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2010 Prius IV mystery button

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Ralph Spoilsport, Mar 12, 2016.

  1. Ralph Spoilsport

    Ralph Spoilsport Junior Member

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    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Hi everyone, I'm back after a long absence. Just got rid of my 2014 Prius C and acquired a beautiful blue 2010 Prius IV. Seems to be running great, a few odd sounds, but I love it.

    It came with a few mysteries (I bought it from a proxy, not from the actual owner/driver):

    Below and to the left of the steering wheel, where the mirror controls, the solar fan switch, and the interior light level adjustment live, there is an on/off switch. It's an aftermarket thing -- the folks at my local Toyota dealership could not figure out what it does. I can't figure out what it does. Any guesses?

    (I can't seem to figure out how to post a photo.)

    Thanks everyone! More questions later probably!

    Ralph Spoilsport.

    Prius mystery button.jpg Here's a photo
     
    #1 Ralph Spoilsport, Mar 12, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 12, 2016
  2. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Congrats!

    Well it's where I installed my foglight switch when I added foglights (only the V/Five had foglights). Perhaps that's what it is? (or maybe it's a PCer's former car lol)
     
    #2 Tideland Prius, Mar 12, 2016
    sprtent likes this.
  3. 48mpg

    48mpg Member

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    what ever you do dont press that button..bad things can happen when you press random buttons...could start WW3 :confused:
     
    #3 48mpg, Mar 13, 2016
  4. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

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    Turn it on and see what happens!
     
    #4 RRxing, Mar 13, 2016
  5. Ralph Spoilsport

    Ralph Spoilsport Junior Member

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    Location:
    Palm Desert CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Hi Tideland, thanks very much. I think it might be for the foglights -- because there are foglights on the front of my car, but I do not have the foglight on/off controls on the headlight-control steering wheel stem.

    The reason it's a mystery, I guess, is they don't work. When I toggle that on/off switch, nothing happens. I suppose I'll see if I can find someone to take a look. But since I live in a place where there's never fog, maybe I don't really care.

    Thanks so much!
     
    #5 Ralph Spoilsport, Mar 13, 2016
  6. Montgomery

    Montgomery Senior Member

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    Turn it on, then see if you wind up in a funny little town that has no other people.......and then the voice of Rod Serling starts to chime in.......
     
    #6 Montgomery, Mar 13, 2016
  7. FuelMiser

    FuelMiser Senior Member

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    Try the "foglight" switch again, with the main lights in varying positions. Sometimes, they are wired to not work when main headlights are ON, and only work when main switch is in the parking light position. Your car should also be in the READY mode. Failing that, you could check the fusebox for where they might have tapped in that switch and check fuses. Maybe the previous owner is just messin' with you by putting a dummy switch in the panel! Maybe a mod he started but didn't finish.
     
    #7 FuelMiser, Mar 13, 2016
  8. Kramah313

    Kramah313 Active Member

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    Navigation override maybe? So you can change settings or enter nav destinations with the vehicle moving?
     
    #8 Kramah313, Mar 13, 2016
  9. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    :D

    Depending on how they're wired, you need the parking lights or the low beam headlights to be on before the foglights will come on. They will not turn on on their own.
     
    #9 Tideland Prius, Mar 13, 2016
    48mpg likes this.
  10. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    The daytime running lights on my Prius won't come on if the parking brake is engaged. Because... who knows?
     
    #10 Rebound, Mar 13, 2016
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