In the UK when it is raining in the daytime it is required by law to turn on dipped headlights.On the gen2 Prius this dims the dash display and turns the navigation screen to night settings. This makes the displays difficult to see. IS there a simple way round this problem, we do not have the thumb wheel control for dash illumination as in the US.
Hi BP. We don't have the thumb-wheel control either, but don't worry it can all be done via the display screen on the MFD. With the headlights off, hit the "display" button on the MFD and you'll see you have on-screen brightness and contrast controls. The brightness should be 50% by default. Now turn the headlights on (just to parkers will do) and you'll see a new on-screen button "Day Mode" appear. You can set the brightness independently for headlights on/off modes (even without using the "day mode" setting). I find that if I adjust it to max brightness with the lights on then it's exactly the same as the normal brightness settings with the lights off. It actually remembers the two brightness settings and automatically switches between them as you change between lights-on and lights-off. The "day mode" is optional, if selected it uses the same contrast/color scheme irrespective of whether the headlights are on or off (but you still need to set the brightness to a higher on-screen setting with the lights on to make them really the same).
Thanks uart i'll give it a go tomorrow but does that mean i'll then have to turn the brightness down when I go out at night.
is it possible to order and install the roller switch that we have in the US? every prius is about the same... just different pins ran for different parts of the world... as an example.. my 04 doesn't come with a backup camera.. but the controls and software is there for it... i just need to plug one in... (wasn't "available" till 06)... or... the ev button override... that's a simple wiring trick...
This may be true if your 2004 has the factory nav system installed. However if it does not, then the MFD lacks sufficient resolution to work with the backup camera.
true.. i'm simply stating that even though it wasn't an option... it's wired for it. i would assume the harness is wired for that switch already.. or semi wired...
Great! I have the 2004 with Nav. How can I install the backup cam, where to find hardware? Anyone did this before?
Toyota agent cannot order US part in EU so I would have to rely on someone in the US getting the part for me but as a retired electrical engineer the EU version seems to be software driven so may not be as easy as you seem to think. Cable runs in the UK version are very different as an example, we do not have heated mirrors on the UK gen2, and the wiring is not in the doors or mirrors if it were it would be easy to add this greatly missed feature.
Just one question regarding the original issue BritPrius. Is that parking lights or normal (low beam) headlights that you're talking about? Also, the amount of light and visibility during rain can very quite significantly from one event to another. For example a light shower might have little or no reduction in ambient light levels whereas a very heavy late afternoon storm can reduce the light to near night time levels. Is this law very rigidly policed? Yet another thing I've noticed in reduced visibility rain conditions here (where up to a point the use of lights is basically up to the drivers discretion). My observation is that the color of the car is often just as important as whether or not the lights are on. I've noticed that a white car with lights off can be just as visible as a dark grey/blue/black car with lights on. This is particularly the case where the rain is only light to moderate.
The law requires dipped headlights if it raining irrespective of how light or dark, or even how heavy the rain is but it is not rigidly enforced. In an accident situation insurance companies will say you were not visible without lights and deduct your no claims bonus. I believe this law was introduce by the EU.
The quick way to do this is to press the km/h / MPH button while the lights are on. The first push normally dims again, then again, then it goes to full brightness (there are 4 brightness settings). If you get the brightest setting, the sat-nav goes to normal day brightness - but don't do this at night - it can dazzle. The next time you turn on the lights it reverts to the first night setting. I hope this is the simple solution that you were looking for ! Forgive me saying this but there is no law that requires headlights in the UK when it rains although I often wish there was. Having taught driving I would have known if such a law had been introduced - maybe they were thinking of introducing it.
