2008 Prius Combination Meter

Are your headlights on? Also there is a brightness adjustment wheel to the left of the steering wheel. Try adjusting that

 

Contact Matt at Texas Hybrid Batteryies for a repaired combo meter.

Level of Difficulty is subjective. Lots of Youtube videos of people replacing the combo meter; judge for yourself.

Since you are in SF, you can contact Art's Automotive (Berkeley) and Luscious Garage (SF) for labor rates.

 

And test the 12v

 

in the morning, before starting the car, put a voltmeter on the jump point under the hood. if it is 12.5 or better, you probably need a new combo meter.
unfortunately, 99% of the $1,000. cost is labor. the whole dash has to come apart. good for diy'ers, but expensive at a hundred bucks an hour.

 

$1000 is quite expensive for this. The dealers around here charge $750-$800 to replace a failed CM (parts and labor), and an independent shop will do it for around $400 with a rebuilt one from ebay or someone like Matt (who is referenced above). Someone who knows what they are doing can swap one out in under an hour. A good DIYer or mechanic doing one for the first time should be able to do it in under 2 hours. (My first swap took just under 2 hours, but I'm much faster now.)

There are many videos describing the process ... this one is the best IMO:

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There is a several other threads on this topic. This one is about the most comprehensive: combination meter repair - DIY | PriusChat

I suggest you get another quote.

 

not if you live in san fran

 

If it's not the dimmer wheel or the 12V battery, replacement is not hard at all to replace the CM. I've had two of them out. That video that @marcs_carhole linked is the one I followed. It makes the process very clear.

And as mentioned, check with Matt at Texas Prius Battery Replacement. He sells rebuilt ones for $150.

 

Yes that’s the video I used too pretty concise and it worked.

 

Just went through a saga with my mom's old car. So I helped her buy a used 2009 Prius with only 99k from a local lady. We paid 6k, but it needed stuff like tires etc. Before purchasing we took it in to Toyota for a pre purchase inspection. They assured us it was in good condition aside from needing 4 tires.

Mom's retired, and we're low on money, so we were hoping this Prius would be stress free.

Tonight the dashboard didn't turn on, for the first time since we bought it a month ago. It's 48 outside, but not super cold. It happened a second time later on after going to the store. The key fob trick worked.

I'm so worried this will get worse, it's stressful!! We don't have enough money to go the new route, car was bought 9/2008 so it's out of warranty. We definitely definitely aren't good at DIY car stuff. Lol.

What options do we have? Any suggestions? We live in the south bay area of california.

I feel sick that we spent all our money on a car that might need more expensive repairs. :/

 

Very common issue the dashboard module is called the Combo Meter. Just replaced mine. There $100 and require dismantling of the dashboard to swap the module in and out. Pretty easy there’s a great YouTube on it labeled Combo meter.

Lots of chatters use Texas Hybrids for there module purchase.Use the search forum button up top and search

Combo meter.

For more threads about it. The combo meter does not like the cold that’s when it fails.

Good luck.

 

Could a leaky windshield cause this problem.It's just above the combo meter. I am sealing the windshield to see if it changes anything.

 

It does not help to expose the electronics to water, but I doubt that is the reason for the combination meter not working.