Can't turn prius OFF

Are you sure you had the brake on hard enough when trying to start it? I know that the turning on problems have happened, but I can't remember if there's I time I couldn't get it to turn off. Did you have it in park, brake off and hit the power button only once?

Dave M.

 

loose ground on the 12v could do that. saw one of those a couple years ago.

 

I have had the exact same problem two times now - it is scheduled to go to the dealer tomorrow - but they already told me if they cannot replicate problem they can't do anything????? The first time it happened I played around 15 - 20 minutes to try to get the car turned off - including putting the key in - off course that didn't work. Once I finally got it off - I came back to leave about 20 minutes later and had no dash lights either. Yes - I am sure I didn't have the dimmer turned down - in fact after driving about 20 minutes - they automatically came on by them selfs - magic!
Yesterday when I started the car in the morning I had no dash lights again - when I got to my destination the car would not turn off - ended up playing with it for about 10 minutes.

Also, last week I was sitting in the car (engine not running) - just listening to the radio waiting to pick my daughter up - when I pushed the power button the car came on in Neutral - couldn't shift to drive or reverse - had to power off completely and restart.

Any ideas - again my dealer said if the car is not doing this when I take it in tomorrow they cannot do anything - so another words wasted trip because when I get there it may be just fine and then they don't know what to check.

 

Is this thread doubled up? I just answered the exact same post on another thread. Why do people do that? Are they just shotgunning and hoping someone will see it if they spread it around enough?

I could have saved my time, since the other posters have already stated what I wrote.

Double posting represents bad form and bad manners. For any of you new posters out there, don't do it. If you feel you must, cross link your threads so we know they both exist.

Tom

 

As for a dealer who can't do anything if they can't replicate the problem then and there -- I think that's B.S. They should give you the courtesy of assuming that you're *not crazy*, and that you are intelligent enough to answer simple questions about what you observed on multiple occasions. They can then at least check the most obvious reasons the situation might arise -- problem with the computer, problem with ground wire (as mentioned in another response), etc. They might not be able to *prove* that they've found the problem, but that doesn't mean they can't at least *try*, for God's sake. They could then send you on your way and ask you to return if the problem returns.

That's poor customer service.

 

Hold the power button in until it turns off, it will.

Can we merge the 2 threads?

 

if they can't replicate the problem, how do they know if they fixed it?

 

Replicating the problem is the best way to troubleshoot something and diagnose it.

A good dealer is one that finds the exact problem and fixes it. A bad dealer replaces almost everything (and charges you for it) in the troubleshooting process.

 

"Remove and replace one Prius..."

Tom

 

Sure, that'll be 24,000 cash up front please.

 

It has happened to other owners that the 12V battery connections become loose or corroded. Remove the -ve, clean, then remove the +ve and clean it then reconnect it. Lastly, reconnect the -ve and tighten it. Also check the -ve cable connection to the body.

 

This has happened to me 3 times and dealer can't figure it out. I turn Prius on, and recessed dash is black (dimmer control does not alter this), and the center console displays the main screen, but as I drive, does not show instant mileage, nor does it track the miles I am driving. No idea whether odometer catches it---can't see it.

And holding the power switch down the second time it happened? NO DICE. CAR would NOT turn off. Brake, brake, power down, no dice. Hold brake, power off, no dice. Park, power off, no dice. Park, park, power off, no dice.

I took pictures of my dash driving down a major interstate--all black and inactive control panel, so the dealer knows I'm not crazy, but they want to keep it "overnight" and I said, "Look, it's happened three times in the last 10 months. You would have to keep it for 6 months and turn it on every day three times a day to try and replicate this problem."

I will ask about the 12v/ground wire--after reading here. Good luck to all--let's hope one of us can figure this out!:cheer2:

 

I would love to know the result of this seeing that this has happened to me today. It was -22 deg F which might have worsened the situation. Mine behaved exactly as stated and after a 1 hour drive to drop of my son at daycare, I couldn't stop the car with the power button. After I dropped him off I drove about 20 minutes to work and while parking the car, the HUD came back on and I was able to turn off the car. I am worried that I might have the same problem when I leave today. I will call my dealer to see if their techs have experienced this.

 

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6zy-lkbZ6o]YouTube - Picture 040[/ame]

this would be the same problem i suppose.when this happens backup camera and the backup lights wont work either.hard to turn the car off.

 

I'm new to this forum but I wanted to add that I had this problem today. Exactly the same: recessed dash is black, except for the passenger seatbelt indicator lights. The MPG computer still worked and the car drove as normal. Then I couldn't turn the car off. Called Toyota to see if I could bring it in, was due for 20k service anyway. I live in Ithaca, NY where there are a lot of steep hills. Getting to Toyota was a second trip down the steep hill (therefore more battery charging). By the time I got to the dealer, I was able to turn the car off with no problem. When I turned it back on, the recessed dash was lit up. Toyota was not able to determine what the problem was. It is VERY cold here and I've been letting the car warm up in the driveway longer than usual, so I don't know if that is draining the 12V battery or something.

Just wanted to share my experience today. It's kind of a scary feeling to not be able to turn your car off or see your speed.

 

There is another forum that has info on this as well, with a bit more complete info. My 08 Prius is currently at the dealer awaiting a part that should be here this week that will hopefully fix the problem. I have had it happen several times and on Friday it happened again and I was able to get it to the dealership so they could see it happening.

 

This is very interesting. What part are they replacing?

 

The part I am still waiting for is a combination meter.