Assuming the car is locked and the option has been selected, are the driving lights, interior lights, and puddle lights supposed to come on automatically if you approach the car with key in pocket or must you first use fob to unlock the car?

 

The puddle and interior lights are suppose to come on when you approach the locked car. The DRLs come on when you unlock the car.

 

I was wondering the same thing and found you don't always notice them as they slowly brighten up. So if you are quick to the car they are barely noticeable.
I belive that the time to full on can be set by the dealer or an app.

 

Used the beta version for iphone for carista app and option enabled but lights do not come on at night when approaching the car. I wonder if this option may not apply to '13. They do come on if I use fob to unlock the car.

 

All years should be the same. The car must be locked. Then, as you approach the car at night (with ambient darkness) the puddle lights will slowly light-up when you (and the key fob) are a couple of steps away.

 

Thanks for response. Car is in garage and locked but when approached, no deal. Will try outdoors tomorrow. Does light up when I unlock with FOB

 

With your car locked and in a dark garage - that is when you should see the puddle lights turn On as you approach the car with your key fob either in your pocket or in-hand. You must get pretty close to the car for it to activate the puddle lights.

I don't believe the turning On/Off of the puddle lights can be set by either owner or dealer. Thus, I don't know why yours is not working as I know it should. My guess is that maybe the key fob battery might be weak since it is the key fob that is sending a signal to the car from a small distance away...just like the key fob sends a signal to the car when you are sitting in the driver's seat to start the engine, but the key fob is much closer when you are behind the steering wheel versus approaching the car from outside.

 

If u have ur mirrors folded it makes the puddle light useless cause it's beaming at the door instead of the floor.

 

I believe he has a 2013 GS 350 that do not have folding side mirrors.

 

Interesting. Tried both keys in dark garage and no go. Again when unlocked with FOB, lights up like a Christmas tree. I guess I will have dealer check out at next service.

 

The Carista app should be able to check the settings, maybe it's turned off.

 

Carista app indicates enabled. Checked yes and saved again but same result.

 

Are you saying that the app does list them as 'puddle lights'? Do you see anything in the app about 'Outer Foot Lights' under illumination?

 

Check to see if the bulb is still functional. Instructions on how to replace bulb is somewhere on the forum. Might be a good time to change it to LED.

 

I can't imagine both bulbs are burned out.

The puddle lights take some time to turn On even when you are physically very close to the car. I've approached my locked car in the dark a number of times, and about the time I have my hand on the door handle the puddle lights are only starting to come On. Maybe I need to take itty-bitty footsteps as I approach the car and then stop at the door to, uh...adjust myself, in hopes the puddle lights come On before I touch the door handle...