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

[KJF]

I am having a difficult time seeing the red arrows (involving the ICE -Internal Combustion Engine) on the 2010 Prius Energy Monitor Screen during daylight. In the Prius 2010 Owner's Manual, p. 583 under the list of Customizable Features, is this item:
Meter, Navigational system, instrument panel: Sensor sensitivity for darkening/returning the brightness of the meter, navigation system and instrument panel depending on the outside brightness
Default is set to 0, customized settings -2 to +2

Has anyone else had this difficulty? Has anyone else done this customization? Did it fix the problem? Any other ideas for a fix? I really want to see these red arrows for feedback on driving/fuel consumption.

[Bruno_S]

Everybody is having problems seeing the red arrows. More so if you have sunglasses on. Toyota is aware of the problem and the console design engineer has been asked to commit harakiri.

[john1701a]

Sorry, but as both a Classic & Iconic owner, I see very little value in the Energy Monitor now. It's easy to understand the appeal, but you'll find yourself switching over to the Eco-Meter and never looking back. So in a way, I see the red arrows as a way of phasing people off that original screen (which dates back all the way to 1997).

On the new Eco-Meter, whether or not you can see the red for power is a non-issue. The big ECO symbol indicates the threshold anyway. See...





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[stream]

Originally Posted by john1701a

I see very little value in the Energy Monitor

Agreed.

It was a novelty for a day or so, and I've not used it since. I also use the Eco-Meter.

[fuzzy1]

deleted, to hide possible evidence of dementia.

[DanG 01]

I agree that the red arrows aren't very visible. Maybe Toyota can brighten them up somewhat.

I like to see the energy monitor screen sometimes because the red arrows indicate when the engine is running. I is difficult otherwise to tell.

[radiocycle]

Originally Posted by KJF

I am having a difficult time seeing the red arrows (involving the ICE -Internal Combustion Engine) on the 2010 Prius Energy Monitor Screen during daylight. In the Prius 2010 Owner's Manual, p. 583 under the list of Customizable Features, is this item:
Meter, Navigational system, instrument panel: Sensor sensitivity for darkening/returning the brightness of the meter, navigation system and instrument panel depending on the outside brightness
Default is set to 0, customized settings -2 to +2

Has anyone else had this difficulty? Has anyone else done this customization? Did it fix the problem? Any other ideas for a fix? I really want to see these red arrows for feedback on driving/fuel consumption.

Yes, my 61 yr old eyes have the same problem. When we took our 2010 II in to the dealer for their 1K mile check-up I showed the service department that same section in the manual and asked about having the settings changed. He did change the back-up beeper and the seat belt warning beep but said he didn't know anything about the brightness settings; for example whether + or - would make the instruments stay bright or dim. And I'm not sure it would help with the 'dim arrow' problem even if it was set the best way.

I was going to ask if anyone else has had this feature changed, so I'm glad you brought it up. I see another post saying that perhaps it's not even a programmable feature for us in the US so it's a moot point.

[KJF]

Originally Posted by fuzzy1

This refers back to page 581, which then refers back to page 206, which talks about the AUTO light system 'if equiped'. Mine is not so equiped. From other pages, I believe that is a Canadian feature only, not a U.S. feature.

In my Owner's Manual (US version), this Meter, navigation system, instrument panel customization on p. 583 refers back to p. 181 which describes the Gauges and Meters (not the Auto Light on p. 206 which has to do with the headlights).

Radiocycle, your dealer did not attempt to change the settings for the instrument panel since s/he did not know anything about it? So someone needs to at least try it? Maybe me?

[john1701a]

Originally Posted by DanG 01

...the red arrows indicate when the engine is running.

No, it only shows power contribution.

The engine can still be running at idle speed. There is no indication the low RPM operation. You need an aftermarket gauge for that.
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[fred garvin]

Originally Posted by john1701a

Sorry, but as both a Classic & Iconic owner, I see very little value in the Energy Monitor now. It's easy to understand the appeal, but you'll find yourself switching over to the Eco-Meter and never looking back. So in a way, I see the red arrows as a way of phasing people off that original screen (which dates back all the way to 1997).

On the new Eco-Meter, whether or not you can see the red for power is a non-issue. The big ECO symbol indicates the threshold anyway. See...





.

as i understand it, the "eco" shape fills in when you are being economical. It spans from left to right. On the left is all battery. To the right, but before "power" is battery AND ICE, so long as you aren't "goosing" it (your first image is a goose situation). So "econ" includes ICE on the right side of the range (your second image). I think.