Battery gauge bars - misleading?

Poppajack747 · 04-17-2005, 08:39 PM

Today my warning indicators, ie. triangle with !, car with ! and check engine, all came on. When I accessed the battery gauge, there were only two pink bars. I turned off the engine, restarted and drove for about 2 minutes and everything but the "check engine" light went away. The battery gauge bars changed from pink to blue and soon were increased from two to 6 or 7. Then they momentarily changed from blue to green.
I couldn't find any explaination for the colors in the manual.
Is this a common "glitch?" Should I take it in immediately? What do the colors mean? What caused this?

Frank Hudon · 04-17-2005, 11:45 PM

you probably need the computer flashed, this is a fairly common complaint and well known. When the dealer pulls the codes it'll say engine failed to start.

Poppajack747 · 04-18-2005, 06:34 PM

I called the dealer and he said they couldn't do anything if the warning lights were not there as the diagnostics had reset themselves. Hadn't heard af this as a problem, either.

jayman · 04-18-2005, 06:41 PM

Bull.

First, the Check Engine is still on? So the problem hasn't "cleared" and may not clear.

Second, the Prius has Freeze Frame and will grab 5 frames to assist in troubleshooting.

More than likely, you need the reflash done.

04-17-2005, 08:39 PM	#11
Poppajack747 Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Shoreview, MN Posts: 54 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Battery gauge bars and warning indicators Today my warning indicators, ie. triangle with !, car with ! and check engine, all came on. When I accessed the battery gauge, there were only two pink bars. I turned off the engine, restarted and drove for about 2 minutes and everything but the "check engine" light went away. The battery gauge bars changed from pink to blue and soon were increased from two to 6 or 7. Then they momentarily changed from blue to green. I couldn't find any explaination for the colors in the manual. Is this a common "glitch?" Should I take it in immediately? What do the colors mean? What caused this? __________________ 2004 Silver #9 "Amanda B. Green" 02/12/04 67,000 miles so far 1973 Datsun 240Z

04-18-2005, 06:34 PM	#13
Poppajack747 Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Shoreview, MN Posts: 54 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Battery gauge bars - misleading? I called the dealer and he said they couldn't do anything if the warning lights were not there as the diagnostics had reset themselves. Hadn't heard af this as a problem, either.

04-18-2005, 06:41 PM	#14
jayman Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Winnipeg Manitoba Posts: 11,576 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: B Thanks: 35 Thanked 189 Times in 171 Posts Friends: 12	Re: Battery gauge bars - misleading? Bull. First, the Check Engine is still on? So the problem hasn't "cleared" and may not clear. Second, the Prius has Freeze Frame and will grab 5 frames to assist in troubleshooting. More than likely, you need the reflash done.

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04-17-2005, 11:45 PM	#12
Frank Hudon Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 4,144 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	you probably need the computer flashed, this is a fairly common complaint and well known. When the dealer pulls the codes it'll say engine failed to start.