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2018 Prius Four - cons

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by LilyT, Jan 26, 2018.

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  1. LilyT

    LilyT Junior Member

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    @alanclarkeau Correction: turning on the headlamp does illuminate all the buttons on driver side door (I haven't checked other doors) and the buttons around the big screen, it doesn't help on the garage door opener buttons though.
    In my previous reply, I mentioned that I had to reply on finger to locate the unlock door button on the driver side door. Here is the scenario behind it. I need to pick up my son after school around 6pm. I arrive at the parking lot a couple minutes ahead of time, shut down the engine, turn off the headlamp, sit and wait in the dark. When I see him coming out of the building, I turn on the dome light and search for the button to unlock the door. Unfortunately, the dome light is dim & narrow, and the turning wheel is in its the way, further blocking the light from illuminating the door buttons. I have to use my finger to feel which one to press.
    My old driving habit is to start the engine first, turn on headlamps, switch the gear, then go. If I had changed the order so that I turned on headlamps first, then I would have noticed the door buttons got illuminated.
    Well, I need to grow new driving habits with the new car.
     
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  2. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

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    I carry a small led pencil torch, but haven't had cause to use it yet and mine had black fabric upholstery.
     
  3. Diemaster

    Diemaster Active Member

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    i got some of these led bulbs from superbrightleds.com for the front dome light. there the brightest 194 bulb they sell. get the warm white as it's kelven temp (how red or blue the light is) is very close to a filament bulb.

    this one is a good matching warm white for the rear dome light.
     
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  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Our third gen's like that too. I can recall, we were picking someone up at night, and all the doors were locked (auto-locked I guess), so I'm looking down at the arm rest, trying to discern the lock/unlock switch, good luck with that! There was one little point of light, which I determined later was in the middle of the lock side (iirc) of the lock/unlock rocker switch, nada on the window switches. They really all should be backlighted, but nope.
     
  5. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    What about using the reading lamp(s)?

    Alternatively, press POWER and your Auto headlights would come on, and the buttons will then light up.
     
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  6. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    They implied the buttons on the mirror do not light up. My car is too basic to have that feature so I cannot verify that.
     
    #26 Prodigyplace, Jan 28, 2018
    Last edited: Jan 28, 2018
  7. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

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    Thought you had dogs? :sneaky:
     
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  8. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    I don't have a CAT - but my dogs have headlights
    upload_2018-1-28_21-33-59.png upload_2018-1-28_21-37-7.png

    Back to PRIUS - with my PRIUS - I tried it, when I drove into my carport (but I don't have a Garage Door, or a Garage Door Opener), I POWERED OFF, and sat in the car. After 5 mins I got bored, because nothing changed.

    My headlights and taillights were still on, 53 back-lit indicator lights were on on the armrests, dashboard and overhead lamp display. BUT - there were NO lights on my mirror - but mine only has one button "AUTO" for auto-dim, and it wasn't back-lit. There was one red light flashing occasionally on the dashboard - the IMMOBILISER SECURITY INDICATOR LAMP: upload_2018-1-28_21-51-51.png

    So, sorry, I'm not sure, I think mine might be too different from yours.

    You could ask your dealer - they might be able to advise or check another car.
     
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  9. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    LOL - corrected my typo (Phone auto-correct?)
     
  10. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

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    Gee. Never heard of that problem myself! :sneaky::ROFLMAO:
     
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  11. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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  12. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

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    Didn't I say it was futuristic in another thread? Well spotted Hawkeye!
     
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  13. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    3rd gen homelink buttons don't light, we're only using the left end button, I find it by braille method. Actually even in day light, it's too distracting to be looking up, trying to find diminutive button visually, day or night.

    And yeah, the driver's side armrest buttons, door look and windows up/down, are all dark (with headlights on), apart from one DOT of light on the lock side of the door lock/unlock rocker switch.

    How do 4th gen drive'rs door buttons compare, do they light with headlights on?
     
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  14. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    They lettering is backlit, just like the dash buttons around the MFD and the steering wheel buttons.
     
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  15. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    The overhead ones are:
    upload_2018-1-29_10-49-12.png

    As are the door:

    upload_2018-1-29_10-49-59.png
     
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  16. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I wonder if I have some lights burnt out? Or maybe flakey memory? Or I had the lights off. I'll check.
     
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  17. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Ok I kind of lied: there is a light bar on each window switch, and a single dot of light on the door lock rocker. The latter is not that helpful though; 4th Gen is an improvement.

    IMG_8186.JPG
     
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  18. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Yeah, the Gen 3 was the first Prius with illuminated buttons (yay!). Power window switches and the driver's side door lock (yeah, that dot in Mendel's picture is the LOCK side of the power door lock. It's a raised dome, while the unlock side is a depressed dome).

    Gen 3.5 (i.e.2012-2015) brought illuminated mirror controls.

    Gen 4 obviously stepped it up with full illumination of the mirror and door lock controls as well as an illuminated window lock and overhead switches. (Gen 3 had no illuminated for the overhead lights but the sliding knob was easy to find)
     
  19. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

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    You really should check your phrases for ambiguities. ;):whistle:
     
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  20. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

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    Takes one to know one, they say.... :sneaky: