Prius III head light warning

You are correct that there is no chime or warning for the headlights, but the headlights will automatically turn off after like 30 seconds after the door is closed. The time to turn off the headlights is also a customizable feature that the dealer can change.

As for the parking lights, I am not sure. I will need to check this myself.

 

with the parking lights, if you leave them on when you turn off the car and open the door the lights will automatically turn off.

 

As yogi once said....." The Prius is smarter than the average car" LOLound:

 

On my 2010 (I just went out and checked.),
if you turn the car off, the parking lights go out.
If the car is on and you turn the parking lights on, the dashboard dimmer control works, which provides a clue if the dimmer is not in the maximum-intnsity detent; if the lights are off, the dashboard is always on full brightness.
And like brother Collins says, if the car is off, the headlights turn themselves off when you get out of the car (with the fob) and close the door.
(If you get out of the car with the fob and leave the car turned on, it cheeps at you.)

 

(I left out mentioning that mine's a Level II.)

 

The reason you can't find an Auto setting, is that it is always in auto.

Stock the 2010 head lights will turn off 30 seconds after you open either front door once the car is off.

If you prefer, the dealer can set that to 0 seconds.

Before 2010, it turns off in 0 seconds only for the drivers door, once the car is off.

 

No, the reason they don't have an auto position is Toyota won't sell cars in the US with auto headlights on. Why they do that we can only speculate but there are threads on how to add them (most of the hardware is in the car already). They also don't sell you fog lights unless you buy leather and 17" wheels in the V package. The store here sells a kit to add them yourself.

But Toyota did give us all auto off headlights. 30 seconds may just be longer than you think it its. If they don't turn off it is a defect and your dealer should fix it. You can double click lock on the key to turn them off faster, or get your dealer to change the timing.

 

I turned my headlight on at the dealership when I bought my Prius. Mine have automatically come on every time I started my car. They go off once I open my Driver side door, automatically. It could only be more automatic if the dash lights self adjusted.

 

I stand corrected ;-)

 

Found this on page 208 of the Owner's Manual:

Automatic light off system​

l

When the headlights are on: The headlights and tail lights turn off 30 seconds

after a door is opened and closed if the “POWER” switch has been
switched to ACCESSORY mode or OFF.
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But do read up in the manual or in threads here, because there is a way to defeat this auto-off and drain the 12V battery.

Unfortunately, I don't remember the recipe.

 

My (European) version does have head light warning sound. So it is possible to activate somehow.

 

Jimbo, isn't yours a 2009 (Gen 2)? They may work a bit differently than teh Gen 3 - I don't know.

No Gen 3 U.S. models come with true auto on/off headlights. True auto on/off headlights (as are available on Gen 3's in Canada and elsewhere) turn on and off based upon ambient light, using the sensor on the top of the dash - not just powerup of the car. Perhaps your car is actually set to turn off headlights immediately (0 second delay) when the driver door is opened and closed. This is a dealer configurable feature on the Gen 3 (see manual page 589).
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From Manual, Page 208:

Automatic light off system​

When the headlights are on: The headlights and tail lights turn off 30 seconds after a door is opened and closed if the “POWER” switch has been switched to ACCESSORY mode or OFF.

When only the tail lights are on: The tail lights turn off automatically if the “POWER” switch is switched to ACCESSORY mode or OFF and driver’s door is opened.

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Lots of confusion on what "auto" means on the Prius headlights. Here's more detail from the system description in the repair manual:​

2. LIGHT AUTO TURN-OFF SYSTEM
The light auto turn-off system is used to prevent the exterior lights from being accidentally left on (low beam headlights, high beam headlights, front fog lights, taillights, parking lights, license plate lights and marker lights).
This system has the following functions.​

Driver Door-linked Function
The exterior lights automatically turn off when all of the following
conditions are met:
The power switch is turned from on (IG) to off.
The light control switch is in the tail position.
The driver door is opened.​

Delay Function
The exterior lights automatically turn off after 30 seconds when all of the following conditions are met:
The power switch is turned from on (IG) to off.
The low beam headlights are on (light control switch is in the head or AUTO position).
All doors are closed after any of the doors are opened.​

Door Control Transmitter-linked Function
The exterior lights turn off immediately when the delay function is active and the following condition is met:
The lock button on the key is pushed after all doors are locked.​

HINT:
The delay function can not be cancelled When the remote A/C switch on the key is pressed to lock all of the doors.
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I know that if you shut off the car, open and close the door, then open it again and turn on the headlights, they will stay on, draining the battery. (I know they will stay on longer than the "configurable" 30 or 60 seconds. I just don't know how long...)​

:deadhorse:

 

I wonder if the lack of DRLs in the US is meant to eke out a few extra micro-MPGs. Every little thing counts, and they all add up. They wanted to reach that magic 50, and maybe this was part of the equation. Still seems silly to me. Just my opinion.
~T

 

They do, in Gen II, the lights have a 0 second delay and only the driver side door turns off the lights.

On Gen III either front door is fine. I can't think of any time I do not wish to be seen by my fellow drivers, so if the Prius had a 'true' Auto On/Off system, I would have to defeat it. I want my head/fog lights burning all the time I am moving. (I do over 90% of my driving on 55 MPH two lane roads with farm equipment doing 35 MPH, so lots of passing going on)

Correct, or if you exit the car by a rear door/hatch, the headlights never turn off.

 

Or crawl out a window, or through the sun roof.

Tom