Prius Auto Headlights when dark Mod

[problemchild]

One more problem with my prius is its not smart enough to turn on the headlights when dark. For such a highly technical vehicle it baffles me why they leave off a $10 dollar auto headlight switch.

I have tracked down a unit that needs to be fitted with some slight tapping into the system wire. Its basically a light detector and a relay/ecu. You can modify the unit to have time delays on/off etc.

I will be adding this to my car this weekend. I will take pictures of the mod as I add it.

Heres a picture of the unit. It looks way more complicated then it is. I will only use 2 of the wires and cap off the others.

The pictures....

[edthefox5]

Originally Posted by problemchild

One more problem with my prius is its not smart enough to turn on the headlights when dark. For such a highly technical vehicle it baffles me why they leave off a $10 dollar auto headlight switch.

I have tracked down a unit that needs to be fitted with some slight tapping into the system wire. Its basically a light detector and a relay/ecu. You can modify the unit to have time delays on/off etc.

I will be adding this to my car this weekend. I will take pictures of the mod as I add it.

Heres a picture of the unit. It looks way more complicated then it is. I will only use 2 of the wires and cap off the others.

The pictures....

Your car already has that feature. Position #3 on the headlight stalk. You can track it down page 110 in the owners manual. Its in your glovebox. Passenger side.

[problemchild]

Originally Posted by edthefox5

Your car already has that feature. Position #3 on the headlight stalk. You can track it down page 110 in the owners manual. Its in your glovebox. Passenger side.

Sorry mine is either on or off. On dims the dash screen and uses extra fuel during the day. Page 110 in my owners manual is child restraint chair installation. There is a Type A switch and a Type B switch. Mine is 2 position. Thats in the same owners manual on page 150.

[quartermane]

If your Prius was delivered in Canada you have an "auto" position on the headlight stalk. Those sent to the USA and elsewhere don't have the extra position. Page 150 of the 2008 Prius manual explains the auto position "if so equipped".

American Prius doesn't have this option

ma

[Speedwing]

Originally Posted by problemchild

Sorry mine is either on or off. On dims the dash screen and uses extra fuel during the day. Page 110 in my owners manual is child restraint chair installation. There is a Type A switch and a Type B switch. Mine is 2 position. Thats in the same owners manual on page 150.

FYI Rolling the dash brightness wheel all the way up to the "Click" position causes the dash lights and Nav screen to revert to daylight mode when the lights are in the ON position. Yes this will give you lights all the time, day and night. Luckily the car is smart enough to turn them off when you power down with the delay you have set in the computer programming.

DRLs do not light up the rear of the vehicle and full headlights do. Uses more fuel ..... ???? If it makes me more visible to other drivers it is worth it when driving the freeways and interstates.

I DO AGREE that it should be a standard accessory. My $18K Chevy contractor Silverado came standard with an automatic light sensor that works extremely well for turning the lights off and on without any input from myself.

Can we retrofit the Canadian stalk and any other needed hardware and stay OEM? That would be my preferred choice for the upgrade.