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

Red triangle of death shows and beeps

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by SFPriusonr, May 19, 2018.

  1. SFPriusonr

    SFPriusonr Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2018
    7
    4
    0
    Location:
    San Francisco, CA
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    II
    lately and increasingly, when I make a sweeping right hand turn, the car beeps and displays the red triangle of death. It will also happen sometimes during an abbreviated stop. At the end of each (turn and stop) it goes away. It happened back in 2015 and the main battery degraded tremendously until I got a refurbished one.
    Could this indicate battery failure, or is the battery loose in its moorings and moves causing motion induced RToD display?
     
    #1 SFPriusonr, May 19, 2018
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    56,693
    39,238
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Could it be low engine oil level, and when you go into a turn it sloshes to one side, makes things worse? I think low oil would trigger the oil pressure light though, but not sure.
     
    #2 Mendel Leisk, May 19, 2018
    SFO and Raytheeagle like this.
  3. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    11,257
    15,491
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    One way to find out is to pull the dipstick ;).

    Easy enough to check(y).
     
    #3 Raytheeagle, May 19, 2018
    SFO and Mendel Leisk like this.
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,166
    50,060
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    who you callin' a dipstick?:cautious:
     
    #4 bisco, May 19, 2018
    SFO, Mendel Leisk and Raytheeagle like this.
  5. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    11,257
    15,491
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Might be self directed :unsure:.
     
    #5 Raytheeagle, May 19, 2018
    bisco and SFO like this.
  6. josh2008

    josh2008 Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2008
    365
    144
    0
    Location:
    Princeton, WV
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Congratulations, you've neglected to check your oil level. Probably will need atleast 3-3.5qts. Expect it to burn even more oil now.
     
    #6 josh2008, May 20, 2018
    edthefox5 likes this.
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    56,693
    39,238
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Well, let's wait on the dipstick check.
     
    #7 Mendel Leisk, May 20, 2018
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  8. SFPriusonr

    SFPriusonr Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2018
    7
    4
    0
    Location:
    San Francisco, CA
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Aha! I guess I am the dip stick... I checked the oil and it was beneath the valley of low. So, now I've filled it up and will take it out for a confirmation spin. But, this begs the question, "Why not the low oil light?" Why wait until the red triangle of death which could mean anything?
     
    #8 SFPriusonr, May 20, 2018
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  9. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2007
    10,096
    4,817
    0
    Location:
    Clearwater, Florida
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Classic.
     
    #9 edthefox5, May 20, 2018
    josh2008 likes this.
  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    56,693
    39,238
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring

    It's not low oil, it's low oil pressure. But yeah, you'd think that'd be the light that should go on.
     
    #10 Mendel Leisk, May 20, 2018
  11. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2007
    10,096
    4,817
    0
    Location:
    Clearwater, Florida
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two

    Its throwing the RTOD because your killing the engine. Prius has some monitoring quirks like no temp gauge no oil is low gauge. I guess the
    japs figure you will open the hood once in a while.

    Now the bad news. Usually when a prius tiny little engine only takes 3.5 quarts of oil is run so low on oil it throws the RTOD and you continue to drive knowing full well there is the word death in that acronym it usually means engine damage. At the very least it will become an little oil eating monster. But I would imagine it already eats alot of oil hence the no oil.

    If the damage is really bad you will soon hear bearing knock. Starts as knock only under load then progresses to a loud knock all the time.
    If driven during the loud knock phase usually results in piston #2 through the block. See alot of those here. Always #2.
     
    #11 edthefox5, May 20, 2018
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)