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Warning Light, courtesy light and key detected message on cold start

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by pookieman, Nov 15, 2010.

  1. pookieman

    pookieman New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2010
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    Location:
    Vancouver
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Hello Again

    I have a very strange issue with the car, it started last week once the weather had cooled down. Over a 3 day period when starting to drive the car from a cold start, after 30 secs, the following 3/4 things would happen.

    The master warning light starts flashing with beeping
    Message on the console 'Warning Key Detected'
    Interior front courtesy light comes on for a few moments then goes off.

    This continues until you stop the car. Turn it off. Wait then start again. Once going again it happens all over again. Until the car is warmed up, then it stops completely.

    Once the emergency lights also came on for 4-5 blinks then went off. As I said it hasn't happened this week, the weather is warmer and wetter. We've only had the car 6 months so this is the coldest it's been. I've been looking around for an explanation and can't find one.

    Dropped it off today to get it checked out and sure enough technician couldn't recreate the issue and ran his computer through the car and found only 2 errors to do with the battery going flat. Which as far as I know hasn't ever on us.

    So what is going on? I'm getting the car back and we'll see what happens. It drives fine, just a little disturbing when the master light keeps flashing. My wife who has also seen this thinks it's to do with a bumpy road as well. Perhaps a loose cable?

    Any body got any ideas?
     
    #1 pookieman, Nov 15, 2010
  2. Bob Comer

    Bob Comer Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2010
    708
    458
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    Location:
    South Carolina low country
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Key fob battery going out?

    Have you tried your other key fob?

    My Prius did the same thing one time for one trip, but I think my key fob was under my phone and it was having trouble communicating with the car.
     
    #2 Bob Comer, Nov 15, 2010
  3. rickkop

    rickkop New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2009
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    Location:
    Syracuse, New York
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Believe it or not, the same thing, almost, happened to me the other day. With me it had nothing to do with the cooler weather. I didn't notice anything with the lights but the "warning key detected" came on the screen which confused me as I had the key on me and I was driving down the road. I pulled over and shut the car off, restarted the car and went on my way only for the same warning to appear again moments later. This time I checked all the doors and found the rear hatch wasn't completely shut. Why the warning of key detected is beyond me but as soon as I opened and closed the hatch the problem went away and hasn't returned. I know this sounds weird but next time just for the heck of it, seriously try the doors. Rick
     
    #3 rickkop, Nov 15, 2010
  4. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2009
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    Location:
    NEPA
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    Limited
    Yup, happened to me as well. Open and close the hatch - Problem should go away.
     
    #4 RRxing, Nov 15, 2010
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