Check Engine Light on again

GaryK · 08-24-2004, 02:59 AM

Hi,

I have a 2004 Toyota Prius that is less than one month old. So far, the check engine light has come on 3 times. The Toyota tech reports that the first 2 times were caused by the "Solar Sensor" on the passenger side, which was replace last week at the dealership. Today, the check engine light came on and stayed on for a few hours. I assume that it's the same problem as before, as every time this has happened, it's been while powering up the car, not while driving.

Has anyone else run into this same problem? If so, what was the cause and cure?

It's pretty upsetting to have a brand new car display a light that tells me the take it to the dealer all the time. I have been told that 160 things can trigger that light, so it could be anything causing the problem.

Thanks,

Gary

jamarimutt · 08-24-2004, 06:32 AM

My car's light has not come on, but the car I tested at the dealer had it on all the time. The are a few posts in this and other forums about the check engine light coming on during the first few hundred miles; apparently, it's not an important issue.

My car's red triangle warning light came on and off just about every other day during the first month that I had the car. The light has been off for several months now.

David · 08-24-2004, 09:14 PM

My Check Engine light came on a number of times 9,000 miles ago. The Toyota dealer determined I had a bad gas tank and kept the car three weeks while they ordered and then installed the new tank.

Shortly after the first fillup after my 10,000 service at the dealer the check engine light came on again. I will try to make time to find out the problem later this week. I'll post the results of another trip to the dealer for this.

GaryK · 08-25-2004, 12:03 PM

David,

I sure hope your last check engine light event is only due to your gas fill and cap, rather than something with your tank again. Please let us know what service finds when they check the errors codes.

Dion · 08-25-2004, 05:10 PM

I had this same problem. Check engine light kept coming on. They replaced the wiring harness I believe. There is a technical bulletin about this problem. You need to search on PRIUSONLINE.COM for the fix.
Here's the Link.

GaryK · 08-25-2004, 11:29 PM

Dion,

Does you Prius have the side curtain air bags by chance? Mine is a package #3, with side curtain air bags.

Dion · 08-26-2004, 03:53 PM

GaryK,

Yes, I have a #9 with all options including the side airbags.

GaryK · 08-28-2004, 11:44 AM

Dion,

Toyota service tells me my model Prius is too new to be effected by the wiring harness, as that problem was found only on model made before this Summer. Was your Prius made before the Summer by chance?

Dion · 08-31-2004, 05:15 PM

GaryK,

I got my Prius in March 2004.

GaryK · 08-31-2004, 06:05 PM

Dion,

OK,

Thanks for the info. Getting the car checked again in a few days, so will see what they find out. Would be nice to be able to plug a laptop in and see for myself.

View Poll Results: Has your Check Engine light ever come on and stayed on for a while?
Yes	19	16.24%
No	96	82.05%
Many times	2	1.71%
Voters: 117. You may not vote on this poll

08-24-2004, 02:59 AM	#1
GaryK Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: The White Mountains of Arizona Posts: 24 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Check Engine Light on again Hi, I have a 2004 Toyota Prius that is less than one month old. So far, the check engine light has come on 3 times. The Toyota tech reports that the first 2 times were caused by the "Solar Sensor" on the passenger side, which was replace last week at the dealership. Today, the check engine light came on and stayed on for a few hours. I assume that it's the same problem as before, as every time this has happened, it's been while powering up the car, not while driving. Has anyone else run into this same problem? If so, what was the cause and cure? It's pretty upsetting to have a brand new car display a light that tells me the take it to the dealer all the time. I have been told that 160 things can trigger that light, so it could be anything causing the problem. Thanks, Gary

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08-24-2004, 06:32 AM	#2
jamarimutt Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 972 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	My car's light has not come on, but the car I tested at the dealer had it on all the time. The are a few posts in this and other forums about the check engine light coming on during the first few hundred miles; apparently, it's not an important issue. My car's red triangle warning light came on and off just about every other day during the first month that I had the car. The light has been off for several months now.

08-24-2004, 09:14 PM	#3
David Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Vero Beach, Florida Posts: 144 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	My Check Engine light came on a number of times 9,000 miles ago. The Toyota dealer determined I had a bad gas tank and kept the car three weeks while they ordered and then installed the new tank. Shortly after the first fillup after my 10,000 service at the dealer the check engine light came on again. I will try to make time to find out the problem later this week. I'll post the results of another trip to the dealer for this.

08-25-2004, 12:03 PM	#4
GaryK Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: The White Mountains of Arizona Posts: 24 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	David, I sure hope your last check engine light event is only due to your gas fill and cap, rather than something with your tank again. Please let us know what service finds when they check the errors codes.

08-25-2004, 05:10 PM	#5
Dion Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Jersey City, NJ Posts: 127 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I had this same problem. Check engine light kept coming on. They replaced the wiring harness I believe. There is a technical bulletin about this problem. You need to search on PRIUSONLINE.COM for the fix. Here's the Link.

08-25-2004, 11:29 PM	#6
GaryK Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: The White Mountains of Arizona Posts: 24 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Dion, Does you Prius have the side curtain air bags by chance? Mine is a package #3, with side curtain air bags.

08-26-2004, 03:53 PM	#7
Dion Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Jersey City, NJ Posts: 127 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	GaryK, Yes, I have a #9 with all options including the side airbags.

08-28-2004, 11:44 AM	#8
GaryK Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: The White Mountains of Arizona Posts: 24 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Dion, Toyota service tells me my model Prius is too new to be effected by the wiring harness, as that problem was found only on model made before this Summer. Was your Prius made before the Summer by chance?

08-31-2004, 05:15 PM	#9
Dion Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Jersey City, NJ Posts: 127 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	GaryK, I got my Prius in March 2004.

08-31-2004, 06:05 PM	#10
GaryK Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: The White Mountains of Arizona Posts: 24 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Dion, OK, Thanks for the info. Getting the car checked again in a few days, so will see what they find out. Would be nice to be able to plug a laptop in and see for myself.