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Does Air Conditioner have daylight sensor?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by charlesp210, Feb 27, 2008.

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  1. charlesp210

    charlesp210 New Member

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    I recall my first (2001) Prius Air Conditioner had a daylight sensor. It didn't work perfectly, but it was clear that it was doing something. (I can't remember exactly how well it worked now, maybe it overcompensated.) I read about it too.

    It's not so obvious my 2006 Prius A/C has a daylight sensor. I always have to manually bump down the temperature in daylight, then bump it up at night time. Consistently. Call me thin skinned, but I like to be comfortable (and I live in Texas). Particularly on a bright sunny day, it can be cool outside, but with the sun blasting on me I want A/C. Fortunately, with Option Package 7, I have the temperature controls on the steering wheel.

    But could it be that 2004-2008 Prius A/C has a daylight sensor, and mine isn't working, or isn't adjusted properly?
     
    #1 charlesp210, Feb 27, 2008
  2. dogfriend

    dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid

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    Yes, there is a daylight (aka solar) sensor located at the base of the windshield at the drivers side corner.
     

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    #2 dogfriend, Feb 27, 2008
  3. Grunthos

    Grunthos Senior Azgoth Poetmaster

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    I've been wondering why there was a light sensor there. I always assumed that Prii in other countries had automatic headlights, or something.
     
    #3 Grunthos, Feb 27, 2008
  4. dogfriend

    dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid

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    Yes, there is actually two locations, but on US cars one is blank. That is for Auto Headlights which we don't get. There are references to it in the owners manual and some of the repair manuals.
     
    #4 dogfriend, Feb 27, 2008
  5. Bill Merchant

    Bill Merchant absit invidia

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    Welcome to PriusChat, charlesp210! The Auto setting on the air conditioning system works pretty well at keeping the cabin air temperature at what you set, but it can't compensate for direct solar heating on your skin. The glass on the new Prius has a high iron content so it tends to reflect infrared radiation to keep the cabin cool, but Texas sun is still hot.
     
    #5 Bill Merchant, Feb 28, 2008
  6. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    It has a temperature and humidity sensor but it doesn't have a solar sensor (say.. like an Acura TL) so it doesn't automatically direct more (cool) air to the side of the car facing the sun.
     
    #6 Tideland Prius, Feb 28, 2008
  7. Bill Merchant

    Bill Merchant absit invidia

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    TP, the North American Prius DOES have a solar sensor. Take a look at dogfriend's pdf. It may not work like Honda's, but it exists and cools more when the sun shines.
     
    #7 Bill Merchant, Feb 28, 2008
  8. Marlin

    Marlin New Member

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    Yeah, there's a sensor, and it works fairly well. Except when the Pennsylvania inspection stickers casts a shadow across it. When I get my Prius inspected, I have to ask them to mount the stickers a little higher so they don't block the sensor. Otherwise, I have to keep bumping the AC up and down depending on which direction the car is facing. Head north and the sensor is in a shadow and the AC turns down. Head south and the AC starts blasting out cold air.
     
    #8 Marlin, Feb 28, 2008
  9. darelldd

    darelldd Prius is our Gas Guzzler

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    Marlin - you've just explained something that truly has mystified me all these days. I have had the North-South experience several times, and could not figure out what was going on!
     
    #9 darelldd, Feb 28, 2008
  10. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    Yep, my Prius has two bumps: one for the auto headlights, and one for the climate control
     
    #10 jayman, Feb 28, 2008
  11. Flying White Dutchman

    Flying White Dutchman Senior Member

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    ok
    my prius only got 1
    maybe that one can be used by a canbus to operate auto headlight?
     
    #11 Flying White Dutchman, Feb 28, 2008
  12. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Yeah I know, that's what I called the temperature sensor lol.

    The "solar" sensor (and I guess you'll have to come up with your own name since you already used solar sensor) that I'm referring to in the Acura TL can actually sense which side is facing the sun and can direct more cold air (probably requires dual-zone automatic climate control) to that side of the car to maintain the desired temperature rather than having to make the passenger lower the temperature manually.

    Hmm.. maybe I can call it the "sun" sensor instead?
     
    #12 Tideland Prius, Feb 28, 2008
  13. Fibb222

    Fibb222 New Member

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    Mine too, but only in Canada, eh.
     
    #13 Fibb222, Feb 28, 2008
  14. charlesp210

    charlesp210 New Member

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    Thanks! Well now I know why my sunlight sensor wasn't working very well, I have three stickers right above it !!!

    I'm going to be migrating the stickers upward, but it will take awhile because they have to be in a particular order, but I'll move each one up when I get the new one, if I can.

    Seems to me they could have picked a better spot for the sensor than on the left side, where often US state laws require you to place the registration and inspection stickers.
     
    #14 charlesp210, Feb 29, 2008
  15. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    It'll be on the passenger side on RHD cars ;)
     
    #15 Tideland Prius, Feb 29, 2008
  16. ken1784

    ken1784 SuperMID designer

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    It is equipped with a photo-diode and detects the sunlight.
    It can't be a temperature sensor.

    Ken@Japan
     
    #16 ken1784, Mar 1, 2008
  17. ken1784

    ken1784 SuperMID designer

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    Japanese RHD Prius comes with the solar sensor on the right, driver side.

    Ken@Japan
     
    #17 ken1784, Mar 1, 2008
  18. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    So yours is slightly more sophisticated than ours?

    Cause I know for sure it won't blow colder air to one side of the car if that side is facing the sun (we don't even have dual zone)
     
    #18 Tideland Prius, Mar 2, 2008
  19. ken1784

    ken1784 SuperMID designer

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    Um...
    NA LHD Prius comes with the solar sensor on the left, driver side.
    JP RHD Prius comes with the solar sensor on the right, driver side.
    Why do you think JP Prius is more sophisticated than NA's?

    Ken@Japan
     
    #19 ken1784, Mar 2, 2008
  20. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    ok never mind. You guys don't know what I'm talking about so I'll just agree and say yes you're right. My words are being jumbled up. I know what you guys are talking about and my choice of words are probably not good choices cause both of you got confused :(.
     
    #20 Tideland Prius, Mar 2, 2008
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