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Red triangle of death shows and beeps

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by SFPriusonr, May 19, 2018.

  1. SFPriusonr

    SFPriusonr Junior Member

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    lately and increasingly, when I make a sweeping right hand turn, the car beeps and displays the red triangle of death. It will also happen sometimes during an abbreviated stop. At the end of each (turn and stop) it goes away. It happened back in 2015 and the main battery degraded tremendously until I got a refurbished one.
    Could this indicate battery failure, or is the battery loose in its moorings and moves causing motion induced RToD display?
     
    #1 SFPriusonr, May 19, 2018
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Could it be low engine oil level, and when you go into a turn it sloshes to one side, makes things worse? I think low oil would trigger the oil pressure light though, but not sure.
     
    #2 Mendel Leisk, May 19, 2018
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  3. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    One way to find out is to pull the dipstick ;).

    Easy enough to check(y).
     
    #3 Raytheeagle, May 19, 2018
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  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    who you callin' a dipstick?:cautious:
     
    #4 bisco, May 19, 2018
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  5. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Might be self directed :unsure:.
     
    #5 Raytheeagle, May 19, 2018
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  6. josh2008

    josh2008 Active Member

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    Congratulations, you've neglected to check your oil level. Probably will need atleast 3-3.5qts. Expect it to burn even more oil now.
     
    #6 josh2008, May 20, 2018
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  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Well, let's wait on the dipstick check.
     
    #7 Mendel Leisk, May 20, 2018
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  8. SFPriusonr

    SFPriusonr Junior Member

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    Aha! I guess I am the dip stick... I checked the oil and it was beneath the valley of low. So, now I've filled it up and will take it out for a confirmation spin. But, this begs the question, "Why not the low oil light?" Why wait until the red triangle of death which could mean anything?
     
    #8 SFPriusonr, May 20, 2018
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  9. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Classic.
     
    #9 edthefox5, May 20, 2018
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  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    It's not low oil, it's low oil pressure. But yeah, you'd think that'd be the light that should go on.
     
    #10 Mendel Leisk, May 20, 2018
  11. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Its throwing the RTOD because your killing the engine. Prius has some monitoring quirks like no temp gauge no oil is low gauge. I guess the
    japs figure you will open the hood once in a while.

    Now the bad news. Usually when a prius tiny little engine only takes 3.5 quarts of oil is run so low on oil it throws the RTOD and you continue to drive knowing full well there is the word death in that acronym it usually means engine damage. At the very least it will become an little oil eating monster. But I would imagine it already eats alot of oil hence the no oil.

    If the damage is really bad you will soon hear bearing knock. Starts as knock only under load then progresses to a loud knock all the time.
    If driven during the loud knock phase usually results in piston #2 through the block. See alot of those here. Always #2.
     
    #11 edthefox5, May 20, 2018
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