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Help finding L7 Connector for Auto Headlights

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by Flaninacupboard, Jun 13, 2010.

  1. Flaninacupboard

    Flaninacupboard Senior Member

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    Following on from this thread:

    http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...difications/64812-automatic-headlights-8.html

    I'm looking for a little help finding connector L7. I can't quite tell from the description where it should be, and i'm not sure if my car will be different because it's right hand drive.

    I've had a look behind the glovebox, for me on the left hand side of the car. here's what i see - First image.

    Second image, there's a large white module, i think this may be the body ECU? none of these plugs looks like L7 though.

    Third image, looking up past the white module, i can see some more connectors (they look like they're behind the passenger airbag) is one of these L7? some are obscured.

    Moving to the drivers side, (for me, the right hand side of the car, and where i think L7 is in left hand drive cars judging from the diagram in that other thread) i see a red module, in image four. again, nothing looks like L7, but there are some empty spaces.

    Fifth image, looking up from the red module, there's a couple of connectors up here, but none look big enough to be L7.

    Any help on this would be much appreciated - i can sense that this headlight mod -could- be really quick and easy for all us europeans.....
     

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  2. abalosa

    abalosa Junior Member

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    I just had my glove box off yesterday while installing a new Nav and the connector grouping in your picture #2 looks just like what I saw ( my car is left hand drive ). This group includes L5 and L6 as you see in the attached diagram.
    So L7 must be on the right side (driver's side ) on your car. The diagram might help once you mirror it for right hand drive.
     

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  3. Flaninacupboard

    Flaninacupboard Senior Member

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    Ok, thanks. I will take another look, and see what I can find. I didn't want to start moving things about without knowing what any of the modules are, so hopefully your listing will help me!
     
  4. abalosa

    abalosa Junior Member

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    Here is a picture of the area to the left of my steering wheel. The connector hanging in the air is L7. There are two rectangular boxes, a white one and the black one. The black one is the Main Body ECU which has L8 plugged into it. On some models L7 is plugged in just above L8. The white one is the Instrument Panel Junction box which has a black connector plugged in and a smaller white one (behind the black tape).
     

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  5. jayvee

    jayvee Member

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    Sorry, you have it backwards. L7 is the one plugged into the black box. L8 is shown hanging. L7 has many multi-colored wires; L8 only has 2 or 3 wires, and is only used if you have LED headlights. L7 is always plugged in, and L8 is sometimes plugged in below L7 (on cars with LED headlights), which is per the location diagram.

    A way to tell them apart is that L7 has 30 pins (not wires) total, with 6 across the "top", where the latch release is. L8 has only 28 pins, with only 4 (larger) spaces for pins across the top.
     
  6. abalosa

    abalosa Junior Member

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    Sorry, you're right, duh. I've got too many connectors floating around in my mind.
    I was just about to correct my post when I saw yours.
     
  7. Flaninacupboard

    Flaninacupboard Senior Member

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    I finally took another look at this, the L7 connector is the top right one in my picture, it has an empty space above it.

    Looking at the diagram in the other thread, are the pins marked looking at the "front" of the connector, or the back where the cables are? reason i ask is i grounded pin 28 (from the back) and nothing happened...
     
  8. Flaninacupboard

    Flaninacupboard Senior Member

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    Update, grounding that other pin (must be 21) does do something, if grounded when you boot the car, the HUD doesn't work. grounding after booting has no effect.

    Grounded the correct pin 28 and indeed auto headlights appeared. Selecting side lights or headlights on the stalk no longer has any effect though, so you either need an override switch or the correct stalk - i'll see if i can get one from the dealers. I also noticed that after stopping the car the lights didn't go off until i opened the drivers door, is that normal?
     
  9. jayvee

    jayvee Member

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    Yes, in order for the parking lights or normal headlights to work properly, you need to lift the ground on the "Auto" line (pin 28). the correct stalk does this.

    The shutoff delay is selectable in programming by the dealer (or someone with Techstream software and a programming interface.) See owners manual page 589. (0, 30, 60, or 90 seconds after door is closed.) Default is 30 seconds.
     
  10. dchev

    dchev New Member

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    Is there an Original Toyota Kit for Auto Headlights?
    I really want Auto Headlights; however, I preffer something that is installed by the dealer because if something goes wrong, they can fix it:)
     
  11. cproaudio

    cproaudio Speedlock Overrider

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  12. Flaninacupboard

    Flaninacupboard Senior Member

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    Hmm, i don't think auto lights are mentioned in the UK manual at all but i'll take another look. What i am seeing though is the lights go off as soon as i OPEN the door, not close it. Really i'd prefer them to go off when i turn the car off, but i guess 30 seconds after i close the door would be useful for finding the house keys etc (why can't the house have keyless entry too.... :rolleyes: )
     
  13. jayvee

    jayvee Member

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    Sorry, didn't notice you were in the UK. Yes, it's very possible the lights auto off is programmed differently. But I suspect it's still covered somewhere in your manual.
     
  14. Flaninacupboard

    Flaninacupboard Senior Member

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    You're right again, there's one line in the manual! It simply says auto lights come on when it's getting dark, and stay on until you hit ACC mode or off, and open the drivers door. Don't know why the UK ones are programmed this way, but there you go!
     
  15. Flaninacupboard

    Flaninacupboard Senior Member

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    Ahh, final problem for me, the Canadian stalk with auto position and foglights will not do, as the uk stalk has two foglight positions (front and rear). Anyone know where i can find the correct part number or do i have to play illumination roulette with the dealer?
     
  16. cproaudio

    cproaudio Speedlock Overrider

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    Toyota's current line of vehicles all use the same type of stalk. You can goto the dealer and look at the cars with the stalk you like, get the VIN number for that car and order the stalk for that VIN number. Here in the US, RAV4 Limited and Sport fit the bill nicely. It has auto and foglight switch.
    I'm interested in how the rear fog light look on a Prius.
     
  17. jayvee

    jayvee Member

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    What I do is go to (or call) the dealer, have the parts department locate the correct part in their database and the price, then ask for the part number so that they don't have to do the search again if I decide to come back in and order it. I don't think they NEED the VIN number to look it up - it may just be easier. But if they do, can you go out to the lot, find a vehicle with the stalk you want, and write down the VIN number?

    Once you have the part number, you can order online for a lot less - at least in the USA - not sure if that's true in the UK.
     
  18. jayvee

    jayvee Member

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    Not true - the stalks are different between Canada and the US, for example. And the UK is obviously different from those due to the separate front and rear fog light switches. But perhaps you meant they are the same within the given country? I don't know that that's even true within the US. How do you know they are all the same? There is some re-use, for sure - but all of them?
     
  19. cproaudio

    cproaudio Speedlock Overrider

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    youre missing my point. im suggesting that he should check out other current model toyotas in his own country to get the stalk he wants. ive went to toyota several times to look for stalks on different models. they are all of the same style stalk. some have fog, auto headlight, and drl. the one i found thats exactly like the canadian stalk is the rav4 limited. so instead telling the dealer i want a canadian prius stalk, i tell the dealer i want a rav4 limited stalk. the us rav 4 does not have drl. in the off position it doesnt say off/drl.
     
  20. jayvee

    jayvee Member

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    I'm not missing your point.:) Just because the stalks appear similar between vehicles does not mean they have the form factor, mounting methods, connection pinouts, etc. under the steering column shroud. Obviously, some are the same, because parts sources do identify multiple vehicles - but it doesn't list all 2010 vehicles. It's a dangerous (and potentially costly) assumption to make that they are all interchangeable, especially when most sources and dealerships will not allow returns of electrical components. Never assume! (Unless you don't mind buying a $100 headlight stalk paperweight...)

    Now, what you could do is have your dealer order the part, and bring your old stalk along to at least verify shape, mounting points, etc., before you purchase and leave the dealership. But that still won't verify the electrical connections, unless your dealer will allow you to connect a meter to the pins to check the switch functions before you buy it.

    Yet another option is a $15 2-day subscription to TIS, on which you can verify everything - part number of the stalk (I think), schematics/pinouts, etc. for any vehicle you want.