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door panel lights-lock and mirror?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by cvincent, Mar 12, 2010.

  1. cvincent

    cvincent Junior Member

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    i did a search for this but did not turn anything up

    my lock/unlock button does not light up at all with the lights on and the knob turned to high- neither does the mirror switch, is this normal or do i have bulbs out?

    in fact the lights on the steering wheel seem dim also, they dont seem to go up and down at all

    and another question, as i was searching about this i found some pics where someone had added led bulbs and it showed them in the door panels, i dont think i have those lights in my pkg 2 door panels but could be wrong, car not here, is this aftermarket?
     
    #1 cvincent, Mar 12, 2010
  2. 2009Prius

    2009Prius A Wimpy DIYer

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    My 2009 pkg2 comes standard with a courtesy light at the bottom edge of each front door. Not sure about 2005 though.
     
    #2 2009Prius, Mar 12, 2010
  3. PriusLewis

    PriusLewis Management Scientist

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    The poor balance of the lighting in the steering wheel controls has been discussed on the forum. I assume no one at Toyota actually looked at a completed car in the dark during prototype testing (or they didn't care enough to get the lighting balanced). This forum likes to pick on GM, but it has been my experience in my previous GMs that this is one area where they excel. Such a small thing, yet it can be such a big quality perception issue to an owner.

    I don't remember about the lock button or power mirror controls. I will try to remember to check tonight.
     
    #3 PriusLewis, Mar 12, 2010
  4. Rae Vynn

    Rae Vynn Artist In Residence

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    They aren't lighted.
     
    #4 Rae Vynn, Mar 12, 2010
  5. Sheepdog

    Sheepdog C'Mere Sheepie!

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    Mine arent lit either. Think I should sue for loss of value? :)
     
    #5 Sheepdog, Mar 12, 2010
  6. cvincent

    cvincent Junior Member

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    ok, i will see about adding some interior lights, toyota really did blow it on that, ALL the door panel switches on my ford trucks are lit nicely, same with dash stuff

    also you CANNOT leave your interior lights on in a ford truck, if i forget and leave the door open or leave one turned on after about 30 minutes the truck shuts them off, toyota definitely should have done that with a car like this with a really small battery

    are any of these issues solved with the 2010?

    oh well, will get the interior lights modded, thanks for the info
     
    #6 cvincent, Mar 12, 2010
  7. PriusLewis

    PriusLewis Management Scientist

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    What do you expect, excessive functionality? Toyota doesn't have to offer features and nice items that all the other companies have to offer. They're Number One - they don't HAVE to try harder! As long as people were willing to pay sticker plus for cars with less content than the competition, there was absolutely no incentive for them to do anything different. After all this, with sales plummeting, they might change their mind and decide to become competitive again.

    In 1975, I purchased a new Corolla SR-5. It had a 5-speed when about the only cars out there with one were Alfa Romeo and some exotics. It had full gauges when, on American cars, you had to add your own Tach and everything. It had AM/FM Stereo standard when FM was still an option (if you could get one). Buckets and a console when bench seats were common. Like Hyundai now, they had to offer a lot more content to get market share. Once they reached The Top, it seems they have been de-contenting continuously. After all, that stuff costs money, so if you can take it out and still sell cars for the same price you can increase profits.
     
    #7 PriusLewis, Mar 12, 2010
  8. kenmce

    kenmce High Voltage Member

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    Mine lights, but it is *extremely* dim, and does not brighten.

    I have never noticed a light in my mirror switch.

    This appears to be a manufacturers decision. I don't like it either.

    Factory standard on mine.

    Toyota did a weak job on the interior lighting. I consider it a smallish flaw and various people have addressed the issues that annoy them most. LED retrofits work well and are popular.
     
    #8 kenmce, Mar 12, 2010
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