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Steering Wheel Control Illumination

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by Tom6850, Feb 12, 2007.

  1. Tom6850

    Tom6850 Retired

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    My wife just bought a new 2007 Prius Option 6. What a great car, I even might let her drive it. My question is, at night I can adjust all the displays by using the adjustment switch located on the dash next to the steering column except the lighted controls on the steering wheel. Is there something wrong or is there no adjustment for them?
     
    #1 Tom6850, Feb 12, 2007
  2. Marlin

    Marlin New Member

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    No, but with time and use, you will learn these buttons by touch, day or night.

    Each of the buttons (or sets of buttons) have a tactile indicator. For instance, the volume buttons are at the top left and have one raised dome button (volume up) and one sunken "bowl" button (volume down). Below that are is a pair of rectangular buttons with a raised vertical bar in the middle. This are the next / previous track/channel buttons. Below (or above, I can't remember) is the Mode button, which has a small raised bump on it. At the bottom left, there is a circle of three buttons. The upper half circle button is the Auto AC button, and the two quarter circle buttons below that, one with a raised dome, one with a sunken bowl, are the raise and lower temperature buttons.

    Use the buttons regularly and learn the feel of them and you won't need them brightly lit at night. The whole point of having the buttons on the steering wheel where they are within easy reach of your thumbs is so you don't have to take your eyes off the road.
     
    #2 Marlin, Feb 12, 2007
  3. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tom 6850 @ Feb 12 2007, 07:33 AM) [snapback]388815[/snapback]</div>
    I thought the same thing when we first got our Prius, but now I can see them just fine. It's more a matter of getting used to layout.

    Tom
     
    #3 qbee42, Feb 12, 2007
  4. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tom 6850 @ Feb 12 2007, 07:33 AM) [snapback]388815[/snapback]</div>
    IMO there's something wrong. Toyota's steering wheel lights are just too dim. Unfortunately, nothing you can do about it.
     
    #4 JimN, Feb 12, 2007
  5. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimN @ Feb 12 2007, 10:01 PM) [snapback]389286[/snapback]</div>
    I felt that way to begin with, but I can see them fine now. I suppose it makes a difference whether I am driving on our dark country roads or in the city. City lighting is often bright enough to wash out the button lights, but not bright enough to read the buttons.

    Tom
     
    #5 qbee42, Feb 12, 2007
  6. Tom6850

    Tom6850 Retired

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(qbee42 @ Feb 12 2007, 10:22 PM) [snapback]389295[/snapback]</div>
     
    #6 Tom6850, Feb 13, 2007
  7. Tom6850

    Tom6850 Retired

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    Thanks guys, I think it is a poor design without illumination control, but its good to know that there is nothing wrong.

    Tom 6850
     
    #7 Tom6850, Feb 13, 2007
  8. sumi&#39;s_man

    sumi&#39;s_man New Member

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    I believe somebody once posted that the illumination level of the steering wheel controls could be increased by the dealer. You could go that route, but then they might be distractingly bright on dark stretches of country roads and interstates. They really do seem very bright when you're in a dark place, and hoplessly dim in the city. They should be tied to the rheostat.
     
    #8 sumi&#39;s_man, Feb 13, 2007
  9. Rest

    Rest Active Member

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    I just love how Toyota dropped the ball on the steering wheel and dash illumination. There is no lighting to find the odometer buttons or overhead lights. Nor is there door panel button lights.

    Toyota are you listening?
     
    #9 Rest, Feb 13, 2007
  10. darelldd

    darelldd Prius is our Gas Guzzler

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sumi's_man @ Feb 13 2007, 06:01 AM) [snapback]389437[/snapback]</div>
    Not true. Well, it might be true that somebody posted it, but it isn't true that the dealer can do anything about it.
     
    #10 darelldd, Feb 13, 2007
  11. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rest @ Feb 13 2007, 05:55 PM) [snapback]389896[/snapback]</div>
    Unfortunately, that goes for the rest of the Toyota lineup. There is no ambient lighting other than the dashboard and centre console stack.

    Whether that's a good thing or not is up to you to decide. Some people prefer darkness, others prefer ambient light that includes soft illumination for the window switches, interior door handles, shift lever, map pockets and just about anywhere else you can fit LED lights.
     
    #11 Tideland Prius, Feb 14, 2007
  12. ywbird

    ywbird New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tom 6850 @ Feb 13 2007, 07:32 AM) [snapback]389428[/snapback]</div>

    Thanks all for all the steering wheel info. Nice to know I'm not the only one out here thinking about the same things!
     
    #12 ywbird, Mar 28, 2007
  13. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    This is one of those topics that seems to really bother some folks and others, like myself, not at all.

    I find the illumination totally adequate when it's dark enough that you truely can't see the buttons and dim enough to not be noticable in dusky light when you can see the buttons if you need to. Every button has it's own texture and are readily learned in the first few months of driving...I use them by touch now and rarely look at them in the dark anyway....exceptions being the mode button and the up/down button for cycling through the stereo options.

    But I can see where a dimmer switch/control specifically for the steering wheel would be a nice luxurious feature that would make everyone need to search for something else that wasn't perfect.
     
    #13 efusco, Mar 28, 2007
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