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What do you do with your headlights?

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by benalexe, Sep 28, 2012.

  1. benalexe

    benalexe Member

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    So this is the first car that I have owned that does not have auto on headlights. I know I can just leave them on all of the time. Wondering if you all do that or do always turn them off and on/ My fear is that out of habit I will forget to turn them on. YEah I am lazy.
     
  2. Electric Charge

    Electric Charge Active Member

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    I would love to leave them on, but I really like the DRL's, plus am concerned about battery usage, since the base doesn't have LED headlights.
     
  3. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    Unless the PIP has changed ,and I don't think it has, the lights will auto shut off after :30secs upon powering down. Exceptions being leaving a door or hatch open, then they will stay on till :30 sec after they are finally closed.
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    what percent less do led's use vs base headlites?
     
  5. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    I've never had a car with auto-on lights, but have been leaving lights on full time ever since acquiring a car with auto-off fifteen years ago. It will reduce fuel economy by a fraction of an mpg point, but doesn't seem to have any other downsides.

    Since upgrading to a Prius with DRLs a few months ago, I'm now back to using the light switch again. But the 'OFF' position remains unused.
     
  6. ryogajyc

    ryogajyc Active Member

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    That was an unexpected change from my old Gen 2, which turned the lights off immediately when the door was opened. Fortunately, it's customizable. Otherwise, I'd worry if the lights turned off or have to wait 30 seconds to make sure they did.
     
  7. benalexe

    benalexe Member

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    The car does look cook with the led drl's.
     
  8. JacquesTutite

    JacquesTutite Junior Member

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    My cars have always had the auto headlight function too, so I find the lack of it in the base PIP I have really annoying, especially since it's not a cheap car.

    I am also not happy about the cheap rearview mirror, but I bought an auto dimming Prius mirror on ebay (with Homelink, that I wanted), now I just have to get it installed.

    The advanced PIP wasn't worth 7K more for the options to me, but Toyota's choices of what to include on the base model are pretty strange.
     
  9. benalexe

    benalexe Member

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    I could not agree more.... Now power seats??? Give me a break... but still a great car. How much did you pay for the auto dimming mirror and how much do you think it will cost to get it installed.
     
  10. JacquesTutite

    JacquesTutite Junior Member

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    The mirror is $165 on eBay, it's a kit with the parts and instructions....after looking at the instructions though, I found it to be more complex than I want to handle myself, so I'll get a quote from my dealer or a stereo shop I know of to do the install.

    In fairness, the instructions are step-by-step so someone with patience could do this themselves, it involves removing mouldings and splicing a few wires, things I am not comfortable doing.
     
  11. car78412

    car78412 Member

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    Don't waste your Money on the auto dimming rear view mirror because it
    Does not work. The headlights from the car behind you does not reach the mirror sensor because of the bar that splits the rear window. It doesn't block the blinding headlight hitting your eyes though. It's just a poor design flaw by Toyota.
     
  12. rockerdan

    rockerdan PiP Rocks!

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    it looks even better with HID headlights, best bang for buck on the prius since its already got projectors.

    Once you tint your windows, a auto dimming mirror is just not needed IMO.

    Dan
     
  13. benalexe

    benalexe Member

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    Good point. Yeah I think I will get the windows tinted at some point. Tell me about the HID headlights... and what do you mean the projector?
     
  14. rogerv

    rogerv Senior Member

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    The nice thing about the upgraded mirror is the Homelink feature to open garage doors and gates, etc. I don't have any problem with bright lights behind me, but I don't know if is because the mirror is dimming (it does have to be turned on) or because of my seating position.
     
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  15. rockerdan

    rockerdan PiP Rocks!

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    check out my thread....I went with the xenonsupply HID setup. Super crisp clear bright headlights that match the LED DRLs in color tone. Incredible at night.

    the issue with most cars when doing a HID retrofit is that most cars have a typical Halogen type design reflector. Just look close at your headlights, the outer one is low beam "projector" while the inner high beams are old style.

    Many people out there stick HIDs in old style reflectors and that is where you get blinded. The 'cutoff' is not defined enough at the top. With a 'projector' the cutoff is very defined and wont blind oncoming traffic.

    My thread has many pics and link to where to buy HID kit...its a simple plug n play kit that took me about 20 mins max to install into stock projectors. The result is awesome. xenonsupply has a great how to video on youtube that walks you right thru it.

    My build thread:Rockerdan's Plug-in thread | PriusChat

    Dan
     
  16. benalexe

    benalexe Member

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    Do these use more electric?
     
  17. rockerdan

    rockerdan PiP Rocks!

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    HID headlights are brighter and use LESS power then Halogen. Just about all new cars in the higher cost range come with HIDs now, you can see them oncoming easily at night, pure white, no more yellow.

    Dan
     
  18. rogerv

    rogerv Senior Member

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    I checked the auto dimming function on my mirror and it does indeed work, even with the vehicle following me some distance back and using low beam headlights. The split rear window had no effect. When I switched the auto dimming feature off, the mirror image turned lighter.
     
  19. car78412

    car78412 Member

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    I am very glad that your mirror is functioning properly. Mine isn't. And so are a number of other Prius Owners with the auto dimming mirror. They all seem to have the same issue where the following vehicle headlights do not reach the light sensor on the mirror because of the split rear window. My wife drives a II with a manual rearview mirror which is 100% better for nightime driving. Just one flip of a button and no more blinding headlinghts. The auto mirror is hit or miss..usually miss and constantly being blinded by headlights in my IV.