Blinking check engine light?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by spacecoastbill, Oct 9, 2017.

  1. spacecoastbill

    spacecoastbill Junior Member

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    I have a 2011 Prius. I just had an alarm system installed. I do not know if this is something that happened before the install or not.

    When I turn off the car, the check engine light (at least I think it is the CEL) blinks. It blinks so quickly that I cannot tell if it is the CEL and I cannot find a dash diagram to tell me if it is.

    When I start the car, the light does not blink or come on at all.

    Has anyone ever come across anything like this?
     
    #1 spacecoastbill, Oct 9, 2017
  2. Travis Decker

    Travis Decker Active Member

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    Need to know which light to give you any advice worth anything.....

    https://image.slidesharecdn.com/prius2012gauges-120312084812-phpapp01/95/2012-toyota-prius-gauges-9-728.jpg?cb=1331542177
     
    #2 Travis Decker, Oct 9, 2017
  3. spacecoastbill

    spacecoastbill Junior Member

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    #3 spacecoastbill, Oct 9, 2017
  4. Travis Decker

    Travis Decker Active Member

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    Make video slow down on computer ;)
     
    #4 Travis Decker, Oct 9, 2017
  5. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Is it the red security light? This just indicates the built in alarm is active. This does not flash when the car is started.
     
    #5 Raytheeagle, Oct 9, 2017
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  6. spacecoastbill

    spacecoastbill Junior Member

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    I didnt have to. When I first saw the light I could not make out the image, but I was driving in the AZ sun. I went back to my garage after this post and I saw that it had a lock symbol. Im assuming it is the immobilizer.
     
    #6 spacecoastbill, Oct 9, 2017
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  7. spacecoastbill

    spacecoastbill Junior Member

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    Apparently so. I was not able to make out the graphic because it blinked too fast. I finally made out the lock part of the symbol.
     
    #7 spacecoastbill, Oct 9, 2017
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  8. spacecoastbill

    spacecoastbill Junior Member

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    #8 spacecoastbill, Oct 9, 2017
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  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    So everything's ok. You're not the first to notice this for the first time after doing some maintenance or repair, think it's a warning of some sort.
     
    #9 Mendel Leisk, Oct 10, 2017
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  10. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Yes, it's the "warning car thieves, this car has an alarm system" blink. It's been de rigueur for any car alarm to have some little light that blinks somewhere, ever since car alarms were so rare that you could actually imagine a thief thinking "oh, that car's got a blinking light, I'll just steal this one over here."

    You also used to be able to buy a faux car alarm that was just the blinking-light part.

    -Chap
     
    #10 ChapmanF, Oct 10, 2017
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