Oh crap I have the red triangle with exclamation point!

Check your oil level

 

If you are due for an oil change, then change the oil. But you really should add oil to the engine before starting it. You may already have damaged the engine, you don't want to damage it more. If there is no oil pressure, that is very harmful to the car.

 

You should not drive the car if it's low on oil. 2 miles can really damage it. Maybe someone at sears can check the level for you before you drive it across?

 

If the engine oil is low enough to trigger the light, don't drive it without adding oil. Check it first.



Locate the oil dip stick with the yellow handle (circled in green). When the car has been sitting on level ground for at least an hour or so, pull out the dipstick (observe the tube that it came from) clean it off with a rag or paper towel and put it all the way back into its tube. Then pull it out again, hold it horizontally and see how far up from the bottom is coated with oil. There are two holes drilled near the bottom. They are the low and high oil level marks. If the level is below the low hole or does not coat the dipstick at all, purchase a quart or two of 5W-30 motor oil, open the black cap (circled in purple) and carefully add oil, a little at a time (a funnel makes it easier) checking the level on the dipstick until it is between the two little holes.

While under the hood, look at the fluid reservoirs. The engine coolant reservoir is just below the oil dipstick in the photo. Although not a definitive indication of level, if you look at the engine-side of the tank, pink coolant should be between the low and high level marks molded into the tank.

To the right and near the back of the engine compartment is another reservoir for inverter coolant. It should also be filled with pink coolant, between the marks (most of the way full).

There are lots of things that can trigger the red triangle light, including the drivers' door not being closed all the way when in gear. I believe a very low 12v aux battery can also trigger it. Has the 12v aux battery (in the trunk) been replaced?

 

Add oil before starting.....but you need to make sure it's low oil causing your light to go on. Takes 30 seconds to check

 

Yes 1 qt is plenty.

 

All this oil stuff is probably moot. check the photo of the dipstick in the thread below -- if your oil level is between the two marks -- anywhere between it -- it is fine. If it is slightly below the bottom mark, that is no big deal and would not cause your problem, but you need to add about a quart.

If it above the high mark by more than a tiny bit, which I doubt, that could be your problem. But, again, from your description, I doubt it is the oil.

Take a look at the photo on this thread:
Trying to break an old habit. | Page 2 | PriusChat

 

If you do not drive much, your 12V auxillary could be bad, even though only a couple of years old....that is the first place I would look.

 

It should and it will, but you read the message out using a "scan tool" that plugs into the connector on the underside of the dash, kind of below the steering wheel. You need a tool that is capable of reading all the important messages from a Prius, not just the the most common car codes like the scanners sold at Auto Zone, etc.

If you search around this forum you'll find lots of references to "Mini VCI" which is inexpensive and will let you find out what your car is trying to tell you.

The light you're seeing comes on for literally dozens of different possible reasons, so it is really important to have the trouble codes to have even a clue what is wrong with the car.

If you don't want to wait for a Mini VCI to be shipped to you (and set it up with a laptop etc.), you can always have the codes read at a nearby Toyota dealer. As you've confirmed the issue isn't a low oil level, if the car will drive for you and you have a dealer nearby, that will probably be fastest.

-Chap