I bought a new Prius a few months ago. Very occasionally when I am driving, the instrument panel lights, which are normally brightly lit, go dim for no apparent reason.
Is this normal or is there a fault somewhere?

Is this something to do with the light sensor (front of the dash panel, passenger side) deciding whether it's daytime or nighttime?
I think it's most noticeable if you are driving at dusk.

Fujisan is right - it's totally normal, and caused by the light sensor in the dashboard.

It only happens when driving during daylight/dusk with your headlights turned on. When you drive under a bridge / go though a tunnel/ under trees / etc the sensor detects that it's got darker - so it dims the dispays to reduce glare. When you pop out into normal daylight again - it reverts back to daytime mode.

Same thing happened on my previous Volvo - The colours on the console display inverted at dusk/night times.

I know on the T-spirit display, you can switch to day colours, not sure about the T3.

[quote name='flow' post='969999' date='Feb 8 2010, 07:08 AM']I know on the T-spirit display, you can switch to day colours, not sure about the T3.[/quote]

How do you do that. Ta?

[quote name='OvertheHill' post='970000' date='Feb 8 2010, 07:16 AM'][quote name='flow' post='969999' date='Feb 8 2010, 07:08 AM']I know on the T-spirit display, you can switch to day colours, not sure about the T3.[/quote]

How do you do that. Ta?
[/quote]

Press the 'Disp' button and then press 'Day Mode' on the screen.

Thanks for the replies and for the reassurance.
I am glad it's not a fault and that I don't have to take it to a Toyota garage - - - - I have a feeling they may be slightly busy this week!