I F'ed up

alexstarfire · 07-05-2007, 10:42 AM

2002 Prius

Ok, basically I did something stupid, as it turns out. Usually I can just coast down these 2 hill all the way to my parking stop at my house, including turning around to park face out. Well yesterday when I went over the hills the engine wouldn't shut off so I just turned the car off and then back into the ignition position, but not on. Got about half way, about .2 miles, to my house and I get the "master warning light." I look in the book and it says to check the MFD for what it says. The MFD says the little car with the ! in it. Means I should take it to the dealership because something is "wrong" with the hybrid system. I don't think anything is wrong, but still. Basically it happened last night at like 9PM, so I was SOOL until today. Can't take it in ATM since no one is here to take me home. I've driven about 30 miles with the light on, not that I wanted to, but I had no choice. Nothing seems out of the ordinary. Everything works, MPG is the same, nothings burning, etc.. I think it's just s bogus light, but I'm still not taking any chances. Ok, enough with the back story.

Anyways, I've never taken my Prius, or any car for that matter, to the dealership before. I'm curious as to what I actually need to do when I'm there. Do I just take it straight to the service department? Ohh yea, is there any way I can turn the light off myself? I'm pretty sure there isn't, but I'd like to save a couple hundred bucks in case all they have to do is turn the damn light off.

Just a newbie that needs the skinny on what to do, thanks.

Marlin · 07-05-2007, 11:08 AM

You basically did the equivalent of towing the Prius with all its wheels on the ground. That's not good at all.

Just take it to the dealer (straight to the service department) and drop it off. I'd bet they're going to have it for several days, so I'd ask for a loaner car while they have it. If they won't do that, they'll probably have a rental department. If they charge too much, ask them to drive you to a car rental agency. Most dealers have courtesy shuttles. Worst case, call Enterprise Car Rentals, they'll pick you up from anywhere.

NoMoShocks · 07-05-2007, 11:11 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Alexstarfire @ Jul 5 2007, 07:42 AM) [snapback]473442[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

2002 Prius

Ok, basically I did something stupid, as it turns out. Usually I can just coast down these 2 hill all the way to my parking stop at my house, including turning around to park face out. Well yesterday when I went over the hills the engine wouldn't shut off so I just turned the car off and then back into the ignition position, but not on. Got about half way, about .2 miles, to my house and I get the "master warning light." I look in the book and it says to check the MFD for what it says. The MFD says the little car with the ! in it. Means I should take it to the dealership because something is "wrong" with the hybrid system. I don't think anything is wrong, but still. Basically it happened last night at like 9PM, so I was SOOL until today. Can't take it in ATM since no one is here to take me home. I've driven about 30 miles with the light on, not that I wanted to, but I had no choice. Nothing seems out of the ordinary. Everything works, MPG is the same, nothings burning, etc.. I think it's just s bogus light, but I'm still not taking any chances. Ok, enough with the back story.

Anyways, I've never taken my Prius, or any car for that matter, to the dealership before. I'm curious as to what I actually need to do when I'm there. Do I just take it straight to the service department? Ohh yea, is there any way I can turn the light off myself? I'm pretty sure there isn't, but I'd like to save a couple hundred bucks in case all they have to do is turn the damn light off.

Just a newbie that needs the skinny on what to do, thanks.
[/b]

If you had the ScanGageII or similar tool, you would be able to look and see what the code was, find the meaning on the internet, and shut if off if you liked. If you are really sure that there is nothing actually wrong, the code should shut itself off within about three days. If it doesn't, then something probably is wrong.

At a dealership, they normally have a bay door labeled service where you drive up, and then there are one or more people called service advisors at desk or window ready to discuss your situation and take your keys. In your case, they are most likely to keep you car for a day and then tell you that they couldn't find anything wrong and reset the light.

The ScanGageII at $149 from PriusChat is a handy tool that you can leave hooked up all the time for additional guages like Coolant Temperature, RPM, Voltage, and additional trip computers (MPG for the trip, day, tank). It is about the size of a medium sized Snickers candy bar.

NoMoShocks · 07-05-2007, 11:49 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Marlin @ Jul 5 2007, 08:08 AM) [snapback]473455[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

You basically did the equivalent of towing the Prius with all its wheels on the ground. That's not good at all.

Just take it to the dealer (straight to the service department) and drop it off. I'd bet they're going to have it for several days, so I'd ask for a loaner car while they have it. If they won't do that, they'll probably have a rental department. If they charge too much, ask them to drive you to a car rental agency. Most dealers have courtesy shuttles. Worst case, call Enterprise Car Rentals, they'll pick you up from anywhere.
[/b]

Marlin could have a good point, if you really want to be on the safe side (like on Nemo's first day of school) it wouldn't hurt to have the professionals take a look. But if you want any potential problems fixed under warrantee, you might not mention what you did.

Here is a picture of my ScanGageII mounted under my rear view mirror. I ran the cable behind the headliner, side pillar and dash.

hycamguy07 · 07-05-2007, 12:02 PM

Next time, do not shut the car off.. <sigh> we all learn from our mistakes..

**TonyPSchaefer** · 07-05-2007, 12:30 PM

Alex, I'm no mechanical whiz and honestly will not attempt to troubleshoot. I agree with NoMoShocks in that if it's a screwy light it should go away after a few start/stop cycles. It might have been confused by the situation and threw up a warning. If that's the case, once it realizes that there's really nothing wrong, it'll clear it's codes.

On the other hand, if there really is something wrong, might I suggest that you do not walk into the Service Department and start the conversation with the words, "I F'ed up." If I understand correctly, Service Departments actually hear the ringing of a cash register when customers use those words.

alexstarfire · 07-05-2007, 01:06 PM

I'm no noob at lying here. It's not like I have a warranty on a used 2002 Prius anyways. I figured they'd keep the car for a day or so. I won't need a rental car when my dad gets back, it sux having no job. My mom won't let me drive hers. Well if the light isn't gone by tomorrow at about 4 PM I'll have to take it in.

Wish I could afford that scanguage.

Thanks.

galaxee · 07-06-2007, 12:02 AM

ooooohhhhh. not good. could be a lot of things... get the codes read and evaluate from there. chances are this isn't just a clear-it-and-it's-over situation.

if you really wanna know, disconnect the negative terminal from the 12v, wait 2 minutes, and reconnect. if that light comes back, bad news.

Sufferin' Prius Envy · 07-06-2007, 12:35 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Jul 5 2007, 09:30 AM) [snapback]473498[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

. . . if it's a screwy light it should go away after a few start/stop cycles. It might have been confused by the situation and threw up a warning. If that's the case, once it realizes that there's really nothing wrong, it'll clear it's codes.[/b]

On the other hand, maybe his Prius is using the "Idiot Light" as a defensive mechanism. Maybe the car is ridiculing him by saying, "I have an idiot for a driver."

In the military, Alexstarfire would be labeled as someone suffering with BUTTONITIS. They don't know what the button or knob will do, but they just can't help themselves, and they push it or turn it anyways.

I actually watched one sailor jettison aircraft canopies (causing over $200,000 worth of damage) because he wanted to show his buddy the cockpit and back seats of an EA-6B . . . even though he didn't work on aircraft and had absolutely no idea of what he was doing or what "Warning" and "Jettison" meant.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Alexstarfire @ Jul 5 2007, 10:06 AM) [snapback]473526[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I'm no noob at lying here.
I won't need a rental car when my dad gets back . . .
My mom won't let me drive hers. [/b]

Sounds to me like a case where mother knows best!

SORRY, no compassion here for someone with buttonitis.

alexstarfire · 07-06-2007, 10:05 AM

Ehh, the code cleared itself after I finished watching Transformers. Guess my car is trying to be nice now since it can't transform, LOL.

I've got a question though. What is the difference between coasting in neutral with the car on, and coasting in neutral with the car off?

07-05-2007, 10:42 AM	#1
alexstarfire Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 218 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	2002 Prius Ok, basically I did something stupid, as it turns out. Usually I can just coast down these 2 hill all the way to my parking stop at my house, including turning around to park face out. Well yesterday when I went over the hills the engine wouldn't shut off so I just turned the car off and then back into the ignition position, but not on. Got about half way, about .2 miles, to my house and I get the "master warning light." I look in the book and it says to check the MFD for what it says. The MFD says the little car with the ! in it. Means I should take it to the dealership because something is "wrong" with the hybrid system. I don't think anything is wrong, but still. Basically it happened last night at like 9PM, so I was SOOL until today. Can't take it in ATM since no one is here to take me home. I've driven about 30 miles with the light on, not that I wanted to, but I had no choice. Nothing seems out of the ordinary. Everything works, MPG is the same, nothings burning, etc.. I think it's just s bogus light, but I'm still not taking any chances. Ok, enough with the back story. Anyways, I've never taken my Prius, or any car for that matter, to the dealership before. I'm curious as to what I actually need to do when I'm there. Do I just take it straight to the service department? Ohh yea, is there any way I can turn the light off myself? I'm pretty sure there isn't, but I'd like to save a couple hundred bucks in case all they have to do is turn the damn light off. Just a newbie that needs the skinny on what to do, thanks. __________________ Not bad for a Classic Prius.

07-05-2007, 12:30 PM	#6
TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Far-North Chicagoland Posts: 10,506 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 39 Thanked 168 Times in 109 Posts Friends: 23	Alex, I'm no mechanical whiz and honestly will not attempt to troubleshoot. I agree with NoMoShocks in that if it's a screwy light it should go away after a few start/stop cycles. It might have been confused by the situation and threw up a warning. If that's the case, once it realizes that there's really nothing wrong, it'll clear it's codes. On the other hand, if there really is something wrong, might I suggest that you do not walk into the Service Department and start the conversation with the words, "I F'ed up." If I understand correctly, Service Departments actually hear the ringing of a cash register when customers use those words. __________________ Proud father of Priapus: the '04 Tideland BC9 with an OEM EV button and sense of self-righteousness Current Mileage Chicago Prius Group Website Chicago Hybrid Group on FaceBook Find me on faceBook

07-05-2007, 11:08 AM	#2
Marlin Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bucks County, PA Posts: 1,408 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 0	You basically did the equivalent of towing the Prius with all its wheels on the ground. That's not good at all. Just take it to the dealer (straight to the service department) and drop it off. I'd bet they're going to have it for several days, so I'd ask for a loaner car while they have it. If they won't do that, they'll probably have a rental department. If they charge too much, ask them to drive you to a car rental agency. Most dealers have courtesy shuttles. Worst case, call Enterprise Car Rentals, they'll pick you up from anywhere.

07-05-2007, 12:02 PM	#5
hycamguy07 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Central Florida Posts: 2,707 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: N/A Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Next time, do not shut the car off.. <sigh> we all learn from our mistakes..

07-05-2007, 01:06 PM	#7
alexstarfire Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 218 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I'm no noob at lying here. It's not like I have a warranty on a used 2002 Prius anyways. I figured they'd keep the car for a day or so. I won't need a rental car when my dad gets back, it sux having no job. My mom won't let me drive hers. Well if the light isn't gone by tomorrow at about 4 PM I'll have to take it in. Wish I could afford that scanguage. Thanks.

07-06-2007, 12:02 AM	#8
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	ooooohhhhh. not good. could be a lot of things... get the codes read and evaluate from there. chances are this isn't just a clear-it-and-it's-over situation. if you really wanna know, disconnect the negative terminal from the 12v, wait 2 minutes, and reconnect. if that light comes back, bad news.

07-06-2007, 10:05 AM	#10
alexstarfire Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 218 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Ehh, the code cleared itself after I finished watching Transformers. Guess my car is trying to be nice now since it can't transform, LOL. I've got a question though. What is the difference between coasting in neutral with the car on, and coasting in neutral with the car off?