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Day/Night mode button gone adjust wheel makes no difference 2006 Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Terry Kelsey, Apr 14, 2016.

  1. Terry Kelsey

    Terry Kelsey Junior Member

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    Hey Folks

    A long time ago during a rain storm, wife complained about not being able to see MPH display clearly.
    I opened the manual and it said... go to DISPLAY screen. With headlights ON.. push DAY MODE button.
    That worked well. BUT ever since then NO DAY MODE button is ever visible, day or night.
    I have turned headlights on and tried adjusting the dimmer wheel..NO effect.
    In the manual I found this::


    Depending on the position of the headlightswitch, the screen changes to theday mode or night mode.To display the screen in the day mode even with the headlight switch on, touch “DAY MODE” on the adjustment screen forbrightness and contrast control.However, if the km/h or MPH button is on,mode switching cannot be done. It remainsin the day mode. In this case, “DAYMODE” is not shown on the screen.If the screen is set in the day mode withthe headlight switch turned to on, this condition is memorized in the system even with the hybrid system turned off.


    HOW DO I RESET THIS ?????

    Thanks
    Terry Kelsey
     
  2. Stevewoods

    Stevewoods Senior Member

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  3. Terry Kelsey

    Terry Kelsey Junior Member

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    Hey Steve

    Thanks for replying!
    I read the entire thread you gave me. Then I waited until it got dark here (8PM).
    I tried rotating the adjusting wheel min- max, no change with headlights and tail lights on.
    The map always has the bright white background now.
    The manual said the info was stored in MEMORY somewhere???
    I would really like to know how to undo that setting.

    Thanks
    Terry Kelsey
     
  4. exstudent

    exstudent Senior Member

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    Try disconnecting the 12V GROUND cable (say 1 minute), then reconnect. IF the MFD (Multi-Function Display) is still in DAY mode, then the setting is retained in ROM (Read Only Memory, non-volatile memory that does not require constant power supply to retain memory, unlike the car clock and radio station presets). You will now have to reset the settings somehow. Try searching the owners manual again. Try calling your local Toyota dealership.

    I am confused why you would make the MFD go into DAY mode, when the wife was complaining that the Combination Meter (spedometer, odometer, trip meter) were dimly lit. Why didn't you just turn the illumination wheel all the way up, where you feel the wheel go past a slight resistance then it goes no further. This MAX adjustment forces the illumination of the Combination Meter and MFD into the MAX brightness (lets just call this DAY mode). Turning the illumination wheel down, will take out both the Combination Meter and MFD out of MAX brightness, restoring user adjustable brightness for the Combination Meter and the MFD back to the preset brightness that the user set or never adjusted. What you did is to force both the Combination Meter and MFD to always be at MAXIMUM brightness, no matter what position the illumination wheel is at, and no matter what position the headlight switch is at as well.
     
  5. Terry Kelsey

    Terry Kelsey Junior Member

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    Hi ex-student

    Last night I disconnected the 12 volt battery all night, NO CHANGE.
    That does make sense that it is in ROM.
    I just called our local dealer and the Service department has no idea how to change that setting back.
    As to why it was done, my wife is a very strong willed person and she had seen something in the owners manual about it previously. That's why that occurred.
    Stands to reason that there should be a way to switch that back again.
    That's why I posted on here. I have always gotten good advice here.

    Thanks Again
    Terry Kelsey
     
  6. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    Probably not much help but...... I lived for years with a Honda with dim instrumentation lighting fearing a high dollar repair at the stealership. Then, one day I went to a salvage yard, got a used dimmer switch, and problem fixed for $5 (back then).
     
  7. Terry Kelsey

    Terry Kelsey Junior Member

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    My wife reminded me that when this originally occurred we had just had the Brake light switch on the brake pedal replaced (not starting issue then). She is wondering if the mechanic pulled the wire harness connector off the dimmer switch???? hmmmmmmm
    I wonder how big a deal it is to check that??
     
  8. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    hmmmmm, (further speculation), then if the dimmer is disconnected (or just not working) could the unable to reset Daylight-only issue be a failsafe?

    But wouldn't a disconnected dimmer switch mean no instrumentation lighting?
     
  9. Terry Kelsey

    Terry Kelsey Junior Member

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    I'm not sure if there would be no lights or max dash lights????
     
  10. Terry Kelsey

    Terry Kelsey Junior Member

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    I squeezed in under the dashboard, with a small flashlight.
    The fuse box and other brackets were in the way. I couldn't see the dimmer switch connector....sigh...
     
  11. Terry Kelsey

    Terry Kelsey Junior Member

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    FIXED!!

    Dimmer connector was not connected. 5 minute fix. Works GREAT!

    Terry Kelsey
     
  12. Terry Kelsey

    Terry Kelsey Junior Member

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    This is how I did it :)

    I watched a couple UTUBES and found 1 screw bottom center.
    I removed that screw and lower level of dash was loose.
    I pulled it lightly and it came unclipped.
    On the left side there is another screw..remove that.
    Then I lifted the left side vent from the bottom and it came right out.
    I reached in the vent hole and I felt the back of the switch.. no connector.
    With my hand still in the vent hole...I easily pushed the switch out of the dash.
    I used a small flashlight to find the WHITE connector, I plugged it in and then reinserted the dimmer in the dash.
    Reversed the process and put dash back together with the 2 screws.

    I hope that helps

    Terry Kelsey
     
    #12 Terry Kelsey, Apr 17, 2016
    Last edited: Apr 17, 2016