Hello all, I have a 2005 Prius (Package 6). In live in Orange County, CA for the past 2 months sometimes in the morning the car wouldn’t start instead all the emergency lights turned on. After I waited for about 10 min, everything was fine. This happened about 3 times. Since temp averages to about 50s in the morn I thought it might be because of the weather. I checked it out with my mechanic and everything seemed fine, including the 12V battery. Yesterday around noon with an outside temp of about 86degF, the car did not start and the emergency light came on with a parking transmission error that showed up on the GPS nav screen. I waited 10 min, turned on the car, this time it turned on but the gear could not be shifted. When I pressed the start button with the break pressed all the way down the car wouldn’t turn off! My key would not come of the holder. I waited for another few minutes and then the car turned off ..phew! I realized by then this problem might be a biggie and I might have to tow to the dealer. 15 minutes later I started the car, was able to move the gear to D, had 3 warning lights on – the triangle, check engine and ABS light. In that condition I ventured out to the nearest dealer 9 mi away. The tech noted down all the details, noted that they would have to run the diagnostics for $120! ( Of course!) Since I had no other choice and no one else was able to diagnose the problem , I relented and agreed to leave my car. 15 min later in the dealership we turned on the car and hey presto all emergency lights had gone. 3 hours later the techs came up with diagnostic report, no error report came up. The car had not registered any of the above events! Since they didnt know what was wrong, there is nothing to fix! This afternoon the red triangle came up again…I drove around with it and parked it and it ran fine. 30 min later it the triangle was gone. I have no idea what to do next and how to fix this problem. I discussed all possible options with Toyota – reloading software, possibility of a s/w glitch. They had no idea what to do and I have reached a dead end. Any suggestions from all you experts out there? I still have hope in my car!
I am terrified to answer for fear the OP will wait another 2 months before seeking a mechanic who can read his car's failure codes.
and the emergency light came on with a parking transmission error that showed up on the GPS nav screen. Does the above always occur with the red triangle? This may help someone diagnosis this. I know a bad 'park button' can cause this problem. I recommend purchasing the scan gauge; among other things you can do quick code readings, and the car's 12 volt current can be monitored. http://priuschat.com/shop/product_info.php/products_id/74?osCsid=c9eb7196b95c57e8f77d17568a41947f
Sounds exactly like what happens with a dying 12V battery. See this thread to check for yourself: http://priuschat.com/forums/newbie-forum/73400-weird-stuff-happening-mpgs-dropping-test-battery.html - D
Why do you believe your 12v battery is good? How old is it? What are the voltages? Your mechanic should have given the numbers to you. The dealer should have done so as well. Either nobody is actually looking at your car or we aren't getting a whole story. If you believe the 12v battery should read 12v then that is the problem. I would bet money that even the worst mechanic at the worst dealer would have tried to sell you a battery. If the 12v is sufficiently weak the SKS won't work, the interior lights won't turn on & your car will impersonate a brick. You'll then have a choice between towing the car to the dealer or buying a battery at the dealer & taking it to your car.
My salvage car would the exact same thing when the 12V battery was dead. Replace the 12V battery and you will be just fine.
How much simpler to just throw in another known good battery and see if the problem goes away! The voltage, or the Force provided so current can flow is only part of the story! The real battery test is to put a proper load on it according to specs and note the output. Most garages are incapable of this. Unfortunately even Toyota dealers can be guilty of this deficiency.
My wife had the same symptoms and it turned out to be the 12v battery. We replaced the battery and have not had the problem since. Fortunately this forum suggested the solution before we took it to the dealer. Cheaper than a diagnostics which told you nothing.
All true, and that's why the built-in test is so nice: the car itself provides a load for one of the measurements. http://priuschat.com/forums/newbie-forum/73400-weird-stuff-happening-mpgs-dropping-test-battery.html Praise be to jdenenberg for revealing the procedure.
