1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Mystery on my dash

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by wegie12, Oct 17, 2007.

  1. wegie12

    wegie12 New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2007
    2
    0
    0
    Hello everyone,

    I bought a Silver 2007 Prius hatchback with package #6 two weeks ago. I love it so far. its everything I hoped it would be. I have a question. there is a small dark brown square thing sitting on my dash on the passengers side up next to the windshield. looks like a piece of chocolate candy. looks like it is sitting on a 3"X3" plastic base of the same color. there is a wire leading from the back side toward the windshield and down into the dashboard of the car. I have looked in every book and folder that came with the car and cant find any information on its identification. my husband thought it might be for the auto on/off headlights but the book describes that sensor as being in the drivers side and I can see the "bubble" that is, I believe, the headlights sensor. So we cannot figure out what the one on the passengers side could be. does anyone have the answer?
    Thank You
     
    #1 wegie12, Oct 17, 2007
  2. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2003
    19,891
    1,191
    9
    Location:
    Nixa, MO
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Sounds like a satellite radio antenna
     
    #2 efusco, Oct 17, 2007
  3. meshell

    meshell New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2006
    65
    0
    0
    do you have satellite radio...it sounds like you are describing the antenna...just a a thought...
     
    #3 meshell, Oct 17, 2007
  4. lmalchiodi

    lmalchiodi New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 10, 2007
    17
    0
    0
    You've precisely described my XM satellite radio antenna. :)

    I'm sure that's what it is.
     
    #4 lmalchiodi, Oct 17, 2007
  5. richlaz

    richlaz New Member

    Joined:
    May 31, 2007
    21
    0
    0
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Echo111 @ Oct 17 2007, 12:33 PM) [snapback]526914[/snapback]</div>
    I have a 07 with #6 package, but don't have auto on/off lights. Is that only offered in certain regions?
     
    #5 richlaz, Oct 17, 2007
  6. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,830
    16,066
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(richlaz @ Oct 17 2007, 10:22 AM) [snapback]526947[/snapback]</div>
    By regions you mean country, then yes. It's only available in Canada.
     
    #6 Tideland Prius, Oct 17, 2007
  7. Bohous

    Bohous New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2006
    316
    1
    0
    Location:
    Boston-ish
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    It's definitely a bomb.
    Slowly...step...away.....from...the....car.....

    Oh, and call Keanu Reeves ASAP.
     
    #7 Bohous, Oct 17, 2007
  8. subarutoo

    subarutoo New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2006
    1,213
    23
    0
    Location:
    Chatsworth, CA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(richlaz @ Oct 17 2007, 10:22 AM) [snapback]526947[/snapback]</div>
    Every Prius in America has Auto "off" lights. Just turn the car off and open the driver's door. The auto "on" lights are an option for other countries, like Canada where all the time lights are required.
     
    #8 subarutoo, Oct 17, 2007
  9. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2006
    5,963
    1,981
    0
    Location:
    Edmonton Alberta
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(subarutoo @ Oct 17 2007, 01:15 PM) [snapback]527014[/snapback]</div>
    I'm not sure you understand, so please don't take offense.

    The auto on headlamps the Canadian cars come with is separate from the daytime running lights (DRLs). It's a function on the light switch on the left stick that has "off, park lights, on, and auto" positions. In the "auto" position the headlamps will come on as it gets dark out (sensor on dash at base of windshield). Curiously, the dash lights don't dim when the headlamps first come on, they dim when it gets a little darker out. If left in the "auto" position, the headlamps will go out when you turn off the car and open the drivers door, as do the DRLs, and the headlamps in the US car if the switch is left on.

    Note that the DRLs use the headlamps run in a dim configuration, and when the headlamp function comes on the lights go to full bright. Further, this does not apply to the HID headlamps, as we don't have them up here. I would guess if they became a Canadian option, the turn signals would be used, probably having the bulbs replaced with a dual filament one, the brighter one used for DRLs like the Chrysler mini-vans and other vehicles.

    Also, the DRLs don't come on when you turn on the car if the parking brake is engaged. They turn on when it is released. If the parking brake is not engaged when you turn on the car, they come on. They don't go out when you then engage the parking brake. Curious eh? :p
     
    #9 David Beale, Oct 17, 2007
  10. wegie12

    wegie12 New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2007
    2
    0
    0
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(LynneM @ Oct 17 2007, 11:59 AM) [snapback]526932[/snapback]</div>
    Yes, it is the xm radio antenna. Thank you all for the quick replys. I am surprised the salesman did not seem to know.
     
    #10 wegie12, Oct 18, 2007
  11. auricchio

    auricchio Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2006
    921
    7
    0
    Location:
    Cambria, CA, USA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Echo111 @ Oct 18 2007, 12:05 PM) [snapback]527410[/snapback]</div>
    You haven't dealt with enough car salesmen. There is no end to what they don't know. What's worse, they'll never say "I don't know." They'll make up something.
     
    #11 auricchio, Oct 18, 2007
  12. Inches

    Inches Member

    Joined:
    Jun 9, 2007
    117
    5
    0
    Location:
    San Mateo, CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bohous @ Oct 17 2007, 10:45 AM) [snapback]526961[/snapback]</div>
    Waiting for OnStar to activate :lol:
     
    #12 Inches, Oct 19, 2007
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)