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Question about an interior light

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Bucco, Feb 2, 2014.

  1. Bucco

    Bucco New Member

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    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
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    Four
    I just bought a 2014 Prius Four. At night (obviously when the headlights are on) there is a little white spotlight located in the interior roof panel where the buttons are to turn on the front overhead lights. It shines down on the shift lever. I can't figure any way to turn this off, and I find it quite distracting. What am I missing? (it has a solar roof if that makes any difference) Thanks.
     
    mtbiker53 likes this.
  2. jdk2

    jdk2 Active Member

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    Plug-in Advanced
    It's on all Prius models. You can cover it with tape, fill the hole with putty or possibly remove the bulb altogether.
     
  3. xpcman

    xpcman Senior Member

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    I have never noticed the light while driving. Perhaps I spend too much time looking down the road.
     
    uropip, milkman44, hybridbear and 2 others like this.
  4. MarcSmith

    MarcSmith Active Member

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    I"ve noticed it, but it has never bothered me and my commute into work its always dark in the AM

    it woudl have been nice to have the shift knob or the pattern backlit like all the buttons..

    here is one mod with glow powder inside the knob...
    illuminate the joystick shifter? | Page 2 | PriusChat

    I like the idea of a small LED would think that you could replace the factory shifter post with a tube so you could feed the wire and keep it hidden... and then tap into one of the backlights for one of the switches...
     
  5. MarcSmith

    MarcSmith Active Member

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    hey folks... I couldn't leave well enough alone. went to radio shack and autozone and picked up some LEDs..5mm are too big, even after being ground down very close, but just not quite small enough. so I started looking around the house for LEDs... Christmas lights.... so I started fiddling. I don't think that I'll find a tube that I'll be able to replace the shifter rod so I can get wires down it. so I have a milling machine. Why not mill a groove in the solid rod so the wires are "hidden"

    Here are some really bad pics of the small LED inside the knob. I roughed up the LED to help diffuse the light.

    I wonder if there is a way to separate the blue from the silver. such that I could really place the LED better..

    this is a clear LED I think its too bright..
     

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    Robert Holt likes this.
  6. Feri

    Feri Active Member

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    Location:
    Maldon Victoria Australia
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III

    It's handy for reading your watch.:)
     
  7. kenmce

    kenmce High Voltage Member

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    Try electrical tape.
     
  8. mediahound

    mediahound Active Member

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    Four
    I sorta like it but it doesn't seem to serve much purpose since you cannot tell what gear you are in by looking at the gear shifter anyways. It's more for seeing it to change gears or when you want to go into reverse at night I guess.
     
  9. elementnomore

    elementnomore Member

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    It's a Paper Map Light ;)


    iPhone ?
     
  10. mediahound

    mediahound Active Member

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    Location:
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    Four

    The map lights are actually the ones you can turn on and off with the buttons.
     
    elementnomore likes this.
  11. Feri

    Feri Active Member

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    III

    Yeah but they're not paper!:rolleyes: