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Auto lights, Daytime and Fog questions

Discussion in 'Prius v Main Forum' started by Hurricane Gio, Nov 8, 2011.

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  1. Hurricane Gio

    Hurricane Gio New Member

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    I just bought a new Prius V 5 for the wife yesterday and I have a few questions on the whole lighting system.

    I set here lights today to AUTO with the Fog/Driving Lights to the ON position. We the car was started and she drove off, the Day Time running lights were not on.

    Will the DRL not work with the FOG lights on? Am I missing something?

    Thank you
     
    #1 Hurricane Gio, Nov 8, 2011
  2. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    DRL's will normally switch off when the headlights are switched on. By switching on the fog lights you are in effect also switching the headlights on.
     
    #2 GrumpyCabbie, Nov 8, 2011
  3. Hurricane Gio

    Hurricane Gio New Member

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    Thank you. So I assume then. that the DRL and FOG won't work together on auto. My 2011 Subaru Outback, can do this.

    No big deal and thank you for the fast response.
     
    #3 Hurricane Gio, Nov 8, 2011
  4. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    In some states it is unlawful to operate more that four headlamps at one time. DRL, FOG, and normal headlamps would make six. Likewise it is also unlawful in many states to show fog lights without headlamps.

    Because of the difficulty of meeting various state laws, car manufactures often elect the most restrictive set for the entire country.

    Tom
     
    #4 qbee42, Nov 8, 2011
  5. Hurricane Gio

    Hurricane Gio New Member

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    Sure and I understand. I run my DRL and FOGS for better visibility Day and Night.

    But I don't get how you could even run 6 lamps? How could you run DRL and Normal HL at the same time?

    My wife's 04 Highlander could do the same as my Outback.
     
    #5 Hurricane Gio, Nov 8, 2011
  6. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    Normally you can't, which is why you need the headlamps to run fogs. Because of laws, the standard logic is to allow fog lamps to run only when the headlamps are on. If you want fogs and DRLs you run afoul the standard headlamp/fog logic. The thinking is that if you need fog lamps it is too dark for DRLs.

    As for other ways to get more than four lamps, it is pretty easy with plow lamps and driving lights.

    In some locations it is unlawful to show more than two, unless limited visibility indicates fog lamps.

    Tom
     
    #6 qbee42, Nov 8, 2011
  7. Hurricane Gio

    Hurricane Gio New Member

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    Oh. Thanks Tom. I will shut off her fog lights later.
     
    #7 Hurricane Gio, Nov 8, 2011
  8. Hurricane Gio

    Hurricane Gio New Member

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    Ok, check my OB and I was mistaken. I can't use DRL and fogs. Just HL and Fogs.

    So, how do I get my wife's DRL running, when set to AUTO and FOG on? This was it's the lights are in auto mode and the HL and FOG lights will run at night.

    Is this possible?
     
    #8 Hurricane Gio, Nov 8, 2011
  9. pvogel

    pvogel '05 Five & '12 v

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    You should turn on the fog lights when conditions indicate it, otherwise you are just wasting battery power that would be better used to improve your MPG. Don't try to have them on by "default" when the headlights are on.

    Peter+
     
    #9 pvogel, Nov 8, 2011
  10. Hurricane Gio

    Hurricane Gio New Member

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    For some strange reason, the auto feature kicked in and the DRL and FOG work.
    ife wants the fogs off in the daylight and night anyways.

    Thanks for everyone input.
     
    #10 Hurricane Gio, Nov 8, 2011
  11. pvogel

    pvogel '05 Five & '12 v

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    You should turn on the fog lights when conditions indicate it, otherwise you are just wasting battery power that would be better used to improve your MPG. Don't try to have them on by "default" when the headlights are on.

    Peter+
     
    #11 pvogel, Nov 8, 2011
  12. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    I'm confused about your talk on automatic headlights, when they come on and DRLs lol. I have both (Canada requires DRLs and we have automatic headlights on the regular Prius as standard equipment) so I am familiar with the function of the two.

    I think you're looking for this? (the DRL on the standard Prius is reduced intensity high beams. The parking lights are aftermarket LEDs)

    [​IMG]
     

    Attached Files:

    #12 Tideland Prius, Nov 8, 2011
  13. Hurricane Gio

    Hurricane Gio New Member

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    I figured everything out. From the manual, DRL on the US Prius v are supposed to be the High Beam reduced.
    But on our Prius v 5, the DRL look like yours. Ours has small intensity lights above the headlights.

    But yes, the auto head lamps are working fine. Unfortunately the FOG lights do NOT work with the Auto On feature. If they are on, they are on. So it's a manual switch. On my Outback, they run on the AUTO switch.
     
    #13 Hurricane Gio, Nov 10, 2011
  14. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Yeah it should be reduced intensity high beams just like mine above. The LED parking lights above are on only because my headlight stalk is in the first position after "OFF". I don't recall the v having LED DRLs. This is with the headlight stalk in the OFF or "o" position, right (let's leave the AUTO out for now)? Not the "-" position?

    What do you mean? The foglights will come on and off with the headlights so if you leave them in the ON position, they will come on when the automatic headlights function turns on the headlights. I don't understand. :confused:

    Fogs will only be on with the low beam (either when you twist the stalk to the headlight on position or the automatic headlights turn the lights on). They will not be on in any other case (parking lights, OFF or high beams). The photo above is unique because the foglights were installed afterwards and not at the factory.
     
    #14 Tideland Prius, Nov 10, 2011
  15. Hurricane Gio

    Hurricane Gio New Member

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    Clarification: My v has LED headlamps. Everything looks just like yours. So I am good there.

    Are you confused on my OB headlights? I leave my headlights in the AUTO positions with the FOG lights on.

    In the day time, only my DRL will be on, when it gets dark enough, my low-beam lights will come on with the fog lamps. If I switch to HB, FOG lamps will shut down.
    I switch the bulbs on my FOG lamps to lower intensity driving light bulbs.

    I can only have the FOG lights on with the DRL if the headlights are set to the ON position. On the v, the fogs will stay on with the DRL in AUTO position and the low-beam lights in AUTO. So, the FOG lights won't run in auto on the v, unlike my OB. In reality, a better design for the Hybrid system.
     
    #15 Hurricane Gio, Nov 11, 2011
  16. pdp

    pdp New Member

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    I think what I'm about to say has been sprinkled across all the posts thus far, but I'll try to consolidate it. From every Toyota/Lexus I've seen with fog lights, here is the behavior I've seen.

    1) Fog lights only turn on if headlights are on, even if fog lights are in on position, if headlights are off, the fog lights are still off until head lights turn on

    2) When headlights turn on, DRLs turn off

    3) When headlights are set to auto, they turn off and on automatically depending on ambient light

    Considering all three of those "facts" together, if headlights are set to Auto, and fog lights are set to on... the fog lights will automatically turn on with the headlights when the ambient light gets dim enough. Furthermore, the DRL will turn off when the headlights turn on.

    If fog lights are in off position, but all the other settings are the same... same behavior as above except fog lights never turn on.
     
    #16 pdp, Nov 11, 2011
  17. Hurricane Gio

    Hurricane Gio New Member

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    That's how my Subaru works and most cars I have seen. But for some reason, on the Prius v my wife has, the FOGS are on regardless of Auto day or night. Maybe something is wrong with hers. I will have the dealer check at the first service interval.
     
    #17 Hurricane Gio, Nov 11, 2011
  18. pdp

    pdp New Member

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    There is an easy modification on my IS300 where you can just short a wire from a relay to allow the fog lights to come on regardless if the head lights are on (as long as the fog lights are in the on position of course). Assuming the Prius v fog lights should behave as other Toyotas/Lexuses, maybe there is a loose wire somewhere in your case? Just a thought.
     
    #18 pdp, Nov 11, 2011
  19. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    Are her fogs factory lights or were they installed by the dealer?

    Tom
     
    #19 qbee42, Nov 11, 2011
  20. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Ohhh ok. Now I understand your situation.

    Hmm, well in AUTO, it should be all off except for the DRLs during the day. If the fogs are coming on, then maybe there's a wiring issue (unless that's how you want it to be). Have others with a Prius v Five experience the same issue?
     
    #20 Tideland Prius, Nov 11, 2011
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