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The 4 Inch Screens - Both Blacked Out

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by KimPrius3, Sep 9, 2016.

  1. KimPrius3

    KimPrius3 Member

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    Yesterday while running errands I came back to my Prius after having it parked (powered off) and found that when I started it the two 4 inch screens were black. Nothing showing up on them. I drove the car a short distance and then turn it off for a few seconds. Again the two screens were not lighting up. I waited an hour and started the car again, with the same results. I called the dealership where I purchased the car and the man asked if I could bring the car in right then. Being 2 hours away from the dealership, he suggested I take it to one that's about 45 minutes away. I asked if it was safe to drive the car and he said if I didn't feel that the car was safe, I could have it towed. After another few hours I got off from work and started the car again. The two screens were back to normal. Has this happened to anyone else? Any advise? I may take it in this weekend for a check.
     
    #1 KimPrius3, Sep 9, 2016
  2. booke02

    booke02 Active Member

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    I had a similar experience in my Gen 3 - it happened after I jump-started the car. My guess at the time was that when the available 12V is low, the system tries to conserve 12V power by turning off everything that is not essential. Next time I started the car, everything was back to normal.

    But it doesn't make sense in your case - unless you have a problem with your 12V battery - which is highly unlikely. If your 12V battery is healthy, then sound like a shaky connection.
     
    #2 booke02, Sep 9, 2016
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  3. Blizzard_Persona

    Blizzard_Persona Senior Member

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    There is an option to turn off the big screen..

    Could you have possibly hit that by mistake and then turned the radio on or something like that causing it to turn back on??
     
    #3 Blizzard_Persona, Sep 9, 2016
  4. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    That's a different screen though from what Kim lost.
     
    #4 alanclarkeau, Sep 9, 2016
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  5. Blizzard_Persona

    Blizzard_Persona Senior Member

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    Oh, was she meaning the speedometer screen and the one next to it? Sorry... I'm stumped.

    Maybe a short circuit or loose wire?
     
    #5 Blizzard_Persona, Sep 9, 2016
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  6. KimPrius3

    KimPrius3 Member

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    I discovered exactly how/why the two screens went black. So much to my embarrassment, I will share this information on this forum. There is a button/switch on the left side below the steering wheel about knee level. This switch allows you to turn off the two 4 inch screens or at least make them appear black. Apparently when getting in or out of the car, at some point I must have touched the switch and darkened the two screens. I hope this information can keep someone else from getting so freaked out and that they can avoid embarrassment. :oops: Still learning . . .
     
    #6 KimPrius3, Sep 10, 2016
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  7. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    Is that near the HUD, VSC and AutoHighBeam adjustment switches? If so, mine has a blank plate there, but I can see a +/- light adjustment switch on the UK online Owner's manual.
     
    #7 alanclarkeau, Sep 10, 2016
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  8. KimPrius3

    KimPrius3 Member

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    Yes, that's where it is and I will not forget it either.
     
    #8 KimPrius3, Sep 10, 2016
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  9. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    Thanks, Kim. I think you are referring to the dimmer switch? I didn't think it would black out the screens totally. But how did they suddenly come back on for you?
     
    #9 Coast Cruiser, Sep 10, 2016
  10. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    Ahh - I'd knocked the AutoHighBeam switch as well - I suspect maybe my knee.

    I checked my manual, and it tells me that meter brightness is adjusted through the steering wheel settings buttons. It also says there is a "SCREEN OFF" setting "turns the multi-information display off" - no idea why, and I haven't been game to try it. It's odd that they do different things in different countries.
     
    #10 alanclarkeau, Sep 10, 2016
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  11. KimPrius3

    KimPrius3 Member

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    I don't know, I just started up the car and they were on. I'm still a teeny bit concerned it might happen again and will be taking it straight to the dealer if it does. It sure scared me.
     
    #11 KimPrius3, Sep 10, 2016
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  12. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    It might be possible that the car resets to a "default" level after it's restarted? Now you got me curious. I gotta play with it tomorrow. :)
     
    #12 Coast Cruiser, Sep 10, 2016
  13. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    Did it turn your HUD off at the same time? Or did it keep shining with the display turned off?
     
    #13 alanclarkeau, Sep 10, 2016
  14. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    I turned my screens off today. It's just a dimmer switch, so I don't know why Toyota would make them go completely "black." I guess it would be good if you're parked for a long time at night and staying in the car with the power on... or sleeping in the car. (My seat is all the way back, so no chance of my knee hitting the switch.)
     
    #14 Coast Cruiser, Sep 10, 2016
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  15. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    I don't remember any other car I had, where you were able to completely turn off the speedometer light... while driving? And if you also turn off the big Nav/radio screen (which I did) it gets pretty dark in there.

    Mommy! :eek:
     
    #15 Coast Cruiser, Sep 11, 2016
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