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Headlight question

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by SharonB, Aug 28, 2009.

  1. SharonB

    SharonB New Member

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    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    I have had my Prius for about 3 weeks. I am still learning this car. I have a IV with nav. In day, when driving in the rain and I have my headlights on the display dims and the nav goes to night mode. Is there any way I can over-ride that? It is a little annoying. Thanks! Also, what model has the "Auto" headlights? Just curious, b/c mine does not, and the manual describes auto headlights "If equipped".
     
    #1 SharonB, Aug 28, 2009
  2. eglmainz

    eglmainz New Member

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    As for the dimming control of the dashboard and the NAV, you should use the dimmer switch which is on the dashboard on the lower left hand side. Just turn the dimmer wheel all the way up, past the click, and the NAV will go into 'day' mode.

    As for the 'Auto' headlights, those are only available outside of the U.S. We only get 'Auto-off' headlights, which are set to be automatically turned off about 30 seconds after you leave the vehicle. This is adjustable to a shorter period of time through your dealer.
     
    #2 eglmainz, Aug 28, 2009
  3. SharonB

    SharonB New Member

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    Ok, thank you, I knew there was a simple answer to this one. That's too bad that there are no auto headlights in the US. My other 2 (American) cars have them, and I find myself having a hard time getting used to manually putting the headlights on. I guess I have gotten lazy! :rolleyes:
     
    #3 SharonB, Aug 28, 2009
  4. 32kcolors

    32kcolors Senior Member

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    If you don't mind them on during the day, you can leave them on just like daytime running headlights. They'll turn off after 30 seconds (can be set shorter to 0) when you leave the car and come back on when you start the car.
     
    #4 32kcolors, Aug 28, 2009
  5. A Prius?

    A Prius? New Member

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    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    The brightness of the display can be controlled by a dimmer to the lower left of the wheel. I don't have Nav, so I don't know if that would control the Nav going into night mode.

    As for the "Auto" headlights, you "kind of have that" on the IV. I also have the IV, and when I picked up the car, they had the headlight switch "on" inside the car. They did this because once you turn the car off, the headlights will automatically turn off after 30 seconds. So, by doing this, you will have lights that automatically turn on when you start the car, and turn off when you shut the car off. The problem is that the headlights will always be on during the day. Some people like this for safety, and consider it "running lights". However, I didn't want the extra power draw, so I turned them off.

    It would have been nice if the auto feature was turning them on when it was dark. I had that in the Mercedes, but not in the Prius. So, it is a "auto" function, but probably not what you expected.
     
    #5 A Prius?, Aug 28, 2009
  6. SharonB

    SharonB New Member

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    2010 Prius
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    IV
    Interesting. I probably won't want them on during the day, but this information is nice to know. I haven't let the car turn the lights off by itself yet. I'll try that next time, and wait the 30 seconds to make sure that my car is working properly!
     
    #6 SharonB, Aug 28, 2009
  7. dsviv

    dsviv Member

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    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    32kcolors has it right about the headlight timing change. I went to my dealer a couple of weeks ago and had them change the delay time for the lights to turn off to "0" seconds.

    I leave the lights on all the time and now they turn on when the car is put in READY and they turn off as soon as the drivers door is opened. I do turn them off if I am going to take time getting out of the car or am using ON for any length of time.

    I personally think that it's safer with the lights on. If I lose a little mpg because of it, so be it.
     
    #7 dsviv, Aug 28, 2009
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