2005 Prius - combination meter and MFD

@Texas Hybrid Batteries repairs combo meters.

Texas Prius Battery Replacement

They also have a page with a form where you can ask any questions. This seems to be a good, inexpensive option.

 

Make sure all your 12V battery connections are tight. Check both terminals and also check where the ground wire connects to the body that it's tight and clean.

Combo meter would be the next thing to check, but I don't think it will cause all the stuff you're seeing. If it is the combo meter, @Prodigyplace listed a great source.

 

Yup. Gen 2 & 3 are under the deck by the right side tail light. Gen 4 is under the hood. Not sure about Gen 1.

It's pretty common to not get the terminals tight when replacing a 12V battery. But that ground connection can get corroded as well, although that's probably less likely in AZ unless you're in the mountains and they salt the roads.

 

I think some people have needed to check where the negative battery cable connects to the chassis too. It can come loose.

 

Exactly. That's what I meant by the possibly corroded ground connection. I should have made that more clear. Thanks.

 

I guess I needed to translate from electrician-speak".

I took electrical classes in high school in Canada. In the higher grades we were a class of seven guys when a Christian teacher. He arranged for us to plan & wire a new dining hall building for a Christian youth camp. I remember working in that building doing the wiring. The building was on a bit of a hill and they had not yet installed windows. That made it quite cold. IIRC the only complaint from the inspector was they initially could not find the weather-head cap for competing the connection on the power pole.

Later on, for several years he was a member of my parents' church and he periodically asked how I was doing down here in Virginia.

 

@Elektroingenieur Does that connection make any sense for a white wire in the 12 Volt battery area?

 

You can always tell an electrician, but you can't tell them much.

Is there any change, is it intermittent?

 

Sounds like part of the trailer light harness.

So you noticed that, eh?

 

I have been an electrician a couple of times in the military myself so I'm not just picking on you my friend.

 

Not according to Toyota’s Electrical Wiring Diagram, but if aftermarket wiring was added for trailer lighting, I suppose someone might have connected the return there, rather than using one of the other ground points on the car. The Electrical Wiring Diagram shows that most of the wires factory connected at ground points should be white with black stripes, brown, or black.

 

Not offended a bit. I was sure it was just good humor. In fact, I've been told by people I trust that, if not for my sense of humor, I wouldn't have any sense at all.

 

I do not know. There appears to be plenty of nonsense around here.

 

Sure sounds like some sort of loose connection in the 12V circuit. <need head scratching emoticon here>

 

I am having something similar happen with my 2008 Prius. About 3 months ago I turned my car on and got a big red triangle saying the battery/electrical system needed to be checked. Brought my car to Pep boys and they replaced the 12v battery.

About a month later, had an issue where the dash lights wouldn’t come on (has happened a few times) but then they do come back on usually the next day. Also, a few times the car wouldn’t turn off (found the trick to get it off eventually).

Now, the clock keeps resetting and sometimes the door locks don’t work when using the FOB.... went to start my car today and now it won’t turn on. PLEASE HELP!!

is it possible that the battery they put in is no good? Or could there be a bad connection? Everything was working fine until the battery was replaced... I don’t have any tools to check the battery voltage etc... Should I just bring it back to pep boys and make them replace the battery again? I finish paying the car in November so I’m thinking it may be time to trade the ol gal in before more issues start popping up... Any advice is appreciated. Thank you!

 

Welcome to Prius Chat .

In hearing your explanation, it sounds to me like it is connection related, as the clock keeps resetting .

By some questions:

• How many miles on your Prius?
• Has your Prius experienced any accidents?
• Have you checked the battery connection as well as the ground cable?
• What is the battery voltage reading?

Keep us posted .