Strange message

Tickwood · 11-03-2007, 12:14 PM

This morning I was sitting in a line of cars waiting for the swap meet to open. My 2004 Prius was in accessory mode as I was listening to the radio. It was on level ground, no wind. After about 10 minutes the car beeped, the red waring triangle appeared and a message on the MFD said something to the effect of:

"There is an abnormality in the park (P) mechanism. Pull over on a level location and apply the parking brake"

I was on level ground, there was no movement of the car. What is happening?

qbee42 · 11-03-2007, 02:04 PM

My guess is that the 12V battery was getting low from sitting in accessory mode. A low 12V battery can cause some weird "red herring" error messages.

Tom

hobbit · 11-03-2007, 02:11 PM

I think I remember seeing that on the MFD on a car we were doing a
bunch of testing on that wasn't fully powered on, and a couple of
minutes later the MFD went blank as the 12V sagged farther and
farther down. A booster pack, a bit of time in READY, and it was
all fine again.
.
_H*

priusincc · 11-03-2007, 02:24 PM

I get a warning message about using "Park" before powering off, but it occurs when I'm driving with a door ajar. Must be a "red herring" thing again.

richard schumacher · 11-03-2007, 04:04 PM

The itty-bitty 12V battery can't take a continuous load. If you want to sit in the car for any length of time while it is outdoors and want to use any accessories just leave the car ON and shift it to Park.

qbee42 · 11-03-2007, 05:32 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priusincc @ Nov 3 2007, 02:24 PM) [snapback]534354[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I get a warning message about using "Park" before powering off, but it occurs when I'm driving with a door ajar. Must be a "red herring" thing again.
[/b]

Yes, having a door ajar will produce some funny error messages.

Tom

BFAyer · 11-03-2007, 06:24 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tickwood @ Nov 3 2007, 11:14 AM) [snapback]534311[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

This morning I was sitting in a line of cars waiting for the swap meet to open. My 2004 Prius was in accessory mode as I was listening to the radio. It was on level ground, no wind. After about 10 minutes the car beeped, the red waring triangle appeared and a message on the MFD said something to the effect of:

"There is an abnormality in the park (P) mechanism. Pull over on a level location and apply the parking brake"

I was on level ground, there was no movement of the car. What is happening?

[/b]

Hi All, This is my first post. I picked up my 08 Pk 5 yesterday. The same thing happened to me today when I was out playing with all the toys in acc mode. At first I thought something major was wrong. Then the MFD went blank. That is when I figured out the 12v had run down. I jumped it with a power pack and all is well.

Lesson learned. Don't play for long in acc mode.

Take care.

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11-03-2007, 12:14 PM	#1
Tickwood Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: San Diego Posts: 95 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	This morning I was sitting in a line of cars waiting for the swap meet to open. My 2004 Prius was in accessory mode as I was listening to the radio. It was on level ground, no wind. After about 10 minutes the car beeped, the red waring triangle appeared and a message on the MFD said something to the effect of: "There is an abnormality in the park (P) mechanism. Pull over on a level location and apply the parking brake" I was on level ground, there was no movement of the car. What is happening?

11-03-2007, 02:04 PM	#2
qbee42 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 5,638 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 6	My guess is that the 12V battery was getting low from sitting in accessory mode. A low 12V battery can cause some weird "red herring" error messages. Tom

11-03-2007, 02:11 PM	#3
hobbit Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bahstahn Posts: 2,976 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I think I remember seeing that on the MFD on a car we were doing a bunch of testing on that wasn't fully powered on, and a couple of minutes later the MFD went blank as the 12V sagged farther and farther down. A booster pack, a bit of time in READY, and it was all fine again. . _H*

11-03-2007, 02:24 PM	#4
priusincc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Northern Nevada Posts: 189 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I get a warning message about using "Park" before powering off, but it occurs when I'm driving with a door ajar. Must be a "red herring" thing again.

11-03-2007, 04:04 PM	#5
richard schumacher nacreous lacquer Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: United States Posts: 4,126 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	The itty-bitty 12V battery can't take a continuous load. If you want to sit in the car for any length of time while it is outdoors and want to use any accessories just leave the car ON and shift it to Park.