Disappointed about no auto headlights

I turned the headlights on at the dealership and just never turned them off. (there is no scenario when I do not want to be seen by my fellow drivers) When I take it to have an oil change, I need to turn them on again as the mechanics always turn them off.

By default, on a Gen III like yours, the headlights turn off automatically 30 seconds after you open a front door with the ignition Off. If you prefer, the dealer can adjust that to 0 seconds or 60 seconds. (you may want to know they are off, or you may want light long enough to get to your front door)

In theory thare are two downsides, fractionally poorer gas mileage, and replacing bulbs more often.

 

One downside to leaving the headlights on all the time is that the internal dashlights are dimmed when the headlights are on. Depending on your brightness setting, then the internal dash could be too dim in the dayh, or too bright at night.

 

I concur. I drive with the headlights on at all times and they go off automatically in about 30 seconds after powe is turned off.

 

I concur. They headlights go off after approximaterly 30 seconds after power is turned off

 

Many of us do this. I carried this habit over from a previous auto-off car.

 

Isn't there a hack that gives auto headlights that come on when dark as auto headlights should?

I understood it was to do with a wire connecting two cables or something. I'm sure I read that someone has done this - though I'm 100% sure it would invalidate your warranty.

 

You'd have to somehow install a sensor to sense when its actually dark...

Its funny those little features that get left off. My Dad had a Cadillac in the mid 90s that when the wipers were turned on for 30 seconds, the headlights came on. I thought that was a great feature...but no car I've ever had since, even significantly costlier cars with more gizmos has had such a feature.

 

Did you have the dealer install the leather seats?
If so do you mind telling the charge for that?
I'm also thinking aout leather in my car, but I'm not sure I can do it myself.

 

But the sensor is already there - it's the one on the dash that reduces the brightness of the display automatically.

 

Read this thread:
http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...modifications/64812-automatic-headlights.html

It starts talking about a third party mod and progresses to a make a few wiring changes, Toyota did most of the work already mod (for some models).

 

I had auto headlight on my Pontiac and glad the Prius doens't have them. the sensor was really sensitive, like in the middle of a cloudless day if I was sitting in the shade of a building the head lights would come on then have to wait for the lights to come back on before I could see the speedometer. I ended up popping the thing out and unplugging it.

 

My Chrysler 300C Heritage Edition has that feature. Actually it has rain sensing wipers and when the wipers come on, after about 15 seconds of wiper operation, the smartbeam headlights come on. It's a very nice feature for convenience.

I truly wish the Prius had more convenience features like that

Oh well.


TwoNuts

 

Not only is that feature smart, it's also safe and lawful; Here in CA, during rain it's illegal to drive with the wipers on and headlights off.

 

I didn't know some Priuses don't have auto headlights. My V has them and the canadian website doesn't list auto headlight as a feature, whether on the standard car or as part of a package.

That said, I never use mine. Only at night do I use my lights and I can obviously tell if I forgot to shut them off. All Cdn cars have daytime running lights so they're on for rainy/foggy conditions.

 

It's not that hard to add auto headlight control to the Prius. Just install Rain Tracker like I did and you'll have rain sensing wipers and auto headlights. Best of all, when it detects rain, it also turns on the headlights too. Just look at my signature for the installation. Rain Tracker cost less than $100.

 

There are local variations in how the lights work, Grumpy Cabbie is in the UK and Much More Better is in Canada. The Prius electrics work differently there.

 

I, too, miss the auto headlights (and daytime running lights) of my 2006 Avalon. I have a related question. I thought the Prius headlights would turn off after 30 seconds. Friday night, DH and I went out to dinner. We had been seated for several minutes. For some reason, I thought to look out the window, and noticed that the headlights were on! I assumed I had failed to lock the car, or that we had left one key fob in it, but it was locked and we had both the keys. So what did we do wrong that the lights stayed on several minutes??