After driving it for two days I noticed some oddities. I guess these are standard but here goes 1. The lower spoiler underneath the back bumper sure looks losse. Can it be tightened 2. Auto A/C. There is only one vent selection if you want Auto. 3. AIRBAG light is always on for the passenger. It chooses yes/no if you sit on the seat with an adult or small object but the word AIRBAG is always on 4. I keep hearing of people talk about MPG since they bought the car. Am I missing something on a 2006. My manual says it will reset the MPG when I put gas in. 5. Noticed the oil was slightly above the full mark - not a big deal since I plan to change it at 1000 miles. 6. The plastic wheel covers are easy to remove - just pull. No tools needed.
1) A picture is worth a thousand words . . . we can't diagnose “looks loose.†Does it rattle? 2) In the cooling mode, YES. But try bumping up the desired temperature to where it starts delivering heat . . . then other vents will be selected for you. 3) [if this is a 2006 model year thing, then somebody with a 2006 needs to answer this question. This is a good example of why it is helpful if you put your vital statistics in your profile] 4) The Prius does not keep a running lifetime MPG reading . . . but many PriusChatters do. 5) Oil over the full mark IS a big deal! It's not good for the car, or your MPGs. Three of the six oil changes my dealer did they overfilled. One would think that of all people, a Toyota dealership would know how to properly service Prii oil. Don't take any BS about an overfill. Tell them, “Toyota put those marks on the dipstick for a reason, and when it comes to the final word on if it is overfilled or not, I side with Toyota.†6) Yes, the plastic wheel covers come off with no tools. Whether it looks best with them on or off is a personal choice.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sufferin' Prius Envy @ Sep 16 2006, 09:37 PM) [snapback]320687[/snapback]</div> Yes it is a new 2006. The overfill must have been at the factory since the car is 2 days old. I have read the darn manual on hte airbag several times and it is not clear. The dealer said it is always on which it is. The manual talks about he on/off light in relation to the airbag light and the on/off seems correct. I tested it with a small ogject and my rear end. The on/off lit up as expected. I still canno figure out why AIRBAG is lit (or designed ot be lit) if nothing is on the seat. I'm going to carwl under the rear tomorrow and look at how thta piece is help on.
For number 1.. Mine came loose too, it's held on with cheap plastic push pins and they fall out if not pushed all the way in, especially if you accidently back up over a curb or something that can snag it. The dealer had to replace mine about three of those plastic pins fell out
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ghostrider @ Sep 16 2006, 10:15 PM) [snapback]320675[/snapback]</div> The AIRBAG light is just a sign - they could just as easily have painted it on the instrument panel.
The airbag light is to inform you if the airbag on the passanger side has been turned to the ON/OFF position. If someone or someting less than 60lbs is placed on the seat, the airbag is programed not to turn on. This is a saftey feature to protect small children in the passenger seat. Anyone over 60lbs will set the airbag to the ON position. At least that's how I understood it in the manual.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tazman @ Sep 17 2006, 12:24 AM) [snapback]320746[/snapback]</div> Thanks for the replies on AIRBAG. I agree that it sould be painted and not a light. A light on the dash generally indicates something needs attention. It is especially odd since the yes/no is not lit up if the seat is empty. In a perfect world the light should be out unless something is in the seat and then AIRBAG Yes/No should turn on.
Changing the oil at 1,000 miles is a pointless waste of oil. Back in the old days, when engine-building technology was more primitive, cars came with special "break-in" oil that was intended to be used during the first thousand miles, during which time you were supposed to treat the engine very gently. That is no longer the case. There is absolutely no reason for changing the oil before the recommended interval. In fact, the recommended interval is probably conservative. Changing the oil al 1,000 miles on a modern car is like covering the wall outlets so the electricity does not escape.
Just my best guess: The "Airbag" light on the panel probably indicates that the airbags are "armed" and capable of deployment - that is, the electrical circuits are good. Simply having a "painted word" on the panel would have no real value.
Ghostrider - RE: 4. I keep hearing of people talk about MPG since they bought the car. Am I missing something on a 2006. My manual says it will reset the MPG when I put gas in. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I have a 2006. As I understand it, the 2006 will automatically reset the amount of miles driven as displayed on the MLF. But only if you put in enough gas to cause the tank "bars" to increase by one or more. The 2006 will not automatically reset the MPG, but I believe the 2005 does. If you want the MPG to reset to "0," you must press the "Reset" button twice. Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong.
As I understand it, the 2006 will automatically reset the amount of miles driven as displayed on the MLF. But only if you put in enough gas to cause the tank "bars" to increase by one or more. The 2006 will not automatically reset the MPG, but I believe the 2005 does. If you want the MPG to reset to "0," you must press the "Reset" button twice. Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong. [/quote] Don't know about that. I always press reset (only once) myself after a fill up so I can try to track MPG per tank. I have not seen the miles reset on their own. One way to find out is just experiment - don't press reset yourself and see if the miles reset themselves. B)
