So my Prius is 2009 with 203000 miles. The last 5 months electrical issues started pop up. 1st. My dash lights turned off and couldn't turn up the dimmer to get the dash light on. Found a reset video and fixed that issue. 2nd Last night the dash light won't come on and wouldn't turn off. Found a reset video and everything works again. What's alarming both issues happened under 1000 miles and I'm scared this will get worst. Is this typical? Will this problem get worst? Can I fix this issue without resetting all the time? What's the deal here? SM-A536U ?
How is this different from the "bad cap in the dash" problem, for which there is a sticky thread in this forum? Actually it was in the service section, not the main section. Here is a link combination meter repair - DIY | PriusChat
When posting a question here, if you have "found a video" and done something it suggested, it can often be helpful to include a link to the video, so we can see what advice you've been following.
This looks like the same combination meter problem that everybody else has had. It results from an undersized capacitor on the combination meter board, which with age eventually drops below the point where it will work reliably (what the OP is seeing now, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't). If it isn't fixed it eventually gets to the "never works" stage. The lights out on the display, and the inability to turn the car off normally are both typical symptoms of this problem. To fix this the CM board needs to come out of the car - so the dash has to be mostly disassembled. At that point if the OP has some skill with a soldering iron they can fix it themselves, or they can send it to one of the services listed in that thread for repair. Any shop that works on Prius's has probably seen this issue numerous times and could tell the OP what it would cost for them to fix it. Note, the odometer value is stored on that board, so if it is sent out for repair, be sure the place doing the work either sends back the same board, or has the ability to transfer the setting to the replacement board. When Longo fixed mine (it was still under a used car warranty from them at the time) they mistakenly plugged the mileage from my previous visit into the replacement board so my odometer is off by a couple of hundred miles. It wasn't worth taking the whole dash apart again for that. What it tells us though is that the Toyota dealer service departments don't fix the capacitor problem in house, they source a new board and punch in the odometer value. The MSRP for that part is $467. Computer, Combination Meter | Part #8329147241 | Toyota Auto Parts The repair services fix the board for less than half that. https://www.texashybridbatteries.com/prius-combination-meter-repair
Just saw a video on how to repair the old capacitor. It's seems both the odometer LED failure and won't turn or won't off are related. It seems to be an easy fix and I'm going to attempt it next. Will take apart and order a new capacitor. Wish me luck. SM-A536U ?
As long as you have decent soldering skills- the repair is not too difficult. Pulling things apart to get to it takes some time. The center dash vents are usually fragile and will break unless you're very gentle popping them out. There are clips that hold the tops of the A-pillar trim, I use tiny electronics needle nose pliers to grab and twist the end 90° to release them. YouTube is helpful. Take pictures of everything and make a list of every electrical connector you unplug. There are many posts where someone has a problem afterwards and eventually finds they overlooked a connector on reassembly. Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
You get the plastic spluges and the dash vents will come straight out no problem It's when you start using your fingers and fingernails things get not nice. You use the plastic things to pull straight out on the top and straight out on the bottom and once you have a little edge there to grab in the center you can pull them right out just don't squeeze on them too hard The sun is removed all the oil from the plastic and they are very brittle The one that usually breaks is the one with the transmission shifter hole and that one is available for $24 and a much better material in the color you have on eBay your vent will fit right in it and it will not break when you take it out It is made more out of a PVC heavy material then hard plastic.
What a nightmare of a job. Broke two vent when pulling them out. These plastic bake over 14 year brake right away. I would say since my Prius sits in the sun all year round it was inevitable for them to break. Amazon had replacement vents for $60 for a pair of new ones. Found a YouTube video on diy. Got the replacement capacitor at mouser.com it was $20. Solder 3x capacitor. She is all back together and running now. SM-A536U ?
nice work. people say you can save the vents if you are gentle but ive seen maybe 9 out of 10 junkyard Prius have cracked vents. Something chemical happens to it in certain weather/environment and it becomes as brittle as a tostada.
I've had the exact opposite experience, oddly enough. As I described here and in the video here, whenever possible I try to keep all the prying tools far enough away to avoid temptation. Pads of fingers for the win, in my book. Fingernails are more in the way (and hurt when you tear them).
