Display monitor croaks

I can't believe it! I have to take Hunny to the Toyota service folks because the display has stopped working. I'm so sad!

When I power up, the Prius logo flashes on the screen a couple of times (some instances it flashes longer than others) but then it goes black.

Here's what honks me off - When I called the Service Advisor, I requested a loaner car. Who knows how long they're going to take!!! I have a very busy life, places to go, people to see, etc. He informed me that they don't do that any more. Toyota, in it's infinite wisdom, has seen fit to discontinue the availability of loaner cars. It's a way to promote their TRAC program. The dealership can give me a ride in their shuttle for free. Whoopee!

My question is, is it really Toyota that is making this policy? Or is it the cheap-@ss dealership? If I put up enough of a stink, do you think they'd give me a loaner?

 

Nope, no mods. I was happy enough to have it the way it came out of the box.

And yes, it can be driven. It just makes it a little less fun.

Thanks for the tip about the warranty language. I'll have to check it out to be fore-armed when I show up at the Service Desk tomorrow morning.

And thanks for letting me vent, folks! After all my glowing praise about my Prius, I am a little hesitant to tell my non-Prius owner friends that there is a problem. OK, I admit it, I've probably been a little insufferable and I don't want to hear any "I told you so"s from the non-believers.

 

No, it's not the screen-off or the dimmer switch. Service guy already talked me through that.

Also, I've tested out just about all the functionality and I found that screen-off command when some friends and I were hiding out in the car before a surprise party. It was after dark, I wanted to have the headlights off but since I left the car running, the screen was really bright. I'm not afraid to keep playing with it until I find the right buttons. So much easier than reading the manual.

 

Well, I just went out to the garage to try to get to the hidden settings screen. Couldn't do it. But, in a new wrinkle, I think I've verified that it's a software problem. The "Prius, Hybrid Synergy Drive" screen stayed on. Thanks for the tip, M, I'll keep that handy in case I ever need to see my car's hidden messages.

 

All,

Here's an update for those who are interested. Yesterday was the first day I was able to take my car to the shop so I had set an appointment for 7:30 in the morning. On my way there, the LED display kept flashing on and off. Every time it went off, it would shut the radio off. Weird, I thought, and kept turning the radio back on again because I was trying to listen to NPR. Then, ALL the display quit. No speedometer, odometer, gas gauge, etc. Thankfully, I was almost there and pulled into Toyota in a very agitated state.

I have never felt this way about a car before!

I asked them to look at it right away to see if they couldn't figure it out, fix it and send me on my way. After a little while the Service Advisor, Ben, tells me that they are having to fax Technical Support in California.

Me - How long will that take?
Ben - Anywhere between five minutes and five hours.
Me - Are you going to have it fixed today?
Ben - (snort) No.
Me - Can I get a loaner car? I can't be without transportation.
Ben - We don't have any loaner cars.
Me - My warranty covers a rental car.
Ben - Rentals are only covered if your car is inoperable.
Me - I can't drive with no speedometer! I can't even see what gear I'm in!
Ben - Sorry, I checked with the Warranty Manager. We can give you a ride to work.
Me - Sniffle, sniffle, I feel like I'm being jerked around here, Ben. I paid a lot of money for a car, service plan and extended warranty..... sniff.
Ben - (Panic at the sight of tears) I'm sorry, there, there. Let me see what I can do.....

Well, he couldn't get me a rental right away, I guess he had to prove that they weren't going to be able to get it fixed by the end of the day before he could commit to a rental. So, I had to screw around with getting a ride to work from the oh-so-polite and safety-challenged shuttle driver and then finding a friend (not going to risk the shuttle twice in one day!) to give me a ride back to Toyota to pick up the rental in the afternoon.

They gave me a Matrix. I'm not very impressed with it. I guess if I'd driven it earlier in my life (when I was the proud owner of a Tercel hatchback) I might feel differently. But after three glorious months of Prius ownership, I guess anything else is a let-down.

They wouldn't let me see my car. Ben went and got my insurance information from the glovebox. He said that the dash is completely dissembled and laying across the front seats. He's right, I don't need to see that. I'm sad enough about it as it is.

Still no word today on their progress. Everybody think positive thoughts for me in my time of Priuslessness.

Thanks for listening!

 

Pete, I ordered my car on 11/7, before all the Motor Trend hoopla, and took delivery 1/26. I've only had it for three months and less than 4,000 miles.

I really hope she's not a lemon!

 

In case anyone is interested, here's an update -

I'm still driving the rental Matrix. They've ordered a whole new display unit and hope to have it fixed by tomorrow or Wednesday. I guess I'll have to reprogram all my destinations and radio stations.

Man, I miss my car. You know, I used to make fun of all of those people who considered their car as more than simply a means of transportation. A car is just a tool to get from point A to point B, right? Wrong!

Suitably humbled,