Recently my 2006 (206k miles) has been acting weird. A few times now when I start the car the dash lights / speedometer won't come on. The push start button is solid orange when this happens. Sometimes just turning the car off and back on fixed it, but not every time. I was able to drive the car like this (MFD mpge also didn't work) just fine minus no display. I know when the 12v battery starts to get weak the Prii start to act weird. I looked at the battery info from the diagnostic menus and it was the following. Off - 12.6v Starting car - 12.3v Car running 14v Are these voltages ok? I have an appointment at the dealer for a new 12v battery but I did a little searching and read about a failing combination meter has similar symptoms. Thanks in advance.
Got ya. No other dash lights came on either (like Ready). The backup camera also doesn't work when this happens. Any clue what the cost is roughly to get the combination meter replaced?
Ooof, not even sure the car is worth $1000 haha I'll see if I can get an official price tomorrow. Pretty easy diy job?
Several on the forum have done it. I think its Texas Hybrid Batteries (name of member here and the name of his business/website) that offers combo meter repair/swapouts, etc. Texas Prius Battery Replacement
Last I knew, the dash just takes a while to rip apart. It's not hard per se. I believe Texas Hybrid Batteries is $225 for a new meter pre-programmed to mileage, minus $75 when you send yours back with included shipping label.
It starts out driving fine then turns into wont shut off no matter what then you have to pull the main 12 volt battery lead off to kill the car. This video is what I and many others on here used to r & r the combo meter. I recommend buying combo meter from Matt at Texas Hybrids.
Thanks. I came across that video too. Looks pretty straight forward. In the video this guy didn't disconnect the 12v battery. Is it necessary to keep it hooked up doing this or just disconnect it?
I would disconnect the 12 volt battery. You are disconnecting the passenger dash airbag that is right in your face so..... It's easy: Just go into the hatch pry off the red battery cover then there are 2 black cables plugged into the battery positive post black plastic fuse assy. Please see pic: One is a thick black wire the other a thin black wire. They terminate in white plug in clips. Just push the white clip locking tab in on the plug and pull out. The thick black wire is the main power line to the car it goes to the front fuse box under the hood and is bolted to the jump point. That is the main B+ power line to the car the thin wire is the sensing wire to the inverter. With those 2 wires unplugged the 12 volt battery is completely disconnected from the car. The extra red wire bolted to that positive side is power for my external power supply for my lights for towing. Your car will not have that. And all the red stuff is grease. To stop corrosion. Redline wheel bearing grease 100% synthetic. Don't be surprised if you break a few plastic clips on all the plastic dash crap. Its an old car and everything is brittle especially if the car has not been garaged all its life. Good Luck.
I think its much easier to unclick a connector and so did Toyota which is why they put those removable plugs there. And no sparks. The no sparks are really the best reason. Try it sometime its very easy and fast and no tools but each to his own I guess.
most of yer vents will break now matter hoe careful unless cars been always garaged the sun eats em up bad their Abs
