Most Obscure Gen III Facts (way out there)

In the previous generation Prius, just like the current model, the Headlights will go out in 30 seconds (or whatever time they have been programmed for) ONCE the drivers door is opened.

However, those conditions have been changed to include the passenger's door as well.

I read in another post that someone had stopped their car, turned it OFF (leaving the lights ON), her husband got out on the passenger side, while she remained in the car and 30 seconds later, the Headlights went out!

Today (10/2/2009) my wife and I duplicated that feat, and were rewarded with the SAME results!

So NOW, OPENING either the PASSENGER or DRIVERS door while the Headlights are on, and the car has been turned OFF, the Headlights will extinguish automatically.

David (aKA bLIND gUY)

 

WOOOT! a *solution* to daytime running lights! I know someone here had the dealer reprogram them to zero seconds....wondering if you can program any value between 0-30? i'd like 10 seconds, maybe 5?

 

No doubt, many of you have read the posts on the California Highway Patroleman and his family, who were killed in a crash due to his inability to turn off a runnaway car because of a stuck throttle pedal, possibly/probably as a result of being stuck on an unsecured All Weather Floor Mat.

There have been many Threads/Posts on this subject, and many have wondered how this affects the Prius. With the Push Button Start and a hung Throttle Pedal, it is possible it could suffer the same fate, UNLESS you know how to turn OFF the HSD.

Those who have NOT read through their Owners Manual, need to be alerted to the fact that in this event, the system can be disabled by pressing and holding the Start Button for 3 (three) seconds, this wil stop the engine from its runnaway condition and turn OFF the Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD), however, since NO Power is supplied to the Power Steering or Brakes, they will operate at an increased effort level (they are still FULLY functional, they will require a little more muscle).

The simplest resolution to a runnaway engine/car, is to Pull and "HOLD" the Gearshift into the Neutral position for two (2) seconds (pull the gearshift towards your right leg until it stops, and hold it there for 2 seconds). This will retain the HSD (which will permit power for the steering and brakes), with the engine power being reduced to idle.

We just returned from experimenting with this procedure, and it works FLAWLESSLY!

My wife accelerated from a stop, held the throttle to the floor, pulled and held the gearshift into "N", and held it there for 2 seconds. At that point, even though the engine was at full song, engine RPMs went to idle and the Power Steering and Brakes still had full assist, so if this had been an emergency, the car could have EASILY been brought to a calm, uneventfull and FULLY controllable stop.

David (aka Blind Guy)

 

sound settings are per input not global. e.g. the radio can be set to have more mid range and the sat set for more bass. This is on the nav version.

 

You only get 0, 30, 60 ,or 90 seconds. I suggest reading section 6-2 Customizable Features in the owners manual before you pay them to change it. That way if you want something else changed they can do it at the same time.

 

You ARE correct, in the U.S., the leather equipped models (IVs and Vs) get the Fuzzy inner A and B pillars.

David (aka Blind Guy)

 

when moving in reverse the MID actually has the prius wheels going in reverse













i type too fast....dammit

 

If you load up a USB thummb drive with MP3 files, you can stick it into the MP3 AUX and the car will treat it like a MP3 Disc with Song Titles and Directories.

eas

 

You can play WMA and MP3 cd's in the cd changer.

 

Where is the USB MP3 AUX?
Thanks.

 

As stated in the manual. You can't play MPEG4 alas... (iTunes).

 

I do not know if this was mentioned already, but The rear 2 windows in my prius slow down for the last 1/4 of the travel when rolling them up. It's either a safety feature, or a result of my recent window tinting

 

Something nice I noticed lately. It's with the audio system (JBL). When you set a volume/bass/treble value it's different for each: Sat Radio, CD, Aux and FM.