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In the market for a Prius, should red trangle display along with other dash lights at pre-startup

Discussion in 'Newbie Forum' started by Jetta95, Nov 2, 2017.

  1. ericbecky

    ericbecky Hybrid Battery Hero

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    Cheap elm devices can cause a problem of left plugged in.
     
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    are you electively going to buy this car or are you going to be forced into buying this car
     
  3. Jetta95

    Jetta95 Junior Member

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    So your saying that a OBD 2 scanner that is plugged in as designed could cause the car to shut down? even possibly cause other problems with the vehicle? If the Prius is really this fickle of a vehicle maybe I should be looking for something more stable and reliable.
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    it wouldn't be a bad idea, prius isn't for everyone.
     
  5. ericbecky

    ericbecky Hybrid Battery Hero

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    If you buy equipment that is not compatible with the car then you will likely cause issues.

    How much did the scanner cost?
    Can you provide a link?
     
  6. Jetta95

    Jetta95 Junior Member

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    worked fine on two other Priuses that I looked at with no problems, reads realtime coolant temp and RPM's. If this is a bad scanner what do you recommend using?

    Again I could see the theory that it could have caused it to through some codes if left in to long, but to disable the vehicle!?
     
  7. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    I believe @Mendel Leisk had problems when he left a device plugged in. He should be able to give more details.
     
  8. MelonPrius

    MelonPrius Senior Member

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    Don't know if it's a bad scanner. But if you provide a link, you'll get some feedback.
     
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Could be just me, but yeah, I was getting increasingly regular Check Hybrid System warnings, brake warning lights, and brake return-to-default behaviour: brakes working, but reduced feel/response. It could be that constantly having a device plugged into the obd, maybe bumping it's cord with your knee, can cause problems. Cessation of ScanGauge use maybe 2.5 years back, symptoms have not returned.
     
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  10. Jetta95

    Jetta95 Junior Member

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    Here is the report from the mechanics scanner after mine was unpluged. Now that's alot of codes!
     

    Attached Files:

  11. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

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    Any chance the mechanic's scanner was faulty??
     
  12. Jetta95

    Jetta95 Junior Member

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    I hadn't considered that, I figured he was the mechanic and had a commercial more expensive one than mine.
    I can see how some of the "Lost Communication with.." codes starting with U could have been my cheap code reader confusing the system, although the other ones are what concern me. The mechanic cleared the codes and the guy said the car seems to run fine now with the only code being the one about the solar sensor. I ordered a mini-VCI so I now I will have something 100% compatible with Toyota. I may ask him if I can take it to Toyota and have them check it out but I hear that the mini-VCI gives you the same info that Toyota's scanner does?
     
    #32 Jetta95, Dec 3, 2017
    Last edited: Dec 3, 2017
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  13. ericbecky

    ericbecky Hybrid Battery Hero

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    Minivci us hardware.
    Techstream is Toyota's software.

    When you buy minivci, you will often get a pirated copy of Toyota's Techstream software.
     
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  14. Jetta95

    Jetta95 Junior Member

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    Is there a possibility this could be related to the 12V battery, the owner replaced is recently, but the car was sitting in ready mode for awhile with radio and A/C on (to check the traction battery) and then the scanner being left in overnight. 2 of the codes point to the battery
     
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    the car can do anything when in ready mode, no problem. sitting in acc or on mode are the issue.
     
  16. Jetta95

    Jetta95 Junior Member

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    Sorry I guess I mean on mode, it was in park
     
  17. ericbecky

    ericbecky Hybrid Battery Hero

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    Again, inexpensive readers can mess up a Prius. Even somethings as simple as how much power drain it created or how firmly it was plugged in could be problematic.
     
  18. Jetta95

    Jetta95 Junior Member

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    Well that's good I guess. I just got my MINI-VCI but that program is all new to me so I don't know how much that will tell be not having a benchmark to go off of to know what I should be looking for? If the guy will even want me to plug it in after the last time :cautious:
     
  19. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    the car can be in ready mode while in park.
     
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  20. ericbecky

    ericbecky Hybrid Battery Hero

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    As an extra precaution you can plug/unplug when car is off.
     
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