Smart Start night time interior light trick

[FourOhFour]

a light sensor for that? surely that would be prone to false readings.. and what about in winter when it is sunny but really cold? would it turn the heater off and start the air con to cool you down because the sun hit the light sensor??

I think the prius uses temp sensors for that.

I believe both are used. The light sensor lets the climate control compensate for the sunlight. (After all, the temp sensors aren't in the sun and wouldn't be reading what you actually feel.)

Or maybe I'm nuts. Try blocking it with an envelope or something, see what happens ;-)

[TonyPSchaefer]

I thought this was really darn cool when I discovered it. Having taken delivery in August, it was always light out when I drove. Just within the last few weeks, my wife and I were walking out to the car from an evening with some friends and as we approached, the lights came on.

I turned to her and said, "not only does it know me, it anticipates me." :-D

[captnslur]

Yep, The interior lights do come on in the day time as well.

Still cool.... but just then is the light sensor on the left side dash for? It is described in the manual as a light sensor, but its function is not defined.

????? :?

[TonyPSchaefer]

Isn't that the sensor to trigger the Daytime Running Lights and the automatic headlights for those with that feature. Canada and Europe, I think.

[bruceha_2000]

If that is all it is for, then it seems wasteful to stick it in U.S. cars. There must be SOME reason to have it there!

[roger]

hmmm.. My manual calls it a light sensor too.. so it is a mystery.

[Tideland Prius]

Yes, the sensor is for the automatic headlights. I came out of a multi-storey carpark today with my headlights on (not in AUTO). The moment sunlight was cast on the sensor, the instrument panel and MD screen lit up to day mode as if the headlights were off. So one doesn't really need to adjust the rheostat past that 'click' when using the headlights during the day.

Also it's to tell the computer when to turn on the lights if you set it in AUTO

As for the interior lights, yeah they do come on during the day if you set both the front and rear 'dome' lamps to "DOOR"

[captnslur]

Yep, Tideland is correct about the automatic headlight option and the light sensor. I checked with Randy at Heintz Toyota in Mankato, Mankato., and the computer says that this sensor controls the automatic headlights and allows the DRL to operate with out the tail lights during the day light hours.

Thanks every one for your input with this very important issue. 8)

[roger]

what's it for on cars without the automatic headlights then?

[Silverback]

Daytime running lights come on as soon as you have the motor running and release the parking brake in any Canadian Toyota. The panel lights don't come on at all in this situation, but anything that is lit up, like the clock is really bright. Turn on the lights manually and the clock etc dims. Bottom line...I still haven't got a clue what that light sensor would be for.