My lights stayed on after turning off and locking my car recently and I needed my battery jump started. I tried it again at home and they stayed on, but lately they've been going off. I wonder if I'm doing something to cause this or if it's an electrical problem. Any thoughts?
When the car is properly turned off, even if the headlights are left on they will turn off after so many seconds (30 I think). I think if the parking lights are left on, but not the headlights, they will stay on and not turn off though. Are you sure the car is powered down completely in the situations where the lights never shut off? Is there a chance you left the car in accessory mode? Maybe the lights will not turn off themselves if left in accessory mode.
Are you turning the the headlights on before or after you start the car? If you turn them on after you start the car they will turn off 30 seconds after you shut off the car.
Wouldn't the lights come on themselves when you start the car....and go out after you shut it off? I have never turned lights on the past 3 or 4 vehicles since the mid 90's. As long as you leave your lights in the "Auto" position. Please tell me the Prius has this simple feature, I can't see them missing that with so many other hi-tech options.
Actually, if you use just parking lights, they turn off when you power down the car. (or, I'm about 75% sure that's what I've observed with mine...)
Not on the Level II in the US. However, the Canandian models can be different from the US. You can search the 2010 forum for other discussions of how to retrofit auto-headlight features. IMHO, Toyota tried for as low a price-point as possible for the 2010 Prius, and sacrificed some features that are common on their other vehicles.
Taken from one of many pages describing the 2010 Prius II, : Standard features on the Prius II include 15 inch alloy wheels, full power accessories, cruise control, a hybrid system display, automatic on/off headlights, keyless entry, keyless ignition, a height-adjustable driver seat, a tilt-telescoping steering column, and a 6-speaker audio system with a CD player and auxiliary audio jack. Am I missing something?
Yes, the answer given was "I don't know." It was perhaps clouded by the addition of "if you were in the US, there are no automatic lights." In the US, there is only one headlight position; on. If you turn them on while the car is running, then they will turn off (by default) 30 seconds after the car is shut off. When you turn the car back on, the headlights come back on. Under no circumstances will the car turn the headlights on when it gets dark or off when it gets bright. Toyota's website describes this as "auto-off". What I see on the Canadian website indicates "Automatic Headlamp System". I won't guess what that means, but it sounds different from what we have.
So there is a difference between Canadian and ameican models, but I thought that all Prius's we purhcased here in North America were made in Mississippi? I didn't know they made two difference models, one for Canada and one for the US. Seems odd huh, why would'nt one model be for all of us. Oh well, I'm glad they have the auto headlights on the Canadian version, can't for the life of me see why they would't put it on for all models.
All Prius worldwide are made in Japan. All US Prius have auto off headlights. Canadian law requires DRLs. With the headlights on, then when you turn off the 2010 Prius and open a front door, they turn off in 30 seconds*. If you never open a front door, they stay on and can run down the battery. (if you turn them on with the door already open they can rundown the battery) * You can have the dealer adjust this to 0 seconds (Gen II Prius have 0 seconds after the drivers door)
well, that explains things, its a law requirement, thats why. Its the DRL's. Thanks for straighting that out Jimbo.
