red triangle warning light

[world5]

I have a 2004 Prius,and latley,when i get in it first thing in the morning,I turn the car on,it starts,then within 5 sec,the red triangle comes up,and everything shuts down,cant get the key out at all.
I leave it five min,and it starts fine.
PLEASE HELP.
REGARDS bob

[Bill Merchant]

Have you replaced your 12V battery? If it's at the point of failing, very weird things happen. The Toyota dealer should be able to pull error codes from the computer memory which can pin-point if there is a functional problem.

Are there Toyota Prius dealers in NZ? I saw a web article about Kiwis importing used Prius from Japan.

Welcome to PriusChat! Sorry we have to meet you this way.

[Bill Merchant]

BUMP

Anybody have any ideas for Bob?

[kdmorse]

Based on my troubles today - I'd certainly blame the 12V Battery (or related components, contacts, etc..)

If it's at the point of failing, very weird things happen. [/b]

Very, *very*, VERY weird things ...

-Ken

[DicksieLee]

Funny you should mention the beeping red triangle light on a 2004 Prius. I was just searching the forums because I had a similar but not identical problem today. I had driven the car to a church meeting without problem. The meeting lasted about an hour. As I went to leave, I put the car in reverse and backed out of the parking space without a problem but as I tried to put it in drive, that noisy red triangle came on. The error message said that there can not be any electrical regeneration as long as the transaxle is in neutral. But the car wasn't in neutral, it was in drive A. Interestingly enough, drive B failed to illuminate on the dashboard. The car was driveable but the light continued beeping and flashing. I turned the ignition off and on several times to no avail. I left the engine on in drive A with my foot on the brake while I contemplated what to do next...the rosary or holy water. Finally, (? when the engine had warmed up), the drive B light illuminated and the red triangle disappeared. I drove without problem to the nearest Toyota dealership where the computer diagnostic program revealed nothing. They patted me on the head and sent me on my way. The car has 32K miles and has received regular maintenance, including recall service. Any thoughts?

Thanks, DicksieLee

[seasalsa]

That is what happens if a door is not fully closed. The first time it happened to me it scared the hell out of me too.

If you want to duplicate it just put it in drive and open the drivers door.

[DicksieLee]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(seasalsa @ Aug 4 2007, 09:24 PM) [snapback]490701[/snapback]</div>

That is what happens if a door is not fully closed. The first time it happened to me it scared the hell out of me too.

If you want to duplicate it just put it in drive and open the drivers door.
[/b]

Thank you for the response to my question, SeaSalsa. Indeed, what happened to me was very similar to the response to not fully closing the door but differed in two ways. First, the B drive letter designation never illuminated on the dash. Second, the message warning me to engage the parking brake never apppeared, just the message about the transaxle not regenerating electric power while in neutral.