Hybrid System Warning light + multiple other alarms lit simultaneously

Hi @Rom, welcome to PriusChat.

First, let me say I do not think you have a software bug and second, I think that quite possibly these symptoms could very well be caused by a failing 12V battery.

The recall to which you referred, related to Gen III Prii, so does not affect your car.

You may not want to believe me, but when the 12V battery becomes weak it can fail to have enough energy to boot all the electronic control management (ECM) modules, collectively known as the computers, which then can throw DTC's (diagnostic trouble codes), some which may not even relate to a real problem, but can disable the car or put it into "limp mode". Experienced Toyota technicians, can recognise these symptoms and conclude that the 12V battery is weakening.

When reading your post, my first thought went straight to weak 12V battery.

Because the 12V battery does not have to turn over a starter motor, as in conventional cars, it is very difficult to ascertain the battery is weakening. It more or less works one day and then the next day your dash is lit up like a christmas tree. I'd say your battery was not so bad in January and was able to take enough charge to still be serviceable, but over the course of the year weakened to the point it could no longer do the job. Let me also just comment that if this is the original battery that came with your car you have had a very good run with it getting 6-7 years of service out of it. Some have had their 12V battery fail in less than 4 years.

I am confident you will have no further trouble, but if anything does come up, please post back with an update.

Hope that helps, and all the best.

 

Welcome to Priuschat!

You do not have a software glitch you have something going on compounded by a nasty dealer.

It is of utmost importance when anything happens to your Prius you retrieve all the software codes the car will log which will quickly pinpoint the issue.

They look like this with usually a pinpoint 3 digit suffix at the end XXXXX-XXX Without these codes its a guessing game. Your car has logged a bunch of them. Btw, I agree with dolj also. You may before this noticed an instantaneous red triangle that showed momentarily on the dash upon boot up. That's a very low 12 volt battery indicator.

I would join Toyota.com/owners site and put your cars VIN in and the codes found may be listed on your last visit. Any service perfomed on your car by a Toyota dealer in the us will be listed there. Post the code numbers here.

Btw, list the state of tune done to your car since new.

Oil changes, trans fluid changes anything done to the motor etc.

 

CALL FOR HELP


I currently have the triangle of death warning light and brake warning light.

Background I have changed out the front rotors and front pads(used the hobbit site/thread/post)

Obviously I have not done something improperly. The prius drives fine but has not reset.

 

Try disconnecting 12V for 10min and see if warning light is still on. I don’t think hobbits site tells you to pump brake pedal before turning car on. It might be that brake pads were just too far from disc and it set fault code on.

 

I recall Patrick Wong talking about shorting pins 4 and 13 on the ODB port to clear the brake warning light. I have NEVER messed with that aspect, so I can't say if it will help or not. A Google search should reveal his post's on the subject.

I doubt a 12 volt disconnect and reconnect will clear the code for the "brake warning" light.

Ron (dorunron)

 

Codes can be set when changing pads. If you do not have a VCI then connecting the pins "as in Dorunron post" on the OBD interface, and pressing the brake pedal 8 times in 5 seconds should clear the codes. Disconnecting the battery will not clear brake codes.

John (Britprius)

 

Maybe it shouldn't but often it DOES.
If you have the patience, do a search here for "battery" and look for threads that start out similar to yours.
The circumstances often are not identical but always include multiple failure indications that have no common point except the power supply.

If your battery is over 3 years old, it should be suspect.
If it is over 5 years old, might as well just get a new one.
And pay real close attention to the connection points at BOTH ends of the main battery cables.
Even though the appear to be clean and tight, sometimes they aren't.

 

NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE 12VOLT BATTERY AND /OR TRACTION BATTERY..........

Hey Britprius and /or Partrick (still call for help)
The brake pedal reset how does that work I depress 8 times when in ready mode or not.///
I have scanguage but no codes found or can be cleared

 

The scangauge may not read the hybrid specific ECU's, unless there are additional softwares to install. The brake and skid control ECU's have nonvolatile memory, so they will be unaffected by lifting the 12V. The only way to know what is happening, sans mini VCI, is to pull blink codes:

One-time partial brake failure ... ABS, VSC, brake lights | PriusChat

That same pin shorting is used to read the codes, and to reset them as well, using the brake pedal push 8 times method. You may have a problem with one of the wheel speed sensors, if it is not just brake pad related.

 

Why not ? Have you at least put a voltmeter on it after it's been sitting overnight and while the car is "running" ??

 

My wife informed me yesterday that the Check Engine, VSC and Red Triangle w/exclamation mark had all lit up when she broke for lunch during jury duty. I happened to be fairly near, so I met her to look at the issues. Topped off the Brake Fluid, Anti Freeze and checked the oil, then I checked the main fuse box and noticed some of the main fuses seemed loose...not like a firm fit as should be. I pressed them all with light force and also disconnected the positive battery post. After about 10 or 15 seconds I reconnected the post got in the car and started the 2007 Prius. All was as should be. Good to go!! I also forgot to mention the top of the Multi Function Display had a red car w/exclamation light,.. it also was gone after the "Re-Boot"?? I'm concerned about these loose fuses. It may be what contributes to some problems?? We've also experienced times when one of the headlights will go out... We turn them off then on quickly and then they work fine till the next time.

 

Regarding the headlights - if they are HID, you need to replace them now. The turning off and on process will stress the headlight ballast and will shorten the life of that expensive part.

There should be no mechanical play in any of the electrical fuses or relays. They all should fit extremely tightly. Was the car in an accident or would there have been any reason that the main/relay box was serviced or tampered with?

 

Patrick, Accidents, Not to my knowledge. As far as fuses extremely tight, I did not remove any, it may have been the 1st time they were ever touched? I have read where the headlights have some issues. Many posts relate problems during temperature changes? Some posters have issues when it's cold and some when it's hot? Thanks for advise about the headlight ballast stress...I plan on charging the 12v battery this weekend trickle charge for 8-10 hrs. and will check current strength. My 2007 touring pkg. 6 has 78700 miles and the hybrid system charges as should.
Thank You for your advise as I am eager to communicate and educate myself about our gen 2 prius. Calm Skies, Jackie V

 

you should take it for a code check or get a scanner.

 

You said:

Then you said:

Just wondering which it is.

 

dolj, some (fuses) had a looseness "like a loose tooth that is still not ready to pull"??

 

I recently checked the 12v battery after sitting overnight, it showed 11.1 v and I am going replace it soon. Thanks for your inquiry

 

thanks for YOUR inquiry!