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Auto off Headlights on LE?

Discussion in 'Gen 5 Prius Main Forum' started by Argyros, Oct 10, 2023.

  1. Argyros

    Argyros Member

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    Another quandry- I thought the 2023 Prius LE had auto-off headlights, as listed below and in many specs for the Prius. I came home the other night and had the headlights turned on, and when I turned off the car, a buzzer went off, so I turned off the headlight switch.

    Now, I read on another forum (reddit) that two people with LE's and have had headlights turned on, when the ignition turned off, after a number of seconds (unknown) the headlights turn off anyways. I haven't had a chance to confirm this, but I wonder??!! Why then, does the buzzer go off, if they're meant to turn off after a few seconds? See specs from the Toyota site below, which clearly states auto-off. At first, I thought they were referring to the high beams, but when you look at the description for the XLE/LTD, it has the same description, yet lists at the beginning 'Auto-on'.

    Then, when you turn the car back on, will they turn back on with the car? That sounds more like Auto On-Off headlights to me, except they don't turn on when it gets dark; they are on all the time. My GTI used to do that as well.


    Bi-LED projector low- and high-beam headlights, Automatic High Beams (AHB) * and auto off

    upload_2023-10-10_18-39-21.png
     
  2. CooCooCaChoo

    CooCooCaChoo Senior Member

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    They'll turn off after a set amount of time. I think it is 30 seconds.

    But if you use the fob to lock the car doors, it will turn them off.

    If you leave them in the ON position, they will come on regardless of what time of day it is. Base model doesn't have the fancy "Hey its dark out, better turn on the headlights automatically" option.
     
  3. Gokhan

    Gokhan Senior Member

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    LE/SE have only an auto-off timer at ignition off. Higher trims have both an auto-on/off function according to ambient illumination detected by a windshield sensor and an auto-off timer at ignition off. The buzzer warning must be for something else, like you forgot the key in the car.

    You can also change the auto-off timer settings. I recently changed them to immediately off when you open the door.

    Since you have an LE, you need to turn on the DRL, parking lights, or full headlights manually.
     
    #3 Gokhan, Oct 11, 2023
    Last edited: Oct 11, 2023
  4. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    The auto off settings might be possible to adjust in a menu. As in changing the time before they shut off. Might even be possible to disable it, and get a buzzer when they are left on.
     
  5. Juan Figueroa

    Juan Figueroa New Member

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    If you use the fob to lock the car doors, click it TWICE it will turn them off.
     
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  6. Argyros

    Argyros Member

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    ok....I tried to see if the lights would turn off tonight- here's what happened:

    1) I parked, and then pushed the Start/Stop button with the headlight switch on. As soon as I did, I looked out and saw the lights still on. I waited 2 minutes, and the lights did not go out.
    2) Next, I started the car again with the lights on, and then pushed the Start/Stop button again. This time, I waited, then pushed the lock button on the keyfob. The lights stayed on and didn't turn off.
    3) Lastly, I turned the car back on with the Start/Stop button, turned on the lights, then turned the car off again. This time, I waited again, and then opened the door. The buzzer went on, and didn't stop, and the lights didn't go out. I couldn't stand the buzzer after a minute, and gave up. I turned off the headlight switch and exited the car, and locked the car. No lights, no buzzer.

    Other than the double hit of the keyfob, I think I've tried everything. Any thoughts??
     
  7. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    On my Gen3, the AutoOff timer doesn't start until the driver door is opened. If you stay in the driver seat without opening the door, the lights won't go out.

    Exiting anywhere else, without opening the driver door, defeats the timer.
    My Gen3 is configurable, the light timer can be set to 0 / 30 / 60 / 90 seconds. Might your Gen5 have additional choices?
     
  8. Argyros

    Argyros Member

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    so Fuzzy1, I can try that; yet I have a few questions- does your Prius buzzer go off before you exit the car? Also, once you close the door, then when you exit and either hit the keyfob or touch the door to lock the car, does it still take 30 secs for the lights to go out?

    Lastly, when you get back in the car, when the light switch is in the On position, will the buzzer come back on before starting the car, or will it just have the lights come on when pushing the Start/Stop button?
     
  9. KMO

    KMO Senior Member

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    Here's what the manual says:

    Automatic light off system

    ●When the headlights are on: The lights turn off 30 seconds after the power switch is turned to OFF and a door is opened and closed. (The lights turn off immediately if [LOCK] on the key is pressed after all the doors are closed.)

    ●When only the tail lights are on: The tail lights turn off automatically if the power switch is turned to OFF and the driver’s door is
    opened.

    To turn the lights on again, turn the power switch to ON, or turn the light switch to the OFF, DRL OFF or AUTO position once and then back to the [SIDE MARKERS] or [HEADLIGHTS] position.

    ■Light reminder buzzer
    A buzzer sounds when the driver’s door is opened while the lights are turned on with the power switch in OFF (except when the automatic light off system is operated).


    That last bit's not clear. Given the experiments above maybe it's going to stop the buzzer once you've opened and closed the door so the 30 second timer's started.

    I think Argyros tried everything except opening and closing the door, and that's required.
     
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  10. Gokhan

    Gokhan Senior Member

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    Well, if it is still an issue, change the vehicle settings so that the auto-off timer is set to zero seconds. Then, the lights will go off immediately when you open the door.

    Another option is to press the lock button on the smart key twice, which turns off all the lights.
     
  11. Argyros

    Argyros Member

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    I'll try the above with resetting the 30 seconds to zero on the Multimedia Display- I looked at the manuals and boy, it wasn't easy to find. Will update you all on what happens. Before I do that, though, I'll try the open/close and lock method that Gokhan suggests; hopefully between the two options I'll get this thing to work! This option has been the most challenging of all the options on the car so far!
     
  12. Hammersmith

    Hammersmith Senior Member

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    In understanding the car's default settings, it's helpful to understand WHY the auto-off setting exists other than just saving your battery.

    1. You park the car in a secured garage(probably attached to your home). At night, the garage is dark when the door is shut(maybe you don't have a automatic garage door opener, or maybe you have one and the light is broken). The 30sec auto-off delay gives you light to safely exit the garage. And that's why the timer is started by the driver's door opening and closing. The chime is there more to remind you the lights are on when you start the car the next day so you don't forget and leave them on in the daytime.

    2. You park on the street, in a parking lot, or in a parking structure. In those cases, having the lights stay on could be disturbing for others(say the car is pointed at the windows of an apartment building) or it could be dangerous(pointing predators to a location where someone has just exited a vehicle). That's why locking the doors shuts the lights off immediately.
     
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  13. Gokhan

    Gokhan Senior Member

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    Opening the doors, not locking them.
     
  14. Hammersmith

    Hammersmith Senior Member

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    Read the quoted part of the manual again.
     
  15. Gokhan

    Gokhan Senior Member

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    Are you talking about the "double-lock" feature that turns the lights off? You did not mention locking twice. Locking once won't do anything. I am talking about changing the settings so that the lights go off immediately when you open the door, which is what I did on mine.
     
  16. Hammersmith

    Hammersmith Senior Member

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    I was clearly talking about why the default settings are the way they are. I wasn't addressing alterations to the settings at all.
     
  17. Gokhan

    Gokhan Senior Member

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    OK, but locking the car does not turn the lights off; therefore, your post was in error then.
     
  18. aforkosh

    aforkosh Active Member

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    One click locks the car; the second click turns off the lights. If you've already locked the car, you do need to double-click.
     
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  19. Gokhan

    Gokhan Senior Member

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    Right, that's what I meant.

    Moreover, that only works if you lock twice with the fob. It does not work if you lock twice using the capacitive-button on the outside of the door handle, which I find strange.
     
    #19 Gokhan, Oct 12, 2023
    Last edited: Oct 12, 2023
  20. Argyros

    Argyros Member

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    Ok....you'se guys are geniuses-

    1. I changed the setting for auto-off to ZERO.
    2. Then, I started, then pushed the stop button for the car- the moment I did, then opened the car door, the lights went off!
    3. Closed and locked the car with no fuss, no buzzer.
    4. Got back in, started the car with the light switch in the ON position, and the car started with the lights ON!

    Even BETTER than was stated....no need to lock the car immediately to get the lights to go out!!

    Thanks ALL, again!!
     
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