Weird flashing lock on dash once car is off?

Many people say this and believe it to be true. So far not one case has ever been documented. What really happens is that people notice it after maintenance, such as replacing a battery. It's been there all along, but not very noticeable.

Tom

 

My car interior lights go on too when I just approach the car. It's spooky. I'm sure it has something to do with the Mayan calendar and the end of the world on Dec. 21

 

In other words, people suck at paying attention.

 

They do . That's why people swear they stepped on the brake when they stepped on the accelerator. That's also why eyewitness accounts, which are supposed to be the gold standard in police investigations, are so often wrong.

 

I was able to capture the image with my camera. It's a car with a big lock attched. I trying to post the picture but I'm not sure this will work. I sent an email to Longo Toyota's Ask a Tech to see if they know what the warning light is. I have had the car for 1.5 years and did not see this light until I got the car back from the 20K service one week ago.

 

Page 110 of the owners manual, Immobilizer system. Hope that helps.

 

FWIW My 2011 flashes all the time when the car is in the garage, goes out of course when 'ready.' I had to look closely at the icon too at first but it doesn't bother me.

 

Maybe it's an update for Gen II Prius' but it's the way the Gen III's have always worked. (The lighting before touching the handle depends on how fast you approach and perhaps other factors. If I walk up briskly and immediately grab the handle, it's hard to notice.)

 

Page 106 of the Owners Manual.

 

Here it is

 

Hi all,
My Pruis had a dead battery today. The sales manager came to my work parking lot and 'jumped' the car off. Now I have this flashing light @ above. Maybe I never noticed it before. But I could swear that my dash was always in total darkness until after the jump.
BTW.. Does anyone know what I could have done to drain my battery? I always turn off the radio and air when I park the car. I also normally do not leave the headlights on either. I am stumped. The SM said that I must have left something on for the 12 v battery to have been drained. Does anyone know what it might have been?
thanks,
Connie

 

There's been a couple of mentions of the indicator light only appearing after a 12 volt battery problem. Maybe there is a setting to disable the light, and having the 12 volt disconnected, the car's computer lost it's memory and reverted to defaults?

 

Mine has done the flashing car/key thing from the get-go, FWIW. I thought it was a reminder to take the smart key out of the car with you my bad. Never noticed if it kept flashing when I leave the car but just checked and yup, it's flashing. I don't think my interior lights up when I approach the car, is that an option I missed turning on in some menu?

 

Here are all of the customization options for the 2010. The 2012 should be the same (if not, someone will let us know soon enough.)

 

^^^
Some of the options listed there don't require the dealer/Techstream/OBD 2 device anymore. Some can now be done via the touchscreen that's included in all 2012+ Prius liftbacks.

 

But does the 2012 have any options in addition to (or missing from) what the 2010 has?

 

Try being helpful instead of smug.

 

Also that light will come on permanently if the car is running and the key walks away. Like if you were dropping the wife off and she grabbed the key. The car runs fine though...it just sets that indicator on all the time. If you drive away and then shut the car off your sol though.

 

My 2010 has the interior lights come on when I approach the vehicle.. If the vehicle senses you are there you most likely will have the following feature....

When you approach the driver door and the lights come on... grab the driver handle... The doors unlock... Then when your finished.... Place your fingers on the two little waves that are on the driver handle and after a second the doors will lock....

 

Changed my battery and got the imperceptible flashing padlock now too. Annoying. Not amongst the warning lights in my manual.