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Do you fumble looking for Park light in the dark ?

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by Chris Wolfgram, Dec 27, 2019.

  1. Chris Wolfgram

    Chris Wolfgram Active Member

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    I sure freaking do ☹️ Then when I finally find it and set it, it lights up ! Duh. Now I don't need to see it.

    I wish that thing was easier to find.

    Is it just me ?
     
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  2. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    I've never noticed it - I'll check tomorrow when I'm out at night.
     
  3. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

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    That's what happens when you put the steering wheel on the wrong side of the car, the buttons are all in the wrong places. :rolleyes::p:LOL:
     
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  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    yes. if you turn on headlights, does it help?
     
  5. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    The overhead light is supposed to illuminate the shifter and by proxy, the Park button. I thought the P is illuminated in blue and the green light comes on when it’s in Park.
     
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  6. pjksr02

    pjksr02 Active Member

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    My overhead light doesn't shine on the shifter. The light goes off to the left. It doesn't look like there's a way to aim the overhead light. Any ideas?
     
  7. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Hmm, short of taking out the overhead console plastic and try re-seating the lightbulb? No idea.
     
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  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    when i shut off my headlights, the overhead light goes out
     
  9. PriusOffroad

    PriusOffroad Active Member

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    Maybe in a horrible person for this but I never use the park button. I just push the ignition button and it puts it in park at the same time...
     
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  10. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    On the rare occasions when I stop and let passengers in or out, I generally hit "P" rather than leave it in gear - but that's normally the only time.
     
  11. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    It's quite bright - once the Hybrid system is started (and you can't use it if it's off). Then when you turn the car off, it stays lit up like this till the Headlights turn off.

    upload_2019-12-29_20-45-5.png

    A small light shows just above the "P" if it's actually in <PARK>.

    Only thing I could think - have you dimmed the dash lights to the extreme?
     
    #11 alanclarkeau, Dec 29, 2019
    Last edited: Dec 29, 2019
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  12. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    Same as @alanclarkeau. Mine is lit when the headlights are on and car is not in PARK. When in PARK, it's just the green LED. When I turn off the headlights it goes out. The assumption is that the headlights are off because the driver doesn't need lights to see stuff.

    And just to make sure, I turned the dash lights all the way down while in "D" and holding the brake. At the very last "notch," the PARK button went dark. So, @Chris Wolfgram, it might not be just you, but it's probably you and lots of others who have their instrument lights turned all the way down. ;)

    By the way, you probably don't want the brightness all the way up either or the 11.6" display won't go into night mode when it's dark outside. I keep my instruments at the second from brightest setting. It took me a while to figure that out till either @Salamander_King or @Prodigyplace clued me in. I forgot now which one it was.

    @PriusOffroad, you're not alone. Unless I'm letting out passengers and want to keep the car on so I can move it when they get out, or I want to look at some statistics for a while, I just turn it off and let it put itself in PARK. ;)
     
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  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    maybe they changed the 2019 le
     
  14. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    I didn't try it with headlights OFF - seeing I keep them in AUTO most of the time.
     
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  15. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    I keep mine in auto, too. So I specifically turned them off to see what would happen. And the PARK button light went off along with all the other dash lights.
     
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  16. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    thats what mine does, but i don't have auto. maybe the same for the mysterious o/p?

    on the pip, i turn the lights back on first, because p is very close to hvac 'auto', which makes the car explode :eek:
     
  17. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    Thanks - I don't think I've ever turned mine off. Occasionally turn <PARK> lights on, and the "P" still stays lit till the timer turns everything off. But it's gone to PARK because I've turned the car off anyway.
     
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  18. Chris Wolfgram

    Chris Wolfgram Active Member

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    Alan, you were exactly right ! I am such a goofball ! I had been driving my Prius for 10 weeks with my dash lights completely dimmed !
    It was fine at night, and then in the day, with my lights set on the running light setting, my screen lit up plenty bright. Really wasn't a big deal, other than the Park light.
     
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  19. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Here are my photos. The first one is a photo with the car in Drive. The second is with the car in Park with the green light on.

    It’s illuminated enough for me. (Also for those that are unaware, note the difference in brightness of the footwell lighting between Drive and Park. It’s dimmer in Drive and brighter in Park)

    FAC37D45-30D1-4E32-8BA3-50B6A2D394A3.jpeg

    BB7DFD10-447B-47E9-92A3-EE3A6A7A23CA.jpeg
     
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  20. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    It's brighter in "P" to show you that the Brake Pedal is on the wrong side of the car o_Oo_O.