My first breakdown today (kind of) Need advice

[djfrugal]

2005 Silver Prius package #6 (highest), 9000 Miles

Here is what happened:

I was driving to work on the freeway going about 35-45 mph when all of the sudden 3 warning lights came on: the triangle, engine light and VSC lights all came on at the same time. The car was still running but then as I am trying to pull over I notice the Gas engine will not start when I am giving the car some gas so I am running on electric engine only. I pull over, shut the car down. I then turn the car back on, the VSC light is now off, but the engine light and triangle light is still on. The car then was driving like normal and the gas engine was working again so I finished my drive to work , where I am now.

Any experience with this?

thank you,

Paul B

[efusco]

Yup, not that uncommon. You went into "Limp Home Mode" (use that phrase with the service writer). If you do 2 more restarts the other warning lights should go out.

You probably need to have some firmware updated. Most of us who've experienced this it was a one time experience and it never recurred. Nothing to get freaked out about.

[jayman]

If you have a 2004 Prius like mine, there is a TSB out for this:

http://www.alldata.com/TSB/59/045983AY.html

Your dealer will have to flash a new Calibration. This is software-only, no actual parts should have to be replaced. Plan on it being at the dealer 2 hours.

Mine conked in city traffic last November with the same symptoms.

[V8Cobrakid]

take it to the dealer asap. i heard of only one other person having an iccident like this.. not sure if it was the exact same though.

[djfrugal]

Thank you guys. I have a 2005 Prius. I am going to take it in one way or another. I have a front left brake problem as well. As I am slowing down to stop, the last 10 feet or less of the stop my front left wheel stutters (grab let go , grab let go0 really fast and you can hear it. It is very strange.

thank you,

Paul B

[rick57]

Thank you guys. I have a 2005 Prius. I am going to take it in one way or another. I have a front left brake problem as well. As I am slowing down to stop, the last 10 feet or less of the stop my front left wheel stutters (grab let go , grab let go0 really fast and you can hear it. It is very strange.

thank you,

Paul B

I agree with the others here Paul. The reflash of the ECU will take care of the engine problem. But as for the brakes,that is a new one on me. Sounds like maybe the ABS is coming on,possible wheel speed sensor problem. Let us know what that is,ok? :wink:

[djfrugal]

Thank you,

I will let you guys know.


Update: Went to my car after work and all warning lights were off and car running perfectly. I will take it in this weekend unless more problems occur. I drove 40 miles after work tonight and no problems whatsoever except the slight brake problem mentioned before.

Paul B

[ejlazarus]

I also had the exact problem yestuday on my way home from work. I was abel to pull off the road , Once I turned the car off and tried to restart it and it did seem to work ok. I took it in to the dealer, and they got right on it , they had to re-program the engine computer. It all well now. Glad to know I am not alone. The tech told me that the computer thought that I ran out of gas, of course I was not out of gas, so I am note sure what made the computer to get that "hick-up"

[Devil's Advocate]

Nearly the exact same thing occurs when you run out of gas, don't ask how I know. Except I think ALL the lights on the dash came on. Isn't that red triangle kind of coof though, except for the fact it means you may be scrugied. :silly:

[TonyPSchaefer]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco\";p=\"73067)</div>

Nothing to get freaked out about.[/b]

Spoken like a true doctor. :-D Oh yeah, you'll be freaked out. You'll wonder when and if it'll do it again. Even after reading about the funny things Prii do, I freaked out when Priapus went haywire in the parking lot for no apperant reason. It took a week before I stopped checking on him every couple of hours.

But what Evan said is true. For me anyway, after that one freak-out, Priapus has been calm and collected.