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symbols messeges on the prius dashboard

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by jocole, Jan 10, 2005.

  1. jocole

    jocole New Member

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    Hi all,
    In the last 2 months I decide to search for an electric car to buy.Right now I got opel astra tdi.While I was searching on the net few cars came up on the list which are(toyota prius,honda civic and the reva)the last one works only with battery pack and to recharge ,you have to plug in to the mains supply.So I came up with only two cars listed above ,when I crossed checked all the specifications of both cars,the prius is much more reliable car than the civic.
    In these last days I went to see the toyota prius cause they are available in our country too.
    I took some advices from other car dealers and they said that it is not a good idea to buy a prius.So the question comes automatically ,why?
    He complained that the car have too many warning symbols on the dashboard like !,the symbol of a tortoise etc.Is there any one who can tell me what are the meanings of these symbols and how they can be repaired.
     
  2. DanMan32

    DanMan32 Senior Member

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    Dealer has to repair any errors that come up. They read the code, look in their database, and make the necessary fix.

    There have been a few issues, but are workable. You may want to browse through this forum on some of them. Most of them have been worked out by now.

    The Toyota is completely warantied for 3 years/36K Mi, 5yr/60 on drive train, and 8yr/100 on hybrid components, which the last one covers alot, including the battery.

    Most later cars have these indicators, and you can't tell much from them without having a device to pull the codes. Granted, many other vehicles have other indicators, such as temp, oil, battery, to give you a clue to the problem. I knew I had a temp problem with my Saturn when I saw the guage go up unusually high. I was able to diagnose this to be the cooling fan motor, and replaced it myself.

    You may want to consider an extended warranty, especially if you get amy high end electronics, such as NAV, as these get pretty expensive and are not normally covered after the 3yr/36K warranty is up.

    This all pertains to USA and Canada, your market may be different.

    Considering the technology behind it, it is very reliable, and Toyota does back up that reliability with a decent warranty.
     
  3. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    If the dealer is warning you about the [!] light, I wonder what information he can get from "SVC ENG SOON" on the dashboards of many cars I've seen. I'm just saying that the symbols used by any particular manufacturer are just their way of providing information to the driver.

    I think the turtle is a symbol on the older Prius. My 2004 does not have a turtle. Not that I've seen.

    I hope you don't mind that I had to look up to see where in the world Xghajra is. :oops:
     
  4. IsrAmeriPrius

    IsrAmeriPrius Progressive Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer\";p=\"62806)</div>
    Found it.

    [Broken External Image]:http://www.searchmalta.com/malta/map.gif
     
  5. jocole

    jocole New Member

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    Thanks guys for your help .This week I am going to do a test drive,and I hope that at the end of february will arrive my prius.
    Thanks again
     
  6. jeepien

    jeepien Member

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    Umm, here's one that occurs to me:

    In the manual they list a symbol on the dashboard rather like two back to back D's that indicate the tail lights are on.

    On my dashboard, I get a blue light bulb to tell me the headlights are on, but nothing like that symbol for tail lights (parking lights).

    Is mine just burned out, or is the manual getting into the catnip supply again?
     
  7. DanMan32

    DanMan32 Senior Member

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    Lights in US look more like a sunburst, next to the cruise On indicator.

    I see what you are talking about, on page 6. I have never seen that lit.
     
  8. jeepien

    jeepien Member

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    Yeah, I took it as a lightbulb with "rays" coming out.

    But that's just for the headlights, right? Not parking lights.

    In other words, if you're looking at your dashboard, and go from no lights to parking lights, you do NOT see any changes, or additional symbols come on between those two states?

    (Other than things dimming, of course)
     
  9. volvoswede

    volvoswede Junior Member

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    Re: So no one knows??? symbols on the prius dashboard

    So no one could answer this query either?? Prius must have issued some info somewhere.
     
  10. Bob64

    Bob64 Sapphire of the Blue Sky

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    Perhaps the owners manual? Besides, the car he is referring to is the 1st gen prius.

    The tortoise symbol can mean that some hybrid components (like the battery) have overheated, so take it easy.