1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Red Triangle of Doom on Left Turns

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Scallywag, Mar 22, 2018.

  1. Scallywag

    Scallywag Member

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2013
    107
    22
    0
    Location:
    Columbus, OH
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    2005 Prius, 180k miles.

    So lately I have been experiencing a very brief "Triangle of Doom" when making relatively hard left turns. This happens mostly on certain highway ramps, but also occasionally when entering a parking lot (as an example). The red triangle only displays during the turn (usually only a portion of the turn), and the bar across the MFD says "problem" - the triangle is shown both on the MFD and the dashboard light. No other lights are generated, and I'm unable to find a stored code afterwards with Torque Pro and a bluetooth OBDII scanner.

    Any ideas what this could be? The car's handling is unaffected, and there is no slipping or sliding going on (I'd expect different lights for that anyway). The car is performing as expected otherwise.
     
    #1 Scallywag, Mar 22, 2018
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,525
    8,428
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Check your oil level
     
    #2 JC91006, Mar 22, 2018
    m.wynn, dolj, Mendel Leisk and 1 other person like this.
  3. ericbecky

    ericbecky Hybrid Battery Hero

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2004
    4,379
    3,238
    1
    Location:
    Madison, Wisconsin
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Yep. You are dangerously low on oil.
     
    #3 ericbecky, Mar 22, 2018
    dolj likes this.
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    56,671
    39,222
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Place your bets... :whistle:
     
    #4 Mendel Leisk, Mar 23, 2018
    exstudent likes this.
  5. exstudent

    exstudent Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2009
    2,214
    902
    0
    Location:
    Torrance, CA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    All in on another driver who never checks the engine oil level.
     
    #5 exstudent, Mar 23, 2018
  6. exstudent

    exstudent Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2009
    2,214
    902
    0
    Location:
    Torrance, CA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Insufficient oil level, producing metal on metal wear.

    You should get in the habit of periodically checking the engine oil level of the vehicle on level groun; every gas fill-up, weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, etc. Doing so, you will likely catch a lower oil level, and be able to correct it, by adding oil to the top mark on the dipstick.
     
    #6 exstudent, Mar 23, 2018
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,133
    50,049
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    :oops:
     
    #7 bisco, Mar 23, 2018
  8. frankv64

    frankv64 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2015
    23
    7
    0
    Location:
    Colonia NJ
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Happened to me. Had a nasty winter and I didn’t check the oil for a few months. I started to get the red triangle on left turns, I checked the oil and was 2.5 quarts low. I was so pissed at myself. Now I check it every week and hopefully there’s no damage done
     
    #8 frankv64, Mar 29, 2018
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)