Walmart then triangle RED light

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Shash_bro, Feb 3, 2014.

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  1. Shash_bro

    Shash_bro New Member

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    Hi all

    I got a 2005 Toyota Prius with 200600 miles on it on dec 5th 2013. It's been running without any problems but for gas mileage 33-35 in city and 36-39 but although that's been bothering me .. It's not wat I'm here for today.
    Today 2feb2014 I goto walmart .. See walmart lube & tires and thought if they can do oil chng let's get it done .. So I ask if they do oil change and the rep looks into catalog and says yes ... I ask her usually ppl say Prius hybrid only dealership does it.. She double check in new catalog and says yes. I check in.
    1 hour later I get into car .. Reset maintenance for oil and filter chng date to 2feb14 and 5k miles. Then backup from parking and drive 200 ft forward then realize emergency brake (I'll usually don't use when parked) so I release brake and keep going .. Within .2 miles triangle red light, check light, the amber light with round exclamation to immediate right of check and vsc lights come on .. I make u turn to go back to walmart auto .. and when I enter parking lot .. I stopped for pedestrian then it didn't move .. It was in neutral .. I tried to move to drive while pressing brake hard to no avail . Turned it off tried couple more times and no luck . Turn on emergency lights and walk to auto center and tell them wat happnd.
    The young 19-22 yr old mechanic who worked on my car came with me .. He tried a few times car did not shift to drive. Then after few off and ons it went to drive .. He drove into the shop .. he checked red light issue on his phone and said it cld be 12v battery .. I was also checking on my phone and told him a forum says low engine oil. So he checked everything again and told me he only changed oil and the level is good. His manager a woman in 30s came looked on her phone for vsc and told probably emergency brakes issue and told me they don't have code reader and can't help me and asked me to take to dealership. She started and now only red triangle and check light and no round amber or vsc lights. I drive home 4 miles with red triangle and check lights on. I'll take it to dealership soon.
    If someone here can help me I can save some money and learn at the same time. Thx much
     
    #1 Shash_bro, Feb 3, 2014
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    If you didn't have any serious symptoms before bringing it to Walmart, it might not be as bad as it seems. I would get a code reader or bring it somewhere to have the codes read. I suspect it could be your 12v battery or a defective brake light switch. Both not too expensive to replace.

    SM-N900P ?
     
    #2 JC91006, Feb 3, 2014
  3. Shash_bro

    Shash_bro New Member

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    Thx JC91006. I'll get the code checked..
    Does anyone know if autozone, pep boys, oreilly check codes for free .. I'm in the Bay Area, CA thx
     
    #3 Shash_bro, Feb 3, 2014
  4. Prius_Cub

    Prius_Cub Member

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    #4 Prius_Cub, Feb 3, 2014
  5. nh7o

    nh7o Off grid since 1980

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    Those auto shop scanners are not all created equal, so be aware that there may be errors in the results. There have been posts here by some that received false readings with generic readers. Also they might not be able to read the hybrid specific codes, just engine related codes.
     
    #5 nh7o, Feb 3, 2014
  6. jefe

    jefe Member

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    #6 jefe, Feb 3, 2014
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  7. Shash_bro

    Shash_bro New Member

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    Jefe's post symptoms look similar not same..
    Anyway, an update .. This morning I started and only two lights were on (red triangle, check) and it shifted to drive but my head suddenly thought this could be something to do with parking brake and maybe I should try to engage and disengage and maybe some switch will get released. After engaging and disengaging parking brake once all four light till vsc and also the one to right (slippery road sign) of it came on .. So total of 5 lights and would not move and turning off and on did not make a difference and wld only shift to neutral.
    Next, I disconnected the -ve battery terminal and then started and it shifted to drive .. I thought I wld take it to dealer but I got out of apt parking and .2 miles all lights came on and while making right turn it wldn' t move even tough on drive .. I tried to step on gas but nothing .. So turned off and on many times but nothing and I was in middle blocking traffic .. Called aaa got car towed to dealership. Dealer said 160 dollars for just diagnostics. I'll know status tomorrow. Any advice . Thx much
     
    #7 Shash_bro, Feb 4, 2014
  8. dorunron

    dorunron Senior Member

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    When you do find out what is wrong, would you please post the code's that the dealer gives you. Also if you elect to have it repaired, would you be so kind as to post what repairs or replacements were done on your Prius.
     
    #8 dorunron, Feb 4, 2014
  9. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    did you check the oil level before you started this morning? Make sure the oil level is correct?
     
    #9 JC91006, Feb 4, 2014
  10. Shash_bro

    Shash_bro New Member

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    I did not check oil lvl this morning jc91006
    And I'll definitely post all details given to me by dealership. Thx much
     
    #10 Shash_bro, Feb 4, 2014
  11. Shash_bro

    Shash_bro New Member

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    Just FYI... Autozones in California do not check codes for free .. called a few stores nearby. But they said pep boys check for free and Aamco transmissions (Bay Area). Thx
     
    #11 Shash_bro, Feb 4, 2014
  12. jefe

    jefe Member

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    Pick up a Scanguage. It provides ongoing useful information and it will read DTCs. with a 2005 with 200K+ it will pay for itself.
     
    #12 jefe, Feb 4, 2014
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  13. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    The scangauge will not read all the Prius DTC's. For this the Mini VCI with Techstream, and your laptop will give you dealer level of diagnostics, and much more for $25.

    John (Britprius)
     
    #13 Britprius, Feb 4, 2014
  14. jefe

    jefe Member

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    That's of course assuming you have a laptop already that can run Techstream.

    Plus don't you have to pay for Techstream? That software is an annual subscription isn't it?
     
    #14 jefe, Feb 4, 2014
  15. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    I am not trying to trash the Scanguage, but it will not read all the Prius DTC's. A second hand laptop "anything that runs W98se, Vista or XP will work" and the VCI is cheaper than a Scanguage. The VCI will also do all the service tasks on the Prius. You can of course use a PC with the VCI if convenient. The VCI comes with Techstream on a CD no subscription.
    The Scanguge is a great monitoring solution, but is fast being overtaken by the ELM 327 with any Android device.

    John (Britprius)
     
    #15 Britprius, Feb 4, 2014
  16. Shash_bro

    Shash_bro New Member

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    #16 Shash_bro, Feb 4, 2014
  17. Shash_bro

    Shash_bro New Member

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    The dealership .. Sergio who took my car says "Its not diagnosing and needs a little bit more attention, my coworker will call you tomorrow to let you know about the diagnosis". I don't know what he meant by "it's not diagnosing? This guy looks dumb and was just bullshitting for not looking at my car. ...
    Anyway, one more day for rental car $35 and late to work again (hourly pay) ..

    Thanks much
     
    #17 Shash_bro, Feb 4, 2014
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  18. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    What a unfortunately frustrating thread.

    Hindsight is 20/20. But I hope this doesn't become a case where in trying to save a few bucks, it doesn't end up costing a whole lot more.

    I don't know if I ever trust Wal-Mart and the 20 something "mechanic" to do my oil change.
    Then if the car isn't running and/or starts throwing codes, I'm not taking it to Autozone, Pep Boys or O-Rileys, I'm NOT passing GO...I'm taking it straight to the dealership.

    This economical Oil Change might end up being pretty costly.

    But whatever, sounds like the OP is "All-In" now. I hope it turns out to be nothing.
     
    #18 The Electric Me, Feb 4, 2014
  19. uart

    uart Senior Member

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    In drive but not producing any power: It's looking more and more like an engine (ICE) problem and that the park brake mishap is possibly unrelated. Probably the throttle body fouled due to overfill. It's scarey the the number of "mechanics" who think that a 1" overfill is perfectly fine.

    I just hope that driving it without any ICE power hasn't drained the HV battery? At this point I'm suspecting that they'll find a fouled intake and one or both batteries discharged.
     
    #19 uart, Feb 4, 2014
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  20. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    Yes 16 pin. This will allow you dealer level diagnostics, with service tasks like brake bleeding tyre pressure sensor registration, key fob recognition, and many other tasks.
    Windows 7 can be used with instructions for loading the program here on PC.

    John (Britprius)
     
    #20 Britprius, Feb 4, 2014
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