I noticed on my 2007 Prius (package #6) that my light in the glovebox stays on all of the time (I can see it at night) - I took it into my dealer and he says that there is nothing wrong with it...so, has anyone else noticed this, and why do you think they would design it so that the light stays on even with the glovebox shut???
STF for lengthier discussions on this, but yes, this is by design. As Evan says, this is an LED that doesn't need to be turned off. Putting a switch in the circuit is simply another expense, and another point of failure.
It's cheaper to do that than install a switch. In my 2005 it comes on when I turn the headlights on. It's an LED so it'll last a long time and isn't much of a current draw.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(adam1991 @ Apr 5 2007, 08:42 PM) [snapback]418544[/snapback]</div> Like what a dollar expense? And when was the last time you ever heard of a glove box switch failure? In my 33 years of driving I have not heard of one.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rest @ Apr 11 2007, 07:57 AM) [snapback]421401[/snapback]</div> It doesn't have to be dollars - it can be pennies. Spread out over hundreds of thousands of vehicles, cost-cutting of even the smallest amount holds the potential of reaping large savings. Historically, this is how many automakers have gotten into big legal trouble later by deleting safety equipment, most notably domestics like GM (Corvair anti-sway bar) and Ford (Pinto gas tank shield). A relatively recent (within the last five years) example of cost-savings by most (if not all) manufacturers is the elimination of external lock cylinders on all doors except the driver's side door on those vehicles equipped with remote door unlocking.
And the point is to minimize the complexity. It just can't get much more simple than this. Cheap, easy, nothing to break, effective. And the switches do break...more commonly they just get stuck in the down position so the light doesn't come on. The old bulbs would burn out and need replacement. The LED won't burn out in the life of the car and there's nothing else to break. There's no reason to do something like use a switch just b/c that's they way they've done it for years. This is more innovative much like so many other things on the Prius. The simplicity of the system is as much genious as the more complex aspects.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Apr 11 2007, 08:41 AM) [snapback]421404[/snapback]</div> Exactly. Tom
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Apr 11 2007, 06:41 AM) [snapback]421404[/snapback]</div> The next step is to remove the light. This will enhance customer satisfaction and save another few cents, er yen.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimN @ Apr 11 2007, 10:07 PM) [snapback]421862[/snapback]</div> Perhaps they could use a bioluminescent bacteria impregnated into the materials inside the glove box...ideally the bacteria would also metabolize CO2 and convert it pure clean O2 as well!
krikey, just be glad they *give* you a light in there in the first place!! . When it's been handiest for me is when I have the lower glovebox completely out, and the o-scope propped up on the passenger footwell floor monitoring some signal or other I've pinned out of the ECU, and that little LED gives me just enough light on the front panel of the scope to reach down and easily tweak something when it's dark out. . _H*
This wouldn't even be an issue if the fit and finish were up to the level where the light wasn't noticeable when the glove box was closed. But with the somewhat shoddy fit and finish that seems to permeate Toyota cars these days, small cost saving measures like this are pretty noticeable.
I don't see the light when the glove box is closed, but I suppose it's possible to install a switch if it's too annoying.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Apr 11 2007, 03:41 AM) [snapback]421404[/snapback]</div> I'd be all over this if it weren't for the three (count them THREE) switches for the stupid vanity lights. You have the shade position switch, the sliding cover switch, and the obvious on/off switch near the lamp. What is up with that?! I can think of a few other things I'd have rather they "simplified!"
I owned a 1968 Firebird when I was a kid. It used a fiber optic cable from a dash light to the ash tray. So the light was on in the ash tray as long as the dash lights were on. Toyota could have used this system as it would have been even cheaper if costs were the only reason for not including a glove box switch.
