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Help - blinking ABS, VCS & "!" on dash

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by bbuck7777, Dec 24, 2007.

  1. bbuck7777

    bbuck7777 Junior Member

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    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    I have a '08 w/ package 4, not even 2 weeks old and <220 miles. Yesterday on our first trip out, the three dash lights ("!", ABS & VSC) started blinking on start up. Read in manual that should have dealer look at immediately for any of these lights, so we left it home. Later in the day I when to re-check to see if lights were still blinking and they were not. ? Left for about a 15 miles trip all was fine. Parked for about 3 hours and when tried to go again the three lights are blinking again! Put back in the garage and drove other vehicle again! Today tried to call dealer and they are closed for holidays to be reopen on Wed. The day I leave for AZ. Oh they are still blinking when I tried them this am again. Any ideas?

    PS. I did install mud flaps and removed all wheels to make it easier. Also, installed a block heater and had it plugged in working before the first time this started.:confused:

    Love the car would like to drive it a little more.. Thanks
     
    #1 bbuck7777, Dec 24, 2007
  2. GeekEV

    GeekEV Member

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    Hard to say for certain, but it sounds like perhaps your gas cap isn't seated properly. That can cause problems on any modern car, but particularly on hybrids. Take the gas cap off, and screw it back in making sure so make at least three complete revolutions of the cap. It should click quite loudly as you turn it. The lights may go out immediately, or they may not -- I can't remember what the Prius does. If they don't go out immediately, they should within a few more drives. If not, definitely take it in for service.
     
    #2 GeekEV, Dec 24, 2007
  3. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    could be a wheel sensor wire from pulling the wheels.
     
    #3 galaxee, Dec 24, 2007
  4. bbuck7777

    bbuck7777 Junior Member

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    Thanks to both of you! I will try the gas cap idea before I pull the wheels again. I don't think it is the wheels, because I did not even touch anything around the hubs, but still an idea. If I don't figure it out, it will have to go back to dealer 1st week of Jan.

    Thanks again & Merry Christmas!
     
    #4 bbuck7777, Dec 24, 2007
  5. alanh

    alanh Active Member

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    It's unlikely to be the gas cap; that won't light the ABS light. It's much more likely to be a wheel sensor.
     
    #5 alanh, Dec 25, 2007
  6. bbuck7777

    bbuck7777 Junior Member

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    Well finally made it back home and tried the Gas cap (no luck), looked for any knocked off wire around rims (no luck) and then I tried unplugging the ScanGauge. The lights went back to normal! It is really strange as I know I had the ScanGauge plugged in several times and had no problems. I did plug the ScanGauge in and reprogram it for the Prius versus the Truck. Will play around with it tomorrow as see if I can determine what is up.:mellow:
     
    #6 bbuck7777, Jan 2, 2008
  7. LKJR

    LKJR Junior Member

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    I was waiting for the wife to come out of the grocery store the other night and playing with my scan gauge II (car was on)...I'll admit that I may have pressed the wrong button and think it messed me up a bit...the display said something like "....connecting....."....it seemed stuck in that mode...we drove about 30 yds and then the car lost power and the hybrid warning light, the red triangle and the check engine light went on....I powered off, then back on and regained complete power but the three lights still remained on...later that night all the warning lights went away. The dealer checked everything out but apparently you lose codes after several on/off starts so they couldn't find anything wrong. They told me to unplug the scan gauge for a while and see if the problem comes back.....so I wonder if you might have had some similar kind of issue. (Good lesson for me....don't "play" with the scan gauge II!)
     
    #7 LKJR, Jan 2, 2008
  8. bluestreek00

    bluestreek00 stiffining chassis

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    u turn to stealership
     
    #8 bluestreek00, Jan 3, 2008
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