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Headlights & DRL always on, even on auto setting (European model)

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Yaggo, Jul 28, 2014.

  1. Yaggo

    Yaggo New Member

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    I have a 3rd gen Prius (registered in late 2009, but technically a 2010 model), with European "Premium" package including HID low beams and LED daytime running lights.

    The car has "auto" setting for lights, so I think it should be able to automatically turn on low beams in dark. At least dashboard lighting and the touch & go screen automatically dim, so there must be a sensor (the black dot in last photo, I think).

    The problem is that low beams are always on (except in "parking lights only" mode). There is no difference between "auto" and "headlights on" setting. My guess is that this is because of the Nordic legislation requiring headlights being always turned on before 2010 (after 2010 daytime running lights were required/permitted in EU). Does anyone know whether the this behaviour can be changed through OBD programming? It really bothers me to run HIDs on daytime, because in the end all the extra energy is coming from fuel, and also because they have limited lifetime (and probably expensive to replace).

    DSC_6724.jpg DSC_6725.jpg DSC_6727.jpg DSC_6716.jpg
    The above photo is a close-up of DRLs, you can clearly (well, not so clearly in that photo) see the LED element. Actually I thought my car has not DRLs until today I found them when inspecting the lights more closely :)
    IMG_3016.jpg
     
    #1 Yaggo, Jul 28, 2014
  2. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    You're from Finland so surely know that for decades your laws have required all your cars to operate headlights at all times. Why should the Prius be any different?

    Laws and Tips for Driving in Finland - EUroadlegal.co.uk

    "All motor vehicles must use dipped headlights at all times of the day regardless of time or weather conditions. This rule applies to built-up and other areas alike."

    Same applies to Norway and Sweden and has done since the early 1970s.
     
    #2 GrumpyCabbie, Jul 28, 2014
  3. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    (I am not familiar with the European model)

    Are you saying that in auto, the headlights do not turn off when the car is off?
     
    #3 JimboPalmer, Jul 28, 2014
  4. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    I read that was what he was saying. They won't on the Swedish, Norwegian and Finnish models as their traffic laws still require headlights to operate at ALL times, regardless of weather conditions or time of year. The important word is headlights. Not DRL's.

    If I were to get the ferry over to Norway and I forgot to switch my headlights on, I could be in for a big fine.
     
    #4 GrumpyCabbie, Jul 28, 2014
  5. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    Having legislation that the headlights need to be on, even when the car is off, would sure sell a lot of batteries.
     
    #5 JimboPalmer, Jul 28, 2014
  6. Yaggo

    Yaggo New Member

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    Just for clarification; the headlights are automatically switched off when the car car is turned off. The current EU legislation does not anymore require always-on headlights, daytime running lights can be used instead on daytime (but my car refuse to do that).

    Edit: I think the law in Finland was changed in 2012 to comply with EU legislation, not 100% sure about other Scandinavian countries. Too bad car manufacturers other than Tesla still haven't over-the-air updates :(

    Edit 2: by "always-on" I mean "always on when the car is running".
     
    #6 Yaggo, Jul 28, 2014
    Last edited: Jul 28, 2014
  7. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    So does that not answer your question? Your car is a 2009/2010 model year built/sold when the law was that headlights are always on (obviously when the car is in use and not all the time).

    Your car complied with the local law at the time.
     
    #7 GrumpyCabbie, Jul 28, 2014
  8. Yaggo

    Yaggo New Member

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    My question is, whether anyone knows a way to modify the system to restore the "normal" light mode configuration? I already asked Toyota Finland but they had no idea. I'm sure there is a way, as it does not seem plausible for me that they somehow hardcode these things at factory.
     
    #8 Yaggo, Jul 28, 2014
    Last edited: Jul 28, 2014
  9. energyandair

    energyandair Active Member

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    The 2010 Canadian model also has DRLs but they dropped HIDs. Most models have standard headlight bulbs. LEDs were in only the most expensive model IIRC. I have read that for DRL operation they connect the low beam bulbs in series to reduce power consumption.

    That probably doesn't help you much but it occurs to me that in your case they may simply route power from a different terminal on a standard controller switch module. It would be interesting to compare the part number with some other country that has LED DRLs with HID low beams operating as originally designed.
     
    #9 energyandair, Jul 28, 2014
  10. Kanslisti

    Kanslisti Junior Member

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    Hi Yaggo! If your Prius is imported by Toyota Auto Finland ("Scandinavian Spec."), there should be DRL ON or OFF -function in customize parameters. That customization can be done by any dealer using Toyota Intelligent Tester. :)

    Doing so, you need to install for example led DRLs, because the low beams are not running anymore in the OFF-position of the light switch (or when it's not dark in the AUTO-position) and the vehicle is not street legal here in Finland. Like said, here is compulsory to run low beams or DRLs during daytime.

    I did the customization on mine and then installed Philips Daylight Guides to front bumber. I'm very happy with the result, because now the car will decide (AUTO-position) when it's necessary to run low beams or led DRLs. :) Of course heavy rain or blizzard are conditions where i should be wise enough to have lightning in the back also. :)

    Btw, your low beams are not HIDs, they are leds. :) Light output is coming from three separate units.

    Here are the pictures of my installation:

    [​IMG][​IMG]

    Edit: here is the link where the purpose of those 3 separate led low beam units is explained:
    Prius LED headlights
     
    #10 Kanslisti, Jul 29, 2014
    Last edited: Jul 29, 2014
    Yaggo likes this.
  11. Yaggo

    Yaggo New Member

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    Thanks Kanslisti for your detailed information! I confused the upper element of LED headlights for DRL (and round ones for HID). So, my car has neither DRLs nor HIDs, but LED headlights instead. That's actually cool, because now I don't have to worry for wearing or for power consumption of HIDs. I can just keep LED headlights on all time, problem solved.

    Of course dedicated DRLs would consume marginally less energy than LED headlights, but the difference of few watts doesn't make them worth of the effort (in my case). Although I have to admit that Kanslisti's installation looks very nice!

    Nice to know that Toyota service can enable the auto DRL functionality for after-market installation.
     
    #11 Yaggo, Jul 29, 2014
    Last edited: Jul 29, 2014
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