2004 Prius filled with gas, gas gauge lights blink, squares around P, D, N, B all blinking, won't st

timmytom · 12-25-2007, 02:09 AM

I filled my 2004 Prius (60,000 miles) with gas this afternoon. When I pressed the POWER button, all the gas guage lights started blinking as well as squares that appeared and started blinking around the P, D, N and B for the transmission. Could not get P to light or Ready to appear. I kept trying to Power up and ended up with a dead car with only the Check Engine Light lit on the dash. I couldn't operate door locks, windows or anything! SMART KEY dummied up!

I had it towed to my local dealer. Anyone else ever experience this? Any ideas of what could cause this?

THanks,
tim

Doc Willie · 12-25-2007, 07:36 AM

Could you have overfilled the gas tank?

Just a guess. I dunno how it behaves if one does that.

jdenenberg · 12-25-2007, 11:27 AM

Sounds like you have a weak 12v battery. A low voltage on the 12v bus can cause many different startup symptoms.

JeffD

eddie27970 · 12-31-2007, 02:41 AM

My guess also, low 12-volt start battery. Have you got answer from dealer? That 12-volt battery is the new gel type, located in hole in back on passenger side. But to jump start car, look under front hood, up on driver side, at black electric box. Open box, and lift red cover. That is Positive terminal. Use bolt and nut just above all this for frame ground.

Don't do like my wife and the Sheriff's Deputy that jumped her 04 Prius. Back hatch is electric and will not open with dead 12-volt battery. They literally climbed in through back seat and opened hole to find and connect to 12-battery. I was at work, and when I got home, thought to myself that after all that Toyota put into making this car, surely there had to be an easier way to jump it. Sure enough, there it is, under the hood.

If you suspect low 12-volts, try headlights and interior lights. If they are weak looking, more proof 12-volt start up is low. My wife's 04 has a back hatch latch problem. We've sense had to jump her car many times, because, although back hatch looks closed, it did not quit turn off interior lights. We have to slam hatch down to shut off lights. My 05 closes much better. Yes, its on my mile long honey-do list, near bottom.

richard schumacher · 01-02-2008, 11:06 AM

Always lock the car no matter where it is parked or for how long. If the rear hatch is ajar the car will give a long warning beep. This can save the battery and much aggravation.

When all else fails, read the owner's manual :_>

PRIUS PARTS KING · 05-04-2008, 12:45 PM

i was reading along and seen this thread and had a similar dash guages blinking and the abs light was on and no power steering. but i was not filling up with gas, the problem was a blown fuse under the dash, it was a 7.5 amp and it was for the ecm.... (cant remember) .

richard schumacher · 05-06-2008, 02:37 PM

Why did the fuse blow? Wiring fault, 3rd party electronics problem, something else?

12-25-2007, 02:09 AM	#1
timmytom Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 1 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	2004 Prius filled with gas, gas gauge lights blink, squares around P, D, N, B all blinking, won't st I filled my 2004 Prius (60,000 miles) with gas this afternoon. When I pressed the POWER button, all the gas guage lights started blinking as well as squares that appeared and started blinking around the P, D, N and B for the transmission. Could not get P to light or Ready to appear. I kept trying to Power up and ended up with a dead car with only the Check Engine Light lit on the dash. I couldn't operate door locks, windows or anything! SMART KEY dummied up! I had it towed to my local dealer. Anyone else ever experience this? Any ideas of what could cause this? THanks, tim

12-25-2007, 07:36 AM	#2
Doc Willie Shuttlecraft Commander Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Out there, somewhere Posts: 1,008 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 7	Re: 2004 Prius filled with gas, gas gauge lights blink, squares around P, D, N, B all blinking, won' Could you have overfilled the gas tank? Just a guess. I dunno how it behaves if one does that.

12-25-2007, 11:27 AM	#3
jdenenberg Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Trumbull, CT Posts: 311 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: Base Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 8	Re: 2004 Prius filled with gas, gas gauge lights blink, squares around P, D, N, B all blinking, won' Sounds like you have a weak 12v battery. A low voltage on the 12v bus can cause many different startup symptoms. JeffD

12-31-2007, 02:41 AM	#4
eddie27970 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 26 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: 2004 Prius filled with gas, gas gauge lights blink, squares around P, D, N, B all blinking, won' My guess also, low 12-volt start battery. Have you got answer from dealer? That 12-volt battery is the new gel type, located in hole in back on passenger side. But to jump start car, look under front hood, up on driver side, at black electric box. Open box, and lift red cover. That is Positive terminal. Use bolt and nut just above all this for frame ground. Don't do like my wife and the Sheriff's Deputy that jumped her 04 Prius. Back hatch is electric and will not open with dead 12-volt battery. They literally climbed in through back seat and opened hole to find and connect to 12-battery. I was at work, and when I got home, thought to myself that after all that Toyota put into making this car, surely there had to be an easier way to jump it. Sure enough, there it is, under the hood. If you suspect low 12-volts, try headlights and interior lights. If they are weak looking, more proof 12-volt start up is low. My wife's 04 has a back hatch latch problem. We've sense had to jump her car many times, because, although back hatch looks closed, it did not quit turn off interior lights. We have to slam hatch down to shut off lights. My 05 closes much better. Yes, its on my mile long honey-do list, near bottom.

01-02-2008, 11:06 AM	#5
richard schumacher ichorous liquor Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: United States Posts: 3,893 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: 2004 Prius filled with gas, gas gauge lights blink, squares around P, D, N, B all blinking, won' Always lock the car no matter where it is parked or for how long. If the rear hatch is ajar the car will give a long warning beep. This can save the battery and much aggravation. When all else fails, read the owner's manual :_>

05-04-2008, 12:45 PM	#6
PRIUS PARTS KING Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: winnipeg, mb canada Posts: 2 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: N/A Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: 2004 Prius filled with gas, gas gauge lights blink, squares around P, D, N, B all blinking, won' i was reading along and seen this thread and had a similar dash guages blinking and the abs light was on and no power steering. but i was not filling up with gas, the problem was a blown fuse under the dash, it was a 7.5 amp and it was for the ecm.... (cant remember) .

05-06-2008, 02:37 PM	#7
richard schumacher ichorous liquor Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: United States Posts: 3,893 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: 2004 Prius filled with gas, gas gauge lights blink, squares around P, D, N, B all blinking, won' Why did the fuse blow? Wiring fault, 3rd party electronics problem, something else?