Maintenance and Transmission warning light!!!!!! mystery

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Archieinaustin, Oct 16, 2012.

  1. Archieinaustin

    Archieinaustin Junior Member

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    A couple of weeks ago I was traveling for business, driving....all was fine....my 5000 mile maintenance had just come due - the light was on. When I pulled into the hotel and tried to park the car the dahboard and display went crazy with all warning lights flashing and a subnote that the park mechanism was malfunctioning, that I should not try to drive the car and transmission failure indicators were flashing. It took me a half hour to get the car to start and it let me move it to a "flat parking place" (which it was already on). I called for a tow and also called the local Prius office (Toyota of Ft. Worth - they were great!) The car had been sitting for an hour or so by the time I was able to talk to a mechanic (after hours) - but when I returned to the car, it started normally with no warning lights at all - egaged, was drivable, etc. Utlimately the mechanic on the phone simply said - "That happens sometimes!"
    Has this ever happened to you? Is it the result of some sort of malfunction of the Maintenance reminder function?
    When I got home I took the car in for the 5000 mile. It was fine and has been since the incident. I didn't mention it to my dealership as they would have come up with a service plan for thousands of dollars....
     
    #1 Archieinaustin, Oct 16, 2012
  2. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    #2 cwerdna, Oct 16, 2012
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  3. 2006_HK

    2006_HK First Hybrid

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    What's the mileage on the car?

    I am a bit of a newbie with the car but some suggestions I can offer based on my readings on this forum:

    1. 12v battery might be dying - Check the battery under cold-loaded condition. Search the forum for directions.
    2. Traction battery might be over-heating. Check the fan that is used to cool the battery. People have reported a lot of gunk in the fan, especially when people/animals are carried in the back-seats.
    3. Transaxle oil might need to be changed if you have a lot of miles on the car.
     
    #3 2006_HK, Oct 16, 2012
  4. ahmeow

    ahmeow Prius Lover

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    Yes check your 12V aux. battery first before doing anything.
    As cwerdna said,if it's original or more than 4yrs, time to change new.
     
    #4 ahmeow, Oct 16, 2012
  5. jadziasman

    jadziasman Prius owner emeritus

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    Why don't you folks answer the OP's question?

    The maintenance reminder light is just that, all it's for is to remind you that you have driven for 5000 miles since the last oil change - technically, it's since the last time the reminder was reset- no one had to literally change the oil to reset the reminder LOL!

    By the description, it seems as though the electronic shifter is starting to fail. The OP apparently pressed the Park button and then all the warning lights came on. It works again - for now. Until it fails for good - whenever that happens.
     
    #5 jadziasman, Oct 16, 2012
  6. usnavystgc

    usnavystgc Die Hard DIYer and Ebike enthusiast.

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    Yes jadziasman, you are still crazy after all these years.

    OP, the shifter is not failing. The most likely cause is a weak 12V battery. All the symptoms you mention are classic weak 12V battery symptoms including it working fine since/now.
     
    #6 usnavystgc, Oct 16, 2012
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  7. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    Yep.
     
    #7 cwerdna, Oct 16, 2012
  8. jadziasman

    jadziasman Prius owner emeritus

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    Oh, is that so? Did the OP state that he replaced his "failing" aux battery? Not from what I read.

    For the record. What I told the OP was not incorrect. Ever hear of an "intermittent problem"?

    And I did not contradict anyone with respect to what they diagnosed. I didn't mention the aux battery at all!

    Where's a moderator when you need one.
     
    #8 jadziasman, Oct 16, 2012
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  9. usnavystgc

    usnavystgc Die Hard DIYer and Ebike enthusiast.

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    Sorry jadziasmam, I didn't mean to hit a sore spot. When I said you're still crazy. I was just trying to have a little fun w/ ya'. No moderater needed here, I can moderate myself and I will.
     
    #9 usnavystgc, Oct 17, 2012
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