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Auto on headlights

Discussion in 'Newbie Forum' started by baysidefish, Sep 18, 2021.

  1. baysidefish

    baysidefish Junior Member

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    I have a stupid question. I have a 2021 let e-awd. The switch is on DRLz but the lights does not seem to be turned on when it is dark is this correct?

    On the center of the dashboard where the windshield meets the dashboard has a small bump ,I thought that was the sensor?

    Thanks
     
    #1 baysidefish, Sep 18, 2021
  2. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Looks like the LE AWD only has “auto-off” headlights. Full automatic headlights are on higher trim levels. Yea the bump is where the sensor is but it’s possible Toyota just left the cover but the sensor is missing.
     
    #2 Tideland Prius, Sep 18, 2021
  3. baysidefish

    baysidefish Junior Member

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    It is so odd that it does not have the auto on feature but have the auto off feature. Lol

    Furthermore, mine has auto high beam switch but does not have the auto on.

    Tonight is the first time I drove at night after getting this car. I left the switch at DRL and assumed the light would be on by it self. When I was driving, entire dashboard was dark,I was thinking "what kind of the car is this? Why the dashboard is so dark, how am I going to see the buttons?"

    (Layer on, I found out the headlights were not on. Geez)
     
    #3 baysidefish, Sep 18, 2021
  4. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    If it's anything like the Gen 3, the bump is always the real sensor, because the HVAC uses it, even if the auto headlight feature was omitted.

    For Gen 3, it was found that the sensor even includes the needed auto headlights functionality, and the body ECU knows what to do with the sensor input, and the only requirement for the auto headlights mod was to provide the one missing wiring between them. And provide an auto switch or something to ground the other body ECU pin that tells it auto on is what you want.
     
    #4 ChapmanF, Sep 18, 2021
  5. baysidefish

    baysidefish Junior Member

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    I see. So, without any changes, that feature is off in my car, I guess...right? thanks
     
    #5 baysidefish, Sep 18, 2021
  6. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Not really odd at all. Auto-off has been around a long time as a 12V battery saver, long before daylight sensing became a thing. The Prius auto-off is effectively just a continuation of that long available feature.
    You do know that DRL is just the Daytime Running Lights? Which numerous U.S. cars and all Canadian cars have essentially hardwired to be ON when the head/tail-lights are OFF? In those cars, driving in DRL mode at night gives you very poor insufficient forward lighting, and no tail or side marker lights whatsoever, the driver still needs to manually turn on the real head- (and tail-) lights. Only certain models with bad design would also have dashboard lights on to trick you into thinking headlights were on, but that is now (or very soon to be) illegal in Canada.
     
    #6 fuzzy1, Sep 18, 2021
  7. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Prius Prime LE model is the same way. Came with an auto-off headlight and auto high beam but no auto-on. Note that Auto-off feature is not light-sensitive sensor-controlled, it just means the headlight turns off after a certain time (default is 30 sec but can be customized) door is opened,
    upload_2021-9-19_0-2-55.png

    It was one feature I missed when I downgraded from Prius Prime Premium which is now XLE trim.
     
    #7 Salamander_King, Sep 19, 2021
    dig4dirt likes this.
  8. baysidefish

    baysidefish Junior Member

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    thank you very much , everyone!!!
     
    #8 baysidefish, Sep 19, 2021
  9. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Pretty much any car that uses low beam LED headlights as DRLs (Corolla, Prime, Gen 4 Prius,Gen 3 Mazda3 etc). They’re almost as bright as the low beams and anyone coming out of an older car won’t know (especially if their older car doesn’t have automatic headlights and they find that their new car has automatic headlights but forget to check if the switch is in the AUTO or OFF position).

    The rule came into effect Sept 1, 2021 so all new cars from now on must either

    1. Have an automatic headlight setting with no OFF position.
    2. Have a dummy light that says DRLs are on and the dashboard is dimmed or off when DRLs are present and it’s dark outside
    3. Have the DRL setting include taillights.
     
    #9 Tideland Prius, Sep 20, 2021
    baysidefish and fuzzy1 like this.
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