Warning Lights! Help please.

Perhaps that's why whoever owned it last got rid of it......here's to hoping the fault is covered under the hybrid powertrain warranty.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Leslie @ May 19 2006, 01:25 PM) [snapback]258222[/snapback]</div>

Not knowing the classic Prius due to owning an '05, I'm not sure . . . but . . .

. . . I think I may have experienced the same condition . . .

I sure did hear the warning buzzer, and I did see the big red triangle of death, and I also read the scary message on the MFD . . .

CAUTION
PLEASE PRESS "P" TO ENGAGE PARK.
THE BATTERES WILL NOT BE CHARGED IF THE TRANAXLE IS IN NEUTRAL "N".

But . . . I wasn't in neutral . . . I was in drive!!!!! :huh: Wth!
I thought it was a major Prius meltdown because of the all the nasty warnings.

So many scary things were vying for my attend that I failed to recognize the problem . . . my attention was diverted away from the true problem and warning . . . the little door open symbol was lit because my driver door was ajar. :blink: :mellow:

The MFD never said anything like, “hey doof, close the friggin' door before attempting to drive.â€
Toyota really needs to project a big “door ajar†symbol on the MFD under those conditions.

Next time you are in your car, try this test:
Get in your car and do everything you normally do to drive away . . . on – seatbelt - select drive.
Now, instead of removing your foot from the brake, open the driver door.
Are those the indications your were getting?

The '04+ models go absolutely APE SH*T under those conditions, maybe the classics do too.
Hopefully that is what you experienced.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sufferin' Prius Envy @ May 19 2006, 11:03 PM) [snapback]258440[/snapback]</div>

My 06 did that this week after a quick pit stop. Lit up like a Christmas tree so it took a bit to notice the little door open light. Ashamed to say I restarted it twice before I realized what was going on.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jburns @ May 19 2006, 08:44 PM) [snapback]258460[/snapback]</div>

Sadly, I guess that means I was just way too ashamed to admit that I too had restarted it twice before . . . [gulp] . . . my wife realized what was going on. :blink: <_<

I have always been very good at situational awareness . . . lifeguard . . . safety observer on aircraft carrier flight decks . . Loadmaster on transport aircraft . . . scuba diver . . .

The indications from the Prius absolutely threw me for a loop. :wacko:

“Um, honey, I think your door is ajar.â€

[I guess I lost several “guy points" on that one] :blink: :lol:

 

Leslie, you may very well be in need of some parts replaced under technical service bulletin EG011-03. It is a fairly common complaint. If they find the trouble code "P3191" inside I will be even more certain. If your Prius has less than 80,000 miles, the engine control module is covered by warranty. The other parts (which are not always needed) are only under warranty for 36k miles. Be sure and tell us how it turns out.

 

I had this happen to me about two weeks ago - the reason....one of my doors wasn't closed properly. That message will appear if you don't close all your doors shut - so try that before you assume there is something mechanically wrong. Hope that helps!
Kim

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Leslie @ May 20 2006, 04:15 PM) [snapback]258613[/snapback]</div>

Even though I have formed a pretty clear opinion (previously stated) about what is going on with your car, let's review the basics: If the car seems to be driving at all strangely, funny noises, no power, etc., then don't continue driving. However, if you just have the lights as described, proceed calmly when it is convenient to the best Toyota service shop you know, and say:

"This car needs TSB EG011-03 done. Find the error code P3191. Install the new engine control module for free. If you think that the fuel pump relay or fuel tank assembly also need to be replaced, you had better be pretty sure, because I've got a posse".

I really do believe that EG011-03 is the most common problem for the classic Prius that we are still talking about. Just once, I would like to see an owner take the upper hand in the negotiations. Maybe this time?

I had this thing happen on a long road trip, a long time ago. Boy, was I scared! Drove it to the nearest (clueless) Toyota shop and they said "Replace everything." I said "Well, I'm from out of town, do you have the parts?" "No." "So, can I just drive 1000 miles home?" "Yes." Then, I went to a good shop and they installed the new ECM.

That was years ago, and I have been sailing ever since. So has everyone else, after EG011-03. You are going to be fine, Leslie.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Leslie @ May 21 2006, 07:46 AM) [snapback]258818[/snapback]</div>

Definitely! Better safe than sorry. It MAY have been that your door was ajar, but several people have suggested that it might be another problem that they experienced where the lights came on once but didn't come on again.

I'm pretty clueless about cars, but a couple of years ago the engine light came on in my old car while I was driving in New York City. It cost me about $50 to have a gas station hook the car up to their diagnostic equipment and tell me what was wrong with the car and assure me that I could drive it safely back to NJ (50 miles or so) but to take it to my local mechanic on Monday. Yes, my car needed an $800 repair, but I was able to get it done by a mechanic I trusted. (I'd broken down in NYC a few years earlier with a different car, and got royally ripped off by the garage that towed my car - I had to have it towed back to that garage 4 times before the engine light would stay off, and it never worked right after that.)

So I'm saying don't take a chance by thinking everything's really fine and then have the car break down on you 50 miles or more from home.

Since you've had the car such a short time, if this is the dealer you bought the car from, they may even not charge you to do the diagnosis (and hopefully tell you there's nothing wrong or it's something covered under the warranty).

 

how many miles does the car have? do you have all of the car's service records?

see, the problem here is that the issue tochatihu mentions is a TSB and NOT a recall. TSBs are only covered for free under warranty. and since your car is out of warranty you will probably have to pay for it. if you don't have tons of miles on it, you can probably talk them into doing it for free- toyota usually treats prius owners well. but don't go in there and tell them to do the job if you aren't sure who's going to be stuck with the bill!