Steering wheel buttons question

imported_josh_ · 12-01-2006, 02:56 AM

Hi - first post here, just picked up my '07 Touring Edition, package 6.

One question - can anyone attempt to describe how bright the button labels on the steering wheel controls should appear at night? I can BARELY see them... it's a real strain on the eyes, they look barely lit at all. Thought the dash brightness control would control this, but it doesn't.

Anyone else's steering wheel buttons barely visible at night? Any way to brighten them?

Thanks,

--josh

Vincent · 12-01-2006, 05:20 AM

Josh,

It's a common problem. Several vendors are "working on it", but no solution yet.

Try to enjoy the good features of your new Prius.

qbee42 · 12-01-2006, 08:07 AM

Dim. I thought they were too dim to see when I bought my 2006, but I have adjusted. It depends on where you drive: in the city, there are too many other lights and your eyes don't night adjust, but in the country I can see them just fine. That said, a little brighter would be better.

Tom

imported_josh_ · 12-01-2006, 10:59 AM

Thanks - sounds like it's not something I can bug my dealer to adjust or fix then?

I don't get why it's a vendor issue - we have a Sienna with a similar wheel and similar buttons and it lights up quite nicely... very visible, but not distracting.

darelldd · 12-01-2006, 11:03 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Josh_ @ Dec 1 2006, 07:59 AM) [snapback]356200[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Thanks - sounds like it's not something I can bug my dealer to adjust or fix then?

I don't get why it's a vendor issue - we have a Sienna with a similar wheel and similar buttons and it lights up quite nicely... very visible, but not distracting.
[/b]

This should be a FAQ by now, certainly! Gets asked a lot. The dealer won't be able to do anything for you. Discussed above are *aftermarket* vendors trying to come up with a brighter solution. At this point they are what they are.

Jeannie · 12-01-2006, 11:15 AM

Congrats on your new Prius! I agree the steering wheel lights are very dim.

jdauteuil · 12-01-2006, 11:26 AM

I find that dimming the display lights down to it's lowest setting doesn't make the steering wheel seem so dark. I think the reasoning is because my eyes don't need to adjust from the holy brightness of the display.

scoot · 01-04-2007, 07:17 PM

The poorly illuminated steering wheel buttons continue to be an issue for both me and my partner. My other car is a 2002 MB Hatchback, which conveniently adjusts the steering wheel button illumination along with the rest of the panel lights. Plus there are fewer buttons on the Benz. Someone suggested that I will learn where the buttons are and not need to look at them -- I suspect that this is not the case becase a switch between two cars and because the prius has LOTS of buttons. Still hoping for that after-market solution...

benlenz · 01-04-2007, 10:11 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Dec 1 2006, 08:03 AM) [snapback]356209[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

This should be a FAQ by now, certainly! Gets asked a lot. The dealer won't be able to do anything for you. Discussed above are *aftermarket* vendors trying to come up with a brighter solution. At this point they are what they are.
[/b]

Does anyone know what "technology" is used for this lighting? Is is fiber optic, or LEDs in the wheel?

Anyone taken one apart to see? Anyone dare?

If it's fiber optic, then it probably has a light source somewhere in the dash. It seems like a brighter source would not be hard to accomplish.

If it's LEDs, then they would probably need to be replaced, which means unsoldering and resoldering. Not for the faint of heart. If they can even be gotten to. With the airbag, I'd be nervous about digging into the steering wheel.

auricchio · 01-05-2007, 12:43 AM

Eat more carrots?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Question on modifying steering wheel button for backup camera activation	crypter	Prius Modifications	0	03-04-2007 02:31 PM
Steering wheel button illumination/brightness question	Gaelyn37	Audio and Electronics	3	02-26-2007 01:45 PM
Steering wheel buttons don't light up	silentak1	Audio and Electronics	7	01-29-2007 12:25 AM
Steering Wheel Alignment	Bigsk8r	Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting	11	04-02-2005 09:08 PM
Secret Steering Wheel buttons?	naterprius	Audio and Electronics	3	03-10-2005 08:18 PM

12-01-2006, 02:56 AM	#1
imported_josh_ Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 5 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Hi - first post here, just picked up my '07 Touring Edition, package 6. One question - can anyone attempt to describe how bright the button labels on the steering wheel controls should appear at night? I can BARELY see them... it's a real strain on the eyes, they look barely lit at all. Thought the dash brightness control would control this, but it doesn't. Anyone else's steering wheel buttons barely visible at night? Any way to brighten them? Thanks, --josh

12-01-2006, 05:20 AM	#2
Vincent Don't Wait Until Tomorrow Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: South Florida Posts: 430 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #8 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Josh, It's a common problem. Several vendors are "working on it", but no solution yet. Try to enjoy the good features of your new Prius.

12-01-2006, 08:07 AM	#3
qbee42 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 4,878 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	Dim. I thought they were too dim to see when I bought my 2006, but I have adjusted. It depends on where you drive: in the city, there are too many other lights and your eyes don't night adjust, but in the country I can see them just fine. That said, a little brighter would be better. Tom

12-01-2006, 10:59 AM	#4
imported_josh_ Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 5 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Thanks - sounds like it's not something I can bug my dealer to adjust or fix then? I don't get why it's a vendor issue - we have a Sienna with a similar wheel and similar buttons and it lights up quite nicely... very visible, but not distracting.

12-01-2006, 11:15 AM	#6
Jeannie Proud Prius Granny Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Central New Jersey Posts: 1,374 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 1	Congrats on your new Prius! I agree the steering wheel lights are very dim.

12-01-2006, 11:26 AM	#7
jdauteuil Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 10 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I find that dimming the display lights down to it's lowest setting doesn't make the steering wheel seem so dark. I think the reasoning is because my eyes don't need to adjust from the holy brightness of the display.

01-04-2007, 07:17 PM	#8
scoot Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 109 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	The poorly illuminated steering wheel buttons continue to be an issue for both me and my partner. My other car is a 2002 MB Hatchback, which conveniently adjusts the steering wheel button illumination along with the rest of the panel lights. Plus there are fewer buttons on the Benz. Someone suggested that I will learn where the buttons are and not need to look at them -- I suspect that this is not the case becase a switch between two cars and because the prius has LOTS of buttons. Still hoping for that after-market solution...

01-05-2007, 12:43 AM	#10
auricchio Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cambria, CA, USA Posts: 814 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #8 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Eat more carrots?