Fix for difficulty seeing red arrows on Energy Monitor Screen in daylight (2010 Prius II)?

[radiocycle]

Originally Posted by bmarkle

Problem 07/09

No sabe!

[prius4driver]

I don't give a darn if I see red or not (mine is dim--I have another problem). Have damaged eyes from old RK surgery. I can only read my mph gauge when driving with my headlights on during the day--have the wheel turned up all the way. Turning off the headlights brings the brightness way up so I can read my mpg which I like to monitor. I had a Subaru Outback with DRL's before the IV and think they should be standard on a car of this price! Need them for safety in gray, rainy Oregon weather but I feel it is a safety problem not being able to read my whole display. Will hit up my dealer ASAP for the change and will report!

[paulemus]

I too want to drive with headlights on for safety. However, with sunglasses on, I can hardly see how fast I am going. I have an electrician researching this. Hope it is as simple as unplugging a relay or something. I want the display the same brightness as when the headlights are off.

[radiocycle]

Originally Posted by paulemus

I too want to drive with headlights on for safety. However, with sunglasses on, I can hardly see how fast I am going. I have an electrician researching this. Hope it is as simple as unplugging a relay or something. I want the display the same brightness as when the headlights are off.

You don't need an electrician... If you'll just turn the 'instrument panel light control' up all the way, past the detent, your dash lights will be the same brightness level whether your headlights are on or off.

[Joe166]

What exactly is the safety advantage of DRL's if everyone has their lights on. I used to drive the overseas highway between Key West and Miami every week when I was stationed in Key West in the Navy. This was before DRL's became the safety crutch of the day and I always used to drive with my headlights on particularly since there were two parallel roadways which could be interpreted (by the terminally dim) as a divided highway, so I wanted to make sure everyone knew which direction I was driving in. As more and more cars started driving with their lights on, I just really didn't notice them anymore and frankly, if someone is so dumb that they don't see a large metal object rolling along the highway, I am not sure that headlights on, except in low visibility, helps one bit as far as safety is concerned.

It sure doesn't seem to help motorcyclists. I think most motorcycles now have DRL's. I would make eye contact with people who would just turn right into me on my bike. Headlights on or off.

The more people who use them, the less effective they are, in my opinion. Darned copycats!

[prius4driver]

After I posted last night I found a thread in the Technical section with the "fix" for brightening the display--radiocycle posted it here. It does work--went out on a gray day today and now I can see the letters and numbers. Even the red line is a little brighter. Didn't try it with sunglasses--it was too cloudy and dark today!

If you don't use headlight in the daytime, or have DRL's, be careful in passing trucks, motorhomes, trucks pulling travel trailers, etc. We pull a trailer and really apprecite the improved visibility of those coming around us. Also consider how many old fogies (I'm one of them) that are on the roads and their eyesight is less than perfect--the life you save might be your own! JMHO