1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Unusual problem - red triangle keeps showing up!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by anaklp, Mar 17, 2010.

  1. anaklp

    anaklp New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2010
    3
    0
    0
    Location:
    Orange County
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Hello all,

    I have a 2005 Prius (Package 6). In live in Orange County, CA for the past 2 months sometimes in the morning the car wouldn’t start instead all the emergency lights turned on. After I waited for about 10 min, everything was fine. This happened about 3 times. Since temp averages to about 50s in the morn I thought it might be because of the weather. I checked it out with my mechanic and everything seemed fine, including the 12V battery.

    Yesterday around noon with an outside temp of about 86degF, the car did not start and the emergency light came on with a parking transmission error that showed up on the GPS nav screen. I waited 10 min, turned on the car, this time it turned on but the gear could not be shifted. When I pressed the start button with the break pressed all the way down the car wouldn’t turn off! My key would not come of the holder. I waited for another few minutes and then the car turned off ..phew! I realized by then this problem might be a biggie and I might have to tow to the dealer. 15 minutes later I started the car, was able to move the gear to D, had 3 warning lights on – the triangle, check engine and ABS light. In that condition I ventured out to the nearest dealer 9 mi away. The tech noted down all the details, noted that they would have to run the diagnostics for $120! ( Of course!) Since I had no other choice and no one else was able to diagnose the problem , I relented and agreed to leave my car. 15 min later in the dealership we turned on the car and hey presto all emergency lights had gone. 3 hours later the techs came up with diagnostic report, no error report came up. The car had not registered any of the above events! Since they didnt know what was wrong, there is nothing to fix!


    This afternoon the red triangle came up again…I drove around with it and parked it and it ran fine. 30 min later it the triangle was gone. I have no idea what to do next and how to fix this problem. I discussed all possible options with Toyota – reloading software, possibility of a s/w glitch. They had no idea what to do and I have reached a dead end.

    Any suggestions from all you experts out there? I still have hope in my car!
     
    #1 anaklp, Mar 17, 2010
  2. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,871
    2
    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    I am terrified to answer for fear the OP will wait another 2 months before seeking a mechanic who can read his car's failure codes.
     
    #2 JimboPalmer, Mar 17, 2010
  3. northwichita

    northwichita .

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2006
    481
    102
    29
    Location:
    Wichita KS
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    #3 northwichita, Mar 17, 2010
    1 person likes this.
  4. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    18,200
    6,482
    0
    Location:
    Green Valley, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    My suggestion is that you start by replacing the 12V battery, since it is five years old.
     
    #4 Patrick Wong, Mar 17, 2010
    1 person likes this.
  5. don_chuwish

    don_chuwish Well Seasoned Member

    Joined:
    May 1, 2009
    816
    182
    0
    Location:
    Southern Oregon
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    #5 don_chuwish, Mar 17, 2010
    1 person likes this.
  6. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2006
    7,028
    1,116
    0
    Location:
    South Jersey
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Why do you believe your 12v battery is good? How old is it? What are the voltages? Your mechanic should have given the numbers to you. The dealer should have done so as well. Either nobody is actually looking at your car or we aren't getting a whole story.

    If you believe the 12v battery should read 12v then that is the problem. I would bet money that even the worst mechanic at the worst dealer would have tried to sell you a battery.

    If the 12v is sufficiently weak the SKS won't work, the interior lights won't turn on & your car will impersonate a brick. You'll then have a choice between towing the car to the dealer or buying a battery at the dealer & taking it to your car.
     
    #6 JimN, Mar 17, 2010
  7. jelloslug

    jelloslug It buffed right out!

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2008
    813
    54
    0
    Location:
    Greenville, SC
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    My salvage car would the exact same thing when the 12V battery was dead. Replace the 12V battery and you will be just fine.
     
    #7 jelloslug, Mar 24, 2010
  8. andyprius

    andyprius Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2005
    2,212
    188
    0
    Location:
    Sacramento, California.
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    How much simpler to just throw in another known good battery and see if the problem goes away! The voltage, or the Force provided so current can flow is only part of the story! The real battery test is to put a proper load on it according to specs and note the output. Most garages are incapable of this. Unfortunately even Toyota dealers can be guilty of this deficiency.
     
    #8 andyprius, Mar 24, 2010
  9. Nice_Rumble

    Nice_Rumble Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2005
    20
    3
    0
    Location:
    New London, NH
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    My wife had the same symptoms and it turned out to be the 12v battery. We replaced the battery and have not had the problem since. Fortunately this forum suggested the solution before we took it to the dealer. Cheaper than a diagnostics which told you nothing.
     
    #9 Nice_Rumble, Mar 24, 2010
  10. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2004
    7,663
    1,041
    0
    Location:
    United States
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    All true, and that's why the built-in test is so nice: the car itself provides a load for one of the measurements.
    http://priuschat.com/forums/newbie-forum/73400-weird-stuff-happening-mpgs-dropping-test-battery.html
    Praise be to jdenenberg for revealing the procedure.
     
    #10 richard schumacher, Mar 24, 2010
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)