A few newbie questions

[cpatch]

Originally Posted by stream

That's how it works on my car--when you get within range of the car, the interior lights turn on.

Same on my III...when I get within SKS range of the car, without touching anything, the interior dome lights fade up. One of those things I discovered accidentally...very cool!

[yardman 49]

Originally Posted by dsviv

.............1)If the car is in ECO, yes, acceleration requires a more agressive push on the pedal. In NORMAL less effort is needed. In POWER, even less. I stay in ECO almost all of the time and have just learned to accelerate slower.

Although this has been mentioned in other places, for the benefit of those newbies reading this thread, it is my understanding that you are in NORMAL mode when both the ECO or POWER buttons are "off". In other words, there is no "NORMAL" button to push, per se.

[yardman 49]

Another point with Prius acceleration (and this has also been mentioned in other threads): the Prius will "feel" to be accelerating more slowly than it really is. That is because (with a full charge on the traction battery) the car will not make much noise when accelerating quickly in its power curve. But a glance at the speedometer will let you know that you are really going very fast.

Even with my G2, I go sailing past much larger, more powerful cars when there is a line of us merging onto the highway on fairly steep uphill slopes. The non-Priuses are thrashing around making a lot of noise, their automatic transmissions waisting enery while they try to gain speed. In the meantime, I will have moved over one lane, depressed the accelerator about half-way, and go blitzing past them. I love that feeling! Especially when some of them are higher priced "luxury" cars.

From what I've read, the G3 in Power mode should perform even better.

[eglmainz]

Originally Posted by cpatch

Same on my III...when I get within SKS range of the car, without touching anything, the interior dome lights fade up. One of those things I discovered accidentally...very cool!

This happens to me as well. If I have the fob in my pocket, when I approach the car, from a side, or the rear, the inside lights fade up, and when I move away, they 'fade to black', so to speak. I have a Prius V, but if you have a III, this may be standard.

For those of you who may not have noticed this yet. Try approaching you car in a dark garage, with you fob on your person. It's like the car is welcoming you.

[SR1227]

Originally Posted by cpatch

Same on my III...when I get within SKS range of the car, without touching anything, the interior dome lights fade up. One of those things I discovered accidentally...very cool!

Same on a IV, as long as the switch is in the door position.

[stream]

Originally Posted by DeanFL

You mean without touching the unlock button on the key fob? The int lights go on as you're walking up at night? If so, didn't know that was doable. Must be a customizable feature.
Mine = lights go on if I unlock with the remote. Or when I touch the outside SKS door handle. Not by simply walking up.... hmm. Anyone else?

It's a standard feature. Try it in your garage with the lights off. Lock the car, walk into the house--out of range. Then go back in the garage and you'll see it--it not, something's wrong.

[DeanFL]

Originally Posted by stream

It's a standard feature. Try it in your garage with the lights off. Lock the car, walk into the house--out of range. Then go back in the garage and you'll see it--it not, something's wrong.

Aha!!!!!!!!!!! Operative word - LOCKED car. I never lock my car in the garage, especially with the door closed.

It works! Another little-known fact, as least to me. Cool.

[IraS]

Originally Posted by SCJoe

4) I was trying to get the "interior lights come on when you approach the car with the key in your pocket" thing working, but it doesn't seem to work. I've got both the interior lights mounted in the roof set to the "door" position, and I'm pretty sure the dealer didn't change any customization settings. Am I missing something, or is this a feature that only comes with higher models?

This is a customizable feature.

Look at the Customization section of your Owners Manual (page 582). Under Illumination it says "Operation when you approach the vehicle with the electric key on your person (When the personal/interior light main switch is door position)" and the default setting is On. Ask your dealer to verify that this setting is turned On.

[jazzy_james]

I've been driving in ECO mode all the time. If I press the EV mode, I see both EV mode and ECO mode light indicator on the dash. Is it really in EV mode or do I need to disengage the ECO mode first?

Plus, when I'm not in ECO, EV and Power mode, what mode am I in? Does it default to ECO mode even though the ECO mode light indicator is not on? Just a little confused...

[IraS]

Originally Posted by jazzy_james

I've been driving in ECO mode all the time. If I press the EV mode, I see both EV mode and ECO mode light indicator on the dash. Is it really in EV mode or do I need to disengage the ECO mode first?

Plus, when I'm not in ECO, EV and Power mode, what mode am I in? Does it default to ECO mode even though the ECO mode light indicator is not on? Just a little confused...

When the EV Mode and ECO Mode lights are both on, you are in EV Mode. When you press the EV Mode button again, the car will return to ECO Mode.

The same thing is true for the combination of EV Mode Power Mode lights. When you exit EV Mode, the car reverts to Power Mode.

Basically, the EV Mode overrides the current mode. When you (or the car) cancels EV Mode, it reverts to the previous mode.

When the ECO, EV, and Power Mode lights are off, you are in Normal Mode. There is no button for this mode - you have to turn off the other modes to return to this mode.