Flashing gas gauge and transaxle frames

jgavis · 01-31-2006, 02:06 PM

I have a late 2005 Prius, Package 2. After driving 3.5 miles to work and parking for 9 hours, I got in the car (smartkey worked) held the brake pedal, pressed power. The dashboard lights came on, flashing 1 bar of fuel <_< (should have been 3), but the LCD didn't come on. There were some clicking sounds coming from under the hood. Power windows were sluggish, lights were dim like a low battery. The gas gauge begins flashing all 10 bars at the same time that all frames of the transaxle begin flashing.

I press the power button again and the dash lights flicker for several seconds then go off. I opened the door and the car started beeping at me until I closed it. I checked and I didn't leave any lights on or doors ajar anywhere. The manual only mentions the transaxle lights flashing and says to take it to the dealer. The dealer said over the phone that they'd have to take a look. I arranged a tow under warranty, and kept trying to start it now and then.

After about ten tries and 30 minutes, it finally started up with the exclaimation point

and the LCD activated, saying something like "There is an abnormality in the position of the transaxle. Safely park your car on a flat surface and fully engage the parking brake. " The parking brake was already completely engaged, and the message timed out and the car turned off. I turned it on again and it worked like there had never been anything wrong.

Upon driving the car to Toyota with a detailed written description of events (which they said they really appreciated), they checked the battery, error codes, everything they could think of, and there was no sign of there ever having been a problem. No messages were logged in memory.

Has anyone else had a similar problem, or know why this may have happened?

galaxee · 01-31-2006, 02:16 PM

from what i understand some codes (but not all) can be cleared from memory after a whole bunch of restarts. some require a certain cycle to be completed before they're cleared.

we've seen prii do some extremely strange things because of low batteries/bad connections.

tumbleweed · 01-31-2006, 05:46 PM

Interesting problem. Any chance you might have left a light on or something for the 9 hours it was parked and run the 12 volt battery down?

Liam · 01-31-2006, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jgavis@Jan 31 2006, 02:06 PM

"There is an abnormality in the position of the transaxle. Safely park your car on a flat surface and fully engage the parking brake. "

Has anyone else had a similar problem, or know why this may have happened?

[snapback]201334[/snapback]

I got this message once. It was when I pulled off on the side of the road and got out of the car with the fob and left the car running and the door open. (I had to save a turtle that was in the middle of the road) There were no other blinking lights, but I had to turn the car off and start again before I could put it in drive.

KTPhil · 01-31-2006, 06:33 PM

"all frames of the transaxle begin flashing."

What on earth does this mean?

joelparks · 01-31-2006, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KTPhil@Jan 31 2006, 06:33 PM
"all frames of the transaxle begin flashing."

What on earth does this mean?

[snapback]201491[/snapback]

ya know, P for Park in a box (frame), R for reverse in a box, N for Neutral in a box, D for Drive in a box, B for brake in a box, all at the same time. On the speedo panel display not the MFD.

zat help?

naterprius · 01-31-2006, 11:55 PM

Your 12 volt system is likely malfunctioning! I left my car in the "ON" position for the better part of 2 days and this is what happened to me when the battery got low.

It is also possible there is a bad ground with the 12 volt system.

Have the dealer do a charging and drain test on the 12 volt battery.

Nate

V8Cobrakid · 02-01-2006, 12:36 AM

I noticed that it might be the 12v system too. When i was listening to the radio for about 3 hours. when the car was "dead" everything flashes.. drive it around for a half an hour.. or at least 20 mins.

jgavis · 02-03-2006, 10:18 AM

Thanks for the input. It is possible that the headlights remained on while I sat in my car for lunch. I don't know if they time out or stay on until you open the door (if you leave them in the on position, of course). The dealer's certified Prius tech looked at the car for an hour (actually taking it in to work on it as soon as I got it there) and said they 'tested the battery' as well, but I don't know if that was a drain/charge test.

Since the windows were sluggish and the lights were dim, I'll assume it was a low battery probably due to something I did. It's nice that it bounced back enough to start.

Thanks again

imwoody36 · 06-03-2006, 01:53 PM

I repair collision damaged Prius's and have seen this condition many times. First check the fuses under the hood. ( well in your case it was probably a low 12v battery), Second place the car in neutral and rock it back and forth, then push the park button.
3rd get a voltmeter and check the fuses under the hood again

01-31-2006, 02:06 PM	#1
jgavis Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: McKinney, Texas Posts: 2 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I have a late 2005 Prius, Package 2. After driving 3.5 miles to work and parking for 9 hours, I got in the car (smartkey worked) held the brake pedal, pressed power. The dashboard lights came on, flashing 1 bar of fuel <_< (should have been 3), but the LCD didn't come on. There were some clicking sounds coming from under the hood. Power windows were sluggish, lights were dim like a low battery. The gas gauge begins flashing all 10 bars at the same time that all frames of the transaxle begin flashing. I press the power button again and the dash lights flicker for several seconds then go off. I opened the door and the car started beeping at me until I closed it. I checked and I didn't leave any lights on or doors ajar anywhere. The manual only mentions the transaxle lights flashing and says to take it to the dealer. The dealer said over the phone that they'd have to take a look. I arranged a tow under warranty, and kept trying to start it now and then. After about ten tries and 30 minutes, it finally started up with the exclaimation point and the LCD activated, saying something like "There is an abnormality in the position of the transaxle. Safely park your car on a flat surface and fully engage the parking brake. " The parking brake was already completely engaged, and the message timed out and the car turned off. I turned it on again and it worked like there had never been anything wrong. Upon driving the car to Toyota with a detailed written description of events (which they said they really appreciated), they checked the battery, error codes, everything they could think of, and there was no sign of there ever having been a problem. No messages were logged in memory. Has anyone else had a similar problem, or know why this may have happened? __________________ 2005 Driftwood Pearl Package 2 with lots of freebies! Under sticker!

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01-31-2006, 02:16 PM	#2
galaxee resident lab rat Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: boilermaker territory Posts: 9,675 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: N/A Package: #5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 94 Times in 37 Posts Friends: 26	from what i understand some codes (but not all) can be cleared from memory after a whole bunch of restarts. some require a certain cycle to be completed before they're cleared. we've seen prii do some extremely strange things because of low batteries/bad connections.

01-31-2006, 05:46 PM	#3
tumbleweed Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Eastern Oregon Posts: 1,692 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: V Package: Adv. Technology Thanks: 33 Thanked 104 Times in 84 Posts Friends: 0	Interesting problem. Any chance you might have left a light on or something for the 9 hours it was parked and run the 12 volt battery down?

01-31-2006, 06:33 PM	#5
KTPhil Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,313 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 0	"all frames of the transaxle begin flashing." What on earth does this mean?

01-31-2006, 11:55 PM	#7
naterprius Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,831 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Model: Package: N/A Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Your 12 volt system is likely malfunctioning! I left my car in the "ON" position for the better part of 2 days and this is what happened to me when the battery got low. It is also possible there is a bad ground with the 12 volt system. Have the dealer do a charging and drain test on the 12 volt battery. Nate

02-01-2006, 12:36 AM	#8
V8Cobrakid Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: hell Posts: 2,894 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: #9 Thanks: 9 Thanked 18 Times in 18 Posts Friends: 5	I noticed that it might be the 12v system too. When i was listening to the radio for about 3 hours. when the car was "dead" everything flashes.. drive it around for a half an hour.. or at least 20 mins.

02-03-2006, 10:18 AM	#9
jgavis Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: McKinney, Texas Posts: 2 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Thanks for the input. It is possible that the headlights remained on while I sat in my car for lunch. I don't know if they time out or stay on until you open the door (if you leave them in the on position, of course). The dealer's certified Prius tech looked at the car for an hour (actually taking it in to work on it as soon as I got it there) and said they 'tested the battery' as well, but I don't know if that was a drain/charge test. Since the windows were sluggish and the lights were dim, I'll assume it was a low battery probably due to something I did. It's nice that it bounced back enough to start. Thanks again

06-03-2006, 01:53 PM	#10
imwoody36 the prius parts guy Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: southern Indiana Posts: 45 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 2 Thanked 19 Times in 13 Posts Friends: 5	I repair collision damaged Prius's and have seen this condition many times. First check the fuses under the hood. ( well in your case it was probably a low 12v battery), Second place the car in neutral and rock it back and forth, then push the park button. 3rd get a voltmeter and check the fuses under the hood again