help red triangle

onesiks2 · 06-02-2008, 09:46 AM

today i was vacuming my car on my driveway <my driveway has a slight incline>and i left the power on ready mode with the radio on when i was done i tried to move it so i powered down and powered up again thats when the red triangle appered on the dash and on the screen in orange it said pard mechinism malfuntion park car on flat area or something like that so after powering down and powering on a few times it went away.. i drive the car about 5 miles after to make sure it was okay and it did not come back but iam worried is there something wrong??i will be taking the car for a long trip and i do not want it to break down on me

Patrick Wong · 06-02-2008, 10:45 AM

I've seen occasional complaints about a failed parking mechanism causing the symptoms that you described. Since you are planning a road trip it probably would be a good idea to to take the car to your local Toyota dealer to have the problem checked out.

ZC1 · 06-02-2008, 11:32 AM

I'm not trying to diagnose your situation but...

I got the exact same message when on level ground in my garage doing the same thing you did (radio on).

What I figured out was this:

When the drivers door (or perhaps any door) is open, I get the message and Red triangle, if I immediately shut the door, the boogeyman disappears.

Try the same scenario on flat ground.

(My foot may be on the brake at this time.)

ZC1

NoMoShocks · 06-02-2008, 11:35 AM

That Red Triangle and convaluted message is actually a Japanese idiom. The English Translation is "The Door is Ajar".

Test is out by gently closing your driver's door so that the latch only engages the safety catch, and not fully closed. Then try to drive the car and see the same Red Triangle (the world as we know it is coming to an end) message.

abq sfr · 06-02-2008, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoMoShocks

That Red Triangle and convaluted message is actually a Japanese idiom. The English Translation is "The Door is Ajar".
<snip>

Fantastic description. First time it happened to me I drove around the block and restarted a couple times trying to figure out why it was gonna blow up. I was getting out so I would not be injured when she blew when I saw the door was ajar

miscrms · 06-02-2008, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoMoShocks

That Red Triangle and convaluted message is actually a Japanese idiom. The English Translation is "The Door is Ajar".

Definately one of the most non-intuitive messages I've ever seen. Right up there with Microsoft.

Rob

06-02-2008, 09:46 AM	#1
onesiks2 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: bay area Posts: 7 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: N/A Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	help red triangle today i was vacuming my car on my driveway <my driveway has a slight incline>and i left the power on ready mode with the radio on when i was done i tried to move it so i powered down and powered up again thats when the red triangle appered on the dash and on the screen in orange it said pard mechinism malfuntion park car on flat area or something like that so after powering down and powering on a few times it went away.. i drive the car about 5 miles after to make sure it was okay and it did not come back but iam worried is there something wrong??i will be taking the car for a long trip and i do not want it to break down on me

06-02-2008, 10:45 AM	#2
Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Green Valley, AZ Posts: 4,049 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: #9 Thanks: 21 Thanked 212 Times in 183 Posts Friends: 44	Re: help red triangle I've seen occasional complaints about a failed parking mechanism causing the symptoms that you described. Since you are planning a road trip it probably would be a good idea to to take the car to your local Toyota dealer to have the problem checked out.

06-02-2008, 11:32 AM	#3
ZC1 Junior Prius Owner Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Metro Detroit Posts: 681 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 13	Re: help red triangle I'm not trying to diagnose your situation but... I got the exact same message when on level ground in my garage doing the same thing you did (radio on). What I figured out was this: When the drivers door (or perhaps any door) is open, I get the message and Red triangle, if I immediately shut the door, the boogeyman disappears. Try the same scenario on flat ground. (My foot may be on the brake at this time.) ZC1 Last edited by ZC1; 06-02-2008 at 11:37 AM.

06-02-2008, 11:35 AM	#4
NoMoShocks Electrical Engineer Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Camas, WA Posts: 1,219 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Solar Roof Thanks: 2 Thanked 49 Times in 31 Posts Friends: 1	Re: help red triangle That Red Triangle and convaluted message is actually a Japanese idiom. The English Translation is "The Door is Ajar". Test is out by gently closing your driver's door so that the latch only engages the safety catch, and not fully closed. Then try to drive the car and see the same Red Triangle (the world as we know it is coming to an end) message. Last edited by NoMoShocks; 06-02-2008 at 11:37 AM.

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