Ready?

beakyz · 07-09-2006, 09:48 PM

OK, I've searched and can't seem to find out what the deal is with the READY light on the dash. It's on when the car starts and when I'm driving. Well, at least I know it's ready, but ready for what?

Thanks,
Mark

Autosmiler · 07-09-2006, 09:55 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(beakyz @ Jul 9 2006, 08:48 PM) [snapback]283587[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

OK, I've searched and can't seem to find out what the deal is with the READY light on the dash. It's on when the car starts and when I'm driving. Well, at least I know it's ready, but ready for what?

Thanks,
Mark
[/b]

My manual's in the car right now, but I think it's because you can push the power button without stepping on the brake pedal, which will turn on your audio but not the hybrid. Push it again without stepping, and it will activate air conditioning and other things, but still not the hybrid. At these times, the ready light won't go on (I don't think, anyway. I've tried these things but haven't paid attention to that signal.) Push it once more and everything turns off. If you push power while stepping on the pedal, then the hybrid system will start and the READY light will go on to say you can drive now. I don't know why it doesn't turn off while driving though.

Bill Merchant · 07-09-2006, 11:13 PM

Think about it, Mark. How would you know your Prius is READY to roll unless it told you? As autosmiler noted, if your foot isn't pressing the brake pedal when you hit the POWER button, the lights and MFD come on, but you aren't ready to go. If you watch the indicator when you mash the brake and hit POWER, until READY comes on, you can't select a gear.

Ready, steady, go!

john1701a · 07-09-2006, 11:19 PM

The ORIGINAL model Prius was not always "ready" right after turning the key. Bad things happen when you forced it into Drive prematurely. I recall one report of that happening on a CLASSIC model, but not seeing "ready" immediately was incredibly rare.

There may be rare circumstances where that could still be true for the HSD model... hence a "ready" indicator still.

After 116,800 miles, I still haven't ever seen it not ready.

Bill Merchant · 07-09-2006, 11:43 PM

It's quick, John, but if I step on the brake, hit the power button, and immediately slap the lever for reverse, nothing happens. That's why I noticed that the READY signal comes on a fraction of a second after the motion direction indicators illuminate. Power up takes about a second on my 2005 Silver Cloud.

daniel · 07-10-2006, 12:30 AM

READY means it's ready to drive. If there is no READY light, the car won't go. It's just letting you know. Basically it's your ON indicator. Other cars tell you they are ON by the noise of the engine. And they tell you they are off when the engine stops. The prius can be on when the engine is not running, so the READY light tells you.

Also, if you stop the car, the engine will stop, but the car is not OFF unless the READY light goes off. So don't get out and leave your car if the READY light is on.

brandon · 07-10-2006, 01:32 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Autosmiler @ Jul 9 2006, 08:55 PM) [snapback]283594[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

My manual's in the car right now...
[/b]

There doesn't appear to be any section devoted to the READY light, but FWIW, there's some information relevant to the practical use of the READY light on page 12, "Starting Your Vehicle."

In short, you won't learn anything new about it in the manual that you haven't already learned reading this thread.

beakyz · 07-10-2006, 02:10 AM

I guess the confusing thing is that it is ready while I'm driving it. I think I know that!

Bill Merchant · 07-10-2006, 02:16 AM

If you want inscrutable Japanese thinking, consider the light in the power button. When is it on, when is it off? What is the relation between READY and the switch light?

mssmith95 · 07-10-2006, 02:17 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(beakyz @ Jul 9 2006, 11:10 PM) [snapback]283700[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I guess the confusing thing is that it is ready while I'm driving it. I think I know that!
[/b]

Not confusing if you realize that it really means "ON". Since there is often no noise when you stop, there could be the chance that you may accidentally leave the vehicle while still "ON"...so it is also a reminder to turn the vehicle "OFF". It also indicates that there are no problems with the system...and helps you to avoid driving if there was an issue...unlike a normal car which would still drive even with a problem potentially giving you a problem down the road.

I think of it as a computer system...and you need to know when it is up and running...and clear for take off!

07-10-2006, 12:30 AM	#6
daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 9,148 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	READY means it's ready to drive. If there is no READY light, the car won't go. It's just letting you know. Basically it's your ON indicator. Other cars tell you they are ON by the noise of the engine. And they tell you they are off when the engine stops. The prius can be on when the engine is not running, so the READY light tells you. Also, if you stop the car, the engine will stop, but the car is not OFF unless the READY light goes off. So don't get out and leave your car if the READY light is on. __________________ Daniel ---------------------- Primary car: Zap Xebra SD: 100% electric car. 1.9 cents per mile, using electrons generated from water power. (The Prius is my gas guzzler, used when I have to travel farther than 35 miles in a day.) "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." -- Emma Goldman "Anyone who has ever looked into the glazed eyes of a soldier dying on the battlefield will think long and hard before starting a war." -- Otto von Bismarck

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
XM for Prius that is not SAT ready?	jeanne500	Audio and Electronics	8	09-21-2006 09:19 PM
Ready to Tango?	Rancid13	Prius and Hybrid News	41	08-30-2006 03:38 AM
'06 B red is ready	tanteb & rgrpick	Prius Main Forum	7	04-28-2006 09:28 AM
Are you ready for a new format?	maggieddd	Fred's House of Pancakes	21	02-13-2006 07:44 PM
READY -> ACC?	drbradfo	Prius Main Forum	2	06-23-2005 08:11 AM

07-09-2006, 09:48 PM	#1
beakyz Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 7 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	OK, I've searched and can't seem to find out what the deal is with the READY light on the dash. It's on when the car starts and when I'm driving. Well, at least I know it's ready, but ready for what? Thanks, Mark

07-09-2006, 11:13 PM	#3
Bill Merchant absit invidia Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA \| Oregon \| Portland area \| 97004 \| Posts: 3,964 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 6 Times in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 1 Friends: 53	Think about it, Mark. How would you know your Prius is READY to roll unless it told you? As autosmiler noted, if your foot isn't pressing the brake pedal when you hit the POWER button, the lights and MFD come on, but you aren't ready to go. If you watch the indicator when you mash the brake and hit POWER, until READY comes on, you can't select a gear. Ready, steady, go!

07-09-2006, 11:19 PM	#4
john1701a Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,719 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: Pioneer #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 3	The ORIGINAL model Prius was not always "ready" right after turning the key. Bad things happen when you forced it into Drive prematurely. I recall one report of that happening on a CLASSIC model, but not seeing "ready" immediately was incredibly rare. There may be rare circumstances where that could still be true for the HSD model... hence a "ready" indicator still. After 116,800 miles, I still haven't ever seen it not ready.

07-09-2006, 11:43 PM	#5
Bill Merchant absit invidia Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA \| Oregon \| Portland area \| 97004 \| Posts: 3,964 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 6 Times in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 1 Friends: 53	It's quick, John, but if I step on the brake, hit the power button, and immediately slap the lever for reverse, nothing happens. That's why I noticed that the READY signal comes on a fraction of a second after the motion direction indicators illuminate. Power up takes about a second on my 2005 Silver Cloud.

07-10-2006, 02:10 AM	#8
beakyz Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 7 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I guess the confusing thing is that it is ready while I'm driving it. I think I know that!

07-10-2006, 02:16 AM	#9
Bill Merchant absit invidia Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA \| Oregon \| Portland area \| 97004 \| Posts: 3,964 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 6 Times in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 1 Friends: 53	If you want inscrutable Japanese thinking, consider the light in the power button. When is it on, when is it off? What is the relation between READY and the switch light?