have the high beam pattern, or low beam pattern, or something else (like Gen3 no-patten DRLs)?
     
  8. Frederickdawg

    Frederickdawg Active Member

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    Low beam pattern.

    SM-N960U1 ?
     
  9. nownow

    nownow Junior Member

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    Coming from an '08 I accidentally did my first drive (at night) with parking lights and the dimmer DRL mains. It was still far superior to the '08 xenons, which admittedly needed a headlight restoration.
     
  10. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    There were some people with 2016 Prius that found their headlights were aimed too high. After they got them adjusted, there were no more issues.
     
  11. Frederickdawg

    Frederickdawg Active Member

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    Glad to here that someone else uses this function.

    SM-N960U1 ?
     
  12. bbunge

    bbunge Member

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    Had my dealer check my 2016 Pri2 headlights after getting flashed many times. Was told the lights were within specs. Still getting flashed...

    SM-T380 ?
     
  13. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Make sure they are clean (road grime can scatter too much light above the intended upper cutoff), then consider lowering the aim a bit yourself.

    Heavier loads in the rear end (of the car, not the front seat occupants :) ) will raise the headlights enough to annoy oncoming drivers. If you frequently drive at night with such loads, considering lighting the loads, or shifting them forward from the trunk to the passenger area, or re-aim the headlights while the car contains a more representative load.
     
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  14. Frederickdawg

    Frederickdawg Active Member

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    I remember back in the day an up/down dial on the dash that allowed the driver to adjust the headlights beam vertically dependent on their load. Or more modern cars currently use self leveling headlights. I think that is required by law for high intensity discharge units sold in the UK.

    SM-N960U1 ?
     
  15. Tande

    Tande Active Member

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    Interesting! .......my 2014 Toyota/Tundra has this feature......very handy when I pull several different trailers (y)
     
  16. litesong

    litesong Active Member

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  17. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    My 1977 Renault had a knob on the dashboard too for up/down headlights.

    But it also had knobs for the radio - which TOYOTA doesn't believe in except in USA.
     
  18. Frederickdawg

    Frederickdawg Active Member

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    Mines got knobs on the radio but they dont light up lol

    SM-N960U1 ?
     
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