red triangle warning light

Have you replaced your 12V battery? If it's at the point of failing, very weird things happen. The Toyota dealer should be able to pull error codes from the computer memory which can pin-point if there is a functional problem.

Are there Toyota Prius dealers in NZ? I saw a web article about Kiwis importing used Prius from Japan.

Welcome to PriusChat! Sorry we have to meet you this way.

 

BUMP

Anybody have any ideas for Bob?

 

Based on my troubles today - I'd certainly blame the 12V Battery (or related components, contacts, etc..)

Very, *very*, VERY weird things ...

-Ken

 

Funny you should mention the beeping red triangle light on a 2004 Prius. I was just searching the forums because I had a similar but not identical problem today. I had driven the car to a church meeting without problem. The meeting lasted about an hour. As I went to leave, I put the car in reverse and backed out of the parking space without a problem but as I tried to put it in drive, that noisy red triangle came on. The error message said that there can not be any electrical regeneration as long as the transaxle is in neutral. But the car wasn't in neutral, it was in drive A. Interestingly enough, drive B failed to illuminate on the dashboard. The car was driveable but the light continued beeping and flashing. I turned the ignition off and on several times to no avail. I left the engine on in drive A with my foot on the brake while I contemplated what to do next...the rosary or holy water. Finally, (? when the engine had warmed up), the drive B light illuminated and the red triangle disappeared. I drove without problem to the nearest Toyota dealership where the computer diagnostic program revealed nothing. They patted me on the head and sent me on my way. The car has 32K miles and has received regular maintenance, including recall service. Any thoughts?

Thanks, DicksieLee

 

That is what happens if a door is not fully closed. The first time it happened to me it scared the hell out of me too.

If you want to duplicate it just put it in drive and open the drivers door.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(seasalsa @ Aug 4 2007, 09:24 PM) [snapback]490701[/snapback]</div>

Thank you for the response to my question, SeaSalsa. Indeed, what happened to me was very similar to the response to not fully closing the door but differed in two ways. First, the B drive letter designation never illuminated on the dash. Second, the message warning me to engage the parking brake never apppeared, just the message about the transaxle not regenerating electric power while in neutral.

 

First post here, looking for some help or just direction. 06 Prius, everything great til accidentally ran down the 12v, since then been getting intermittent red triangle and check engine, brake, abs, Xmas tree. Replaced 12v, but still intermittent triangle/Xmas tree. Just took in to shop, told me battery was wrong one (how I don't know, bought it from dealership) now they're saying cant figure out the multiple codes, replaced the battery but say I need new wiring harness and not sure if that will fix it! $5500 repair. Just can't help thinking its that battery or something related. Any suggestions. Dealership really doesn't know but says 2 wires aren't checking out. Not warrantied.

 

Try getting the specific codes that the dealer pulled and post them here. That will allow others to give advice. I can't believe the ENTIRE harness needs to be replaced, if you haven't been in some sort of accident.

 

also check oil level

 

Hi Spriuscar. Three things you should check immediately any time you get warning lights and are not sure of the cause.

1. Check the 12V battery voltage

2. Check the inverter coolant pump and all the coolant levels.

3. Check the oil level on the dipstick.


BTW. You don't have to piggyback on an existing thread, you are allowed to start a new one.
It's usually much better to start a new thread for each new problem.

 

There are two types of 12V batteries, one with smart key, one without. However, in neither case would the "wrong" 12V cause a problem.

A quote for $5500 means that they have utterly no idea what the problem is and want to either (1) have you take the car somewhere else or (2) make sure that they will get paid if they have to spend a week figuring things out.

 

Just joined Prius chat.Here's my situation,last year out of the blue all warning lighta came on,red triangle,vsc,check engine etc.Car ran fine but drove to gateway Toyota in toms River.They had the car for a week & weren't able to diagnose saying something was draining the 12v battery.They replaced the 12v & the hybrid cell which was still under warranty as precaution.fast forward one year later same problem so I took to a different dealership,they think it may be the harness wiring at the tune of $5200.is this even possible?Mind you the car runs fine.Any thoughts

 

You got a new hybrid battery "as a precaution"? Under warranty?

Has your car ever been in an accident?

 

Yes I got the 12v battery & the hybrid cell battery both replaced a year ago.According to the elderly couple that I bought the car from & carfax the car wasn't in an accident.Luckily last year the hybrid battery was still under warranty.They now think it may be the harness wiring which I doubt so I picked it up & paid for diagnostics.The car runs great outside of hazard indicators.

 

i would just drive it until i had an issue. i sure wouldn't part with 5200 big ones.

 

I just had this same issue happen to me today. The door open light + red caution light was on with a constant beep while in drive. It turned out to be the inside of the door was dented where it presses up against the driver door sensor. Now, my Prius has 280,000 miles on it, so that may be part of it. But I just put a couple layers of two way tape on the inside of the door where it presses up agains the sensor and voilà! Problem solved!