Can't turn prius OFF

well since the car we are having problems with is a cab and has about 182,xxx miles i didnt care if the car would be on correct mileage or not as long as i got the part cheaper.

got a "COMBINATION METER" which is the instrument panel , off ebay for $170 shipped. after 90 minutes of labor removing the dash apart and what not, it is in and works perfectly.no more problems what so ever and the car is now 16,000 miles

 

My car does not have dash lights or turn off when it's very cold. This has been happening since last winter when I bought it...the dash lights wouldn't turn on and the dealer insinuated that the problem was me hitting the dimmer switch with my knee! Now it doesn't tun off if it's cold out. Today I drove/ran the car for 40 minutes before it would turn off - which finally happened at the dealer where I was informed that unless it happened so the service personnel could see it, they have no idea. They haven't got a clue and guess who's not shopping for their next car at Toyota. Unfortunate b/c I've driven toyotas a long time. If you don't know what's wrong with the car...don't blame the blonde driving it!!

 

This particular thread is older, but the topic itself does have newer threads and the typical cause. It's normally the "combination meter" or as some call it the "HUD" (head's up display). There is bad soldering on the circuit board. It's becoming more and more common, so I'm a little surprised a dealer would claim they've never heard of it. There's also a member on this board that knows how to repair these (meaning you don't have to buy a new one). I don't recall the member's name, but it's mentioned in another thread (including someone in the UK with the same issue). Regardless, the "workaround" to shut your car off if the combination meter has gone black is to hold the power button down until the car shuts off (usually about 3 seconds).

 

The correct name is combination meter. It is NOT a HUD. The HUD isn't available on US Priuses and it is an additional feature that projects info such as the speed onto the windshield.

I believe the poster is complaining of Luscious Garage | Blog | LG TV - Prius Dead Dashboard. http://priuschat.com/forums/toyota-...n-meter-intermittent-display.html#post1220778 says he can fix them. Earlier in the that thread is the TSB.

 

I mention HUD because in this post (most recent previous discussion of the topic):

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-prius-main-forum/89017-frosty-morning-hud-not-working.html

Member "pEEf" (the one who is doing/did these repairs to the boards) calls it a HUD, but admits it's not one that projects onto the windshield. Thus, I mention that some people call it a HUD, including the most recent post that I was referring to (link above). While the term "combination meter" is the more correct term, it doesn't really describe what on earth it is just by it's part name alone. Combination meter sounds more like the thing that automatically sorts your quarters, nickles, and dimes when you drop them in the slot.

 

HUDs have existed well before the Prius had it as a feature w/the most notable use being on airplanes. http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii-2010-prius-main-forum/77364-video-hud-in-action.html shows a 3rd gen w/the HUD in action.

It's best to avoid using incorrect terminology as it just leads to confusion between something present on all Priuses (the combination meter, in Toyota parlance) vs. a HUD that isn't and isn't available in many countries.

 

I started having the same problem today. I'm not buying the battery or the brake answer as I just had the battery replaced and typically park on the flat and level and have never used the parking brake at home. Problem started with no backup camera or lights and no dash speed, gas gauge, etc. Turned off OK but when started again, still no dash or camera but then would not turn off. Decided must drive to the dealer but had to stop for gas and suddenly everything worked again. Drove home and next day it did it again. Same routine - won't shut off - drive a few miles - try again and it shuts off but repeated starts - no dash then four of five starts later everything works. When it would not shut off I took the key several hundred yards away and left the key, came back and drove the car around the block with no key anywhere near it.

Can you tell us what they did to repair it?

 

Jim: You most likely have a bad combination meter. See post #24 for more details.

To power down when your combination meter is out (no speedometer or anything), you need to press and hold power for several seconds. Again, see links in post #24 for more details.

I'd try to write more about Priuschat is being VERY slow and uncooperative right now.

 

Jim, I strongly suggest you take you car to Luscious Garage in SF. They already have a business relationship with pEEf.

Luscious Garage | Blog | LG TV - Prius Dead Dashboard

 

I've had this problem with my 2007 Prius (46K miles) 3 times, starting 2 weeks ago, but with 2 variations: First, I had this problem even though it was not cold -- mid 50s to mid 70s. Second, I was able to turn off the engine by holding down the start button only the first time it happened; the other times I kept holding down the button many times with and without my foot on the brake, and both time the display came back on.

As noted in an earlier post, Toyota issued a bulletin on this general problem in June 2009, but the bulletin doesn't cover the 2 variations I have experienced.

Unfortunately, it seems that most Toyota dealers have no knowledge of the Toyota bulletin and do not bother researching Toyota bulletins.

 

Most service advisors have no knowledge of Prius specific problems. They may be aware that the 12V battery is flimsy.

There is a shop in Columbia Maryland listed on the independents list:

Preferred Independent Hybrid Car Repair and Service Shops | Hybrid Cars

 

I'm pretty sure Toyota knows this is a problem. My GF spent 750.00 getting her prius "fixed". new batteries, etc., but th eproblem returned. I drove it for several hours today, and suddenly the problem wet away, then returned at 3am, musch to my chagrin since she has to get up in a couple hours to go to work, and if the battery is dead she is screwed, being on a time-sensitive schedule. It's very frustrating. These aren't cars, they are old DOS computers on wheels...

 

Try "jump stopping" a vehicle that won't turn off. (same as jumpstarting) A weak 12V can cause weirdness.

Also, did you try powering off with foot OFF the brake pedal? I've seen Prius that won't turn off if your foot is on brake pedal. Put car in park, then press power button.

 

I think the cold temperature affects the computer connections.
The start button will engage the run but the dash screen is black. Can restart but screen still black.
Next can't stop or get key out.
I have to leave engine running until car warms up. Then dash lights up and can turn off normally.

 

I finally found a solution to this same problem on my 2008 Prius. My solution is to physically move the key away from the cars vicinity (more than 30 feet), then turn your car off (by holding the start ignition for more than three seconds) then try to turn it on again, it won't turn on and it will completely shut off. If it works for somebody else I'd like to hear about it.

 

You should be able to "move" the key away from the car without getting out of car by pressing the "smart" or "key" button below the steering column. When button is IN, the smartkey system is disabled. Button should be OUT for normal operation.

BTW, the culprit of most "hard to turn off" problems is the COMBINATION METER (speedometer). If your Prius is less than 9 years old Toyota will fix it for free. If car is older than 9 years, you can get refurbished combination meter and replace by following this video. Parts source also in the youtube video.

 

Timely.....thread, I like the first reply, and agree, funny things happen when starting and stopping with a weak 12v
The second reply is also fabulous, simply pressing the "like" button wouldn't suffice.

 

I had the similar problem twice that dashboard was completely black and was unable to turn engine off. What I surprisingly noticed that on both occasions, manual break was pressed. Once I released the manual break, I could turn off the engine. Then while turning on, both dashboard light turned on as normal and I could turn off the engine as expected.

 

Hello Paul,

I'm curious as to where it states that the TSB are covered for 9 years? Or that this specific problem is covered for 9 years? I thought TSB are only covered as part of the base warranty?

Mine just went bonkers and if it's is covered under the 9 years, I'd like to have my dealer replace the bad unit and I'd like to point them to the location so they can't deny the repair.

Thanks!


EDIT: NVM found the link: Solution Attached: Combination Meter: The power button didn't work for a while ... | PriusChat

 

Attached is the TSB document.