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Disable the interior lights turning on with proximity sensor?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Technical Discussion' started by ferrous, Nov 19, 2020.

  1. ferrous

    ferrous New Member

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    all.

    Does anyone know if it’s possible to disable the interior lights coming on when you’re close to the car with the fob?

    Backstory: I went camping, and I parked the car quite close to our site, as you do when possible. I kept some stuff stored in the car to access semi-regularly, so I kept the fob on me. At the end of the two night trip, turns out my car battery was dead and I had to call out the breakdown service to jump start the car.

    I wracked my brain trying to figure out why the battery would’ve died when as far as I knew, it was in excellent condition. Also, I hadn’t left any lights on, I hadn’t used the auxiliary battery for charging anything.

    It was weeks later that I realised that maybe the interior lights had been turning on fairly often because my relaxing and food prep area was somewhat close to the car, and maybe that’s what drained the battery.

    So, is it possible to disable the interior lights from turning on automatically with proximity of the fob? For future camping trips, I intend to keep the fob on me at all times for security and ease of access to the car, so I don’t want to end up in trouble again with the battery.
     
  2. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    Flip the dome lights to all the way off and roll the dim light wheel all the way down.
     
    vvillovv likes this.
  3. tvpierce

    tvpierce Senior Member

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    Does the car also energize other functions, besides the lights, when the key is in proximity? Or is that just when the door is opened? For instance, when I open the driver's door, I hear the brake booster power up.
     
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Not sure that's the case. Test it: walk up to car with fob; do any lights come on?
     
    Ed Beaty likes this.
  5. AzusaPrius

    AzusaPrius Senior Member

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    I believe the Carista app can disable those lights from turning on.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  6. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

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    ferrous turn off the overhead light. Of course the light will no longer automagically come on again when the door is open. Pick your poison.
     
  7. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    "Lights up as you approach the car" is one of the Techstream-settable options, and one of the first ones I turned off after buying it. (y)
     
    vvillovv likes this.