Am I missing my auto daytime running headlights?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cdavid @ Apr 16 2006, 06:17 PM) [snapback]240656[/snapback]</div>

I don't think you're supposed to have an auto position. My 06 package #7 doesn't have it. Since you have HIDs, you're probably better off without auto. See http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=1...55&#entry233355 as to why.

As for being unable to see the nav display in the daytime, just turn the brightness of the dimmer wheel to the max beyond the detent or switch the nav display to Day Mode.

 

Apparently the HIDs don't have auto; I have HIDs and no auto.

The light sensor isn't there on non-auto cars; it's just a filler plug.

 

Nobody in NA south of Canada gets that, to the best of my knowledge. Doesn't have anything to do with the HID.

 

Just turn them on and leave them on. They shut off automatically when you shut off the car and get out. I think they even come back on automatically when you get in and turn the car on again. So leaving them in the on position all of the time is the same as daytime running lights. Isn't it?

I just turn my headlights on.

 

It wont be hard to see if you rotate the display brightness wheel all the way up. That gives you the daylight brightness when the lights are on.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rick Auricchio @ Apr 16 2006, 09:57 PM) [snapback]240684[/snapback]</div>

So that's what that knock-out plug on my front bumper is for. I'll sleep better tonight.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Apr 16 2006, 11:05 PM) [snapback]240712[/snapback]</div>

Daytime running lights are mandatory in NY, but I've been out of there 5+ years. Just curious, any NYers get it with the auto switch, or do you have to rely on just leaving them on?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jim1eye @ Apr 17 2006, 07:27 PM) [snapback]241162[/snapback]</div>

No, the plug on your bumper has a screw in underneath it for a tow hook. Has nothing to do with the light sensor.

The light sensor is on top of the dashboard.

And I don't believe DRLs are mandatory in ANY US state. They are in Canada.

And BTW, the reason the car doesn't have AUTO headlamps has nothing to do with HID, it just doesn't have auto headlamps (cost saving). My Lexus has HIDs and auto headlamps, as do many many other cars.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SW03ES @ Apr 17 2006, 08:00 PM) [snapback]241299[/snapback]</div>

My 350Z has HIDs and no auto position. My 02 Maxima had HIDs and did have an auto position. However, on the latter, I never used auto because of cycling them on/off is bad for them and I didn't want them to possibly get cycled by cloudy weather or going under overpasses.

See my earlier post w/the link to the clause from the owner's manual about cycling. In my book, if you have HIDs, you're better off w/o auto (or better off not using it).

 

See my Fog-as-DRL mod in the Modifications Forum.

I haven't yet implemented it, but it runs the fogs as "conventional" DRLs during the day. When you fire up parking/headlights at night, the fogs go off.

Normal on/off operation of the fog switch is retained, as is the auto-off when you open the driver's door.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cwerdna @ Apr 18 2006, 02:55 AM) [snapback]241381[/snapback]</div>

My ES300 has auto with HID, my dad's old 98 LS400 had auto with HID, his new 04 LS430 has auto with HID, all Lexus models have auto with HID. The Toyota Avalon has auto with HID. All the Cadillacs have auto with HID. Acuras. Infinitis, 90% of all the upmarket cars I've ever had experience with. The Prius doesn't have them because its a cost savings. Why would Toyota not put an auto feature in the Prius to save on HID life and then put it in every other vehicle they sell with HIDs? Nothing special about the HIDs in the Prius, makes no sense.

My dad had his 98 for 170k miles and 6 years, never an issue with an HID bulb burning out. I'm the forums manager at LexusOwnersClub.com and you very rarely ever hear about a bulb burning out. It does happen, but its rare. If you ever do the bulbs are about $90 each. So for $180 you've got new bulbs, not the end of the world if you even had to do that every 5 years.

Anyways, the lights don't cycle any more with the autolamps than if you turn them on yourself. The technology today is so good that they don't just come on when you go under overpasses or in cloudy weather. In fact I have to turn them on in the rain. If you're stopped under an overpass then yeah they'll come on, but how often does that happen? My dad had a 1990 Lincoln Continental with autolamps that would just come on under overpasses or go off driving next to a truck or with streetlamps. He got a 93 and the issues were gone. Since that 90 Lincoln I've had direct experience with 8 different cars with auto headlamps and none of them ever came on under overpasses etc.

 

Yes, I also had auto HIDs on the Volvo XC90. What I didn't like about them was that they'd fire before I could get out of the garage. And often on dark overcast days.\

So, yes, Toyota could have put auto HIDs in the Prius. Probably a cost thing; manufacturers cut a buck here, a buck there and it adds up.

 

Regarding cycling due to cloudy weather, I used to live in WA state. What everyone says is true, it's cloudy and rainy there most of the time.

I believe on the Maxima that the delay in seconds for when the headllights would turn on due to low light was adjustable by the dealer using the Nissan Consult II tool. I found this blurb for the G35 http://nissanmurano.org/forums/printthread...1627&perpage=15. Bottom line for me, why bother? I just turned them on/off myself.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jim1eye @ Apr 17 2006, 07:27 PM) [snapback]241162[/snapback]</div>

I'm sorry - I wasn't going to do this but I can't help myself. :angry:

DRLs are not required in New York or any other state in the United States.

DRLs appear to have limited impact on MPG so they won't hurt us in that regard. The jury is still out on their effectiveness in limiting accidents. The data simply aren't there. There were pilot programs that pointed to advantages of DRLs, but those results probably occurred due to the "surprise value" of seeing a car with its headlights on during the day that wasn't part of a funeral procession. Many of the DRL studies were conducted in countries that were also typically darker than most parts of the United States.

I personally oppose DRLs because:

1.) Many of them are overly bright or use the "high beam" reflector to aim the light straight in your face. This is less annoying if you are driving a big truck but if you are driving a smaller more socially friendly car then it can be a real problem. Modern DRLs are usually better.

2.) Lighting up cars during the day reduces the contrasting visibility of motor cycles which have a much more legitimate need for DRLs and need all of the extra "observability" that they can get.

3.) Due to the differing designs of DRLs, drivers are frequently confused about what lights are on and off. There are still people driving around with no tail lights at night because they think that taillights come on automatically like their "head lights".

4.) Adding DRLs has resulted in adding equipment to vehicles to perform an extremely simple function best performed by the driver.

5.) Adding DRLs has further dumbed down the driving process by removing one of the most trivial tasks imaginable from the driver. US drivers are already woefully under trained, we need better education not more gimmicks.

I have no opposition to people having the choice to turn on their lights for better marking of their vehicles. As a first responder, I fully appreciate the benefits of correctly used lights on vehicles. I particularly like the idea of using the fog/driving lights for a marker light since they are less likely to be aimed into my face.

I was offended when they were introduced because the biggest proponent of DRLs in the United States was GM - which seems to have done it as a publicity stunt (why else?) to convince the public that they cared about safety during an era when their "side saddle" gas tanks were exploding and their door mounted shoulder belts were failing to keep people from being ejected during an accident.

As I ranted elsewhere - Toyota has recently taken the better path technically and philosophically by letting the driver decide to do what's right for them at the time. I commend Toyota for designing a car with a high level of automation yet one that does not fight or second guess the driver (Well, except maybe the climate system....)

All you need is at the flick of a wrist.

Thank you for your patience,

-Ken (a Young Fogey)
'06 Seaside Perl Prius
'03 White MR2 Spyder

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rick Auricchio @ Apr 16 2006, 09:57 PM) [snapback]240684[/snapback]</div>

yup I was wondering why that was the case too. No auto ...little plug on the dash on my 06 with the HIDs.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rick Auricchio @ Apr 19 2006, 12:25 AM) [snapback]241916[/snapback]</div>

Don't they burn out quicker when they are auto - high replacement cost?