Dim MFD when turned on the first time each day

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by SebMike, Apr 20, 2007.

  1. SebMike

    SebMike New Member

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    I've noticed what I think is strange behavior of my MFD lately. I typically have the display off. Lately, in the morning on my way to work, I've turned it on to check outside temperature. When I turn it on, it's very dim, and slowly comes up to full brightness over 10-15 seconds. It's almost like the backlight (?) is coming up to full brightness slowly.

    Once it's at full brightness, if I turn the display off and then back on a little later, it snaps on to full brightness as I would have expected it to the first time I turned it on.

    If I turn it off before it's at full brightness, and then back on a little later, it stills exhibits this kind of brightness rampup thing.

    Anyone else notice this behavior?

    Anything I should be concerned about backlight or LCD or the something else in MFD getting ready to die?

    Mornings have been in the mid-40's (F) lately, do not know if maybe there's a cold(ish) sensitivity...

    Thanks,
    Mike
     
  2. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SebMike @ Apr 20 2007, 04:53 PM) [snapback]426975[/snapback]</div>
    Hi Mike,
    The search tool is a wonderful thing. Using it you'll find me asking the same Q beginning last winter. Our Prius is an '04 but the dim MFD didn't occur until what ~ 6 months ago? The guru who responded to me basicly said, fahgedaboudit ~
    Meaning the MFD light is akin to a flourescent lamp. Ever have any compact flourescent lamps in your house? You'll notice the same behavior ... namely that it takes a few short moments for the lamp to get up to speed ... especially on cold mornings after being off all night. Hope that makes you feel as good as I did, when I got the good "all is normal" news.
     
  3. SebMike

    SebMike New Member

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    Beauty, thanks hill. That does make me feel better...I thought it looked like a slow flourescent tube coming on too, just without all the flicker you get with the cheap ballasts/fixtures in the garage :)

    I even tried the search tool, but couldn't find a symptom that sounded just like mine...in fact some threads I found made me feel more worried than I started.

    Regardless, thanks for the reply.

    Mike
     
  4. wyounger

    wyounger New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SebMike @ Apr 20 2007, 04:53 PM) [snapback]426975[/snapback]</div>
    Mine does this too. But so does my laptop. And my desktop with LCD monitor.

    They are consistent enough about it that I'm not worried.