Auto-on Headlights: Why didn't my Prius have it?

As far as I can tell from Toyota's web site, auto-on headlights are not available on the Prius. They certainly weren't in 2006 or before.

As for the sunroof, that isn't a Toyota option. Some dealers work with aftermarket installers to put in a sunroof.

 

Auto headlights are offered in Canada but not the U.S.. Canadian models also have daytime running lights, but you cannot get the HID headlamps in Canada.

There is no factory sunroof option for the Prius, only after-market.

Tom

 

For North America, auto headlights are only available for Pruis in Canada, and I believe that they are standard. That is because Canada mandates the installation and use of daytime running lamps with the requirement that there be a telltale or automatic switching to headlamps, so that drivers do not use DRLs into the night. Because DRLs are not mandatory in the U.S. and because they use energy that reduces the EPA mileage rating, I am presuming that Toyota chose to not include DRLs on the Prius, contrary to installing them on almost every other vehicle that it sells in North America.

So, there you go, lower cost and higher fuel efficiency appear to be the reasons that we don't get it. I have it on my Expedition (even though it does not have DRLs) and it sure a convenience. If we had DLRs, though, it would be an important safety feature to assure that we see well into the night.

And, as just stated above, we get to choose HIDs instead of halogen, and for the industrious, we can add DRLs too.

 

I can't beat that answer, eh!

 

The above posters are correct that the US cars don't have auto headlamps. However, if you leave the headlamp switch on, the headlamps will go off when you exit the car (open drivers door!!) and on when you next switch the car on. So you get, "sort of" "auto" headlamps. Be warned, if you stop the car but don't open the drivers door, the headlamps will not go out, and you can quickly drain the 12V battery.

The Canadian auto on headlamps turn on the DRLs when you start the car and release the parking brake. When it is or gets dark, first the dash lights come on, then the headlamps as it gets darker. And if it gets light again, they both go out (again staged as above). For example, in my garage it's dark and the headlamps come on when I start the car. When I back out, after a short delay, the headlamps go out and the DRL function comes on (in the daylight, of course ).

 

Hey Tideland, ever go on BC Ferries for small runs like to Gabriola? After the car is off the headlights stay on unless I open the car door. One time at night I didn't notice they were on and the ferry crew told me to turn them off. I was like, buh! how? The whole deck was dark except for my headlights. It was late. Kind of embarrassing.

 

Idiots, that's what they are. Big vehicles zip past me all the time, within yards of a red light, burning gas so that they can come to a dead stop, while I'm still moving by the time the light changes and all the cars are in motion again. I make sure not to hold up traffic that may want to turn off before the light and if its a single lane I don't glide as much as I like so I'm NOT being extra annoying. It's like they are only looking 50 ft out in front of them.

 

Hello posters,

I purchased my car in the US, and it has the DRL and automatic headlight feature that is until the lights burned out. When I took my car into the dealer to be serviced they replaced the headlights and now The DRLs and the automatic headlights feature is not working. The mechanic at the dealership claims he could not find the fuse, and that the sensor on the dash is only for the AC, but there are two sensors on the dash and I used this feature for months in the auto mode. (It's only after it stopped working that I discovered that was a difference between the US and Canadian versions of the same car.)

I suppose I somehow got one of the 08 Prius that was bound for Canada but the purchase records for the car are for a US model and don't say anything about the DRLs so the mechanics have been giving me the run around and claiming the feature simply does not exist. (There are two sensors above the dash clearly visible, not one, and I did not imagine using this feature for months and months.)

I read a forum post a long time ago that suggested the light bulbs in the Canadian Pruis supported a low beam setting that is used for the DRLs but I have not been able to find that post or much about how the feature actually works.

My question is, does the Canadian Prius require a specific type of bulb that supports the low DRL setting or is it controlled by a specific switch or fuse that the shop in the US just is not aware of? I figure when they replaced my lights they used what ever standard parts and procedure they would have done for any US car and thus the feature is not supported with the bulbs they used, or they disabled it some how.

I would love to get this feature restored but it's clear I need to point them in the right direction.

Can anyone offer any advice?


Thanks,

-Ken

 

Is there any way to add the "Auto Light" feature to the US spec Prius?

 

If you suspect you have a Canadian Prius the easiest way to check is check the odometer. It should read in km if it's Canadian, and miles if American. It doesn't switch back and forth with the dash switch.

 

I'm kind of suprised Toyota doesn't offer auto headlights standard on all The Prius. It is their signature, benchmark technological car. I'm currently driving a rental Toyota Corolla LE, which is nice but far from cutting edge in any category and yet it has auto headlights. Just seems wrong that a relatively basic Corolla should have "technology" a Prius is missing. Also, seems to me the feature would be relatively cheap and easy to add.

 

I assume it is to save electricity and therefore gas. Does anyone know how much leaving headlights on as my Corolla does costs in mpg?