2006 - check engine and red triangle

Took the Prius to the crosswalk today, one mile roundtrip, everything was fine. Came home and being lazy I put it in the driveway and locked it with the windows up instead of my normal in the garage with the windows down. At close to 100 degrees outside the interior was blistering hot when I went to start it and head back for my afternoon shift. The dash lit up like a Christmas light display. Brakes, red triangle, vsc, check engine, etc.

Put it in the garage with the windows down and let it sit for a couple of hours to cool a bit. Started it up and let it idle for about 15 minutes; everything reset except the red triangle and the check engine light. Drove it down to the dealer but they won't have a diagnosis until tomorrow. It handled the drive just fine like normal.

Anyone here care to speculate on what's wrong? Think the heat fried something minor or do you thing it's something serious?

 

12v battery is 1 1/2 months old. Replaced it in early July.

I guess I can look into the mini/VCI and laptop but it will have to wait a month or two until the budget can handle it. This summer we bought the Prius and did a major 120k service on it as well as purchased the Echo, our daughter's laptop for school and a new computer for home after the old one finally gave up the ghost. The discretionary spending part of the budget needs to be replenished.

 

Well, Crown Toyota called me this afternoon and said it's the hybrid battery, covered under warranty. Their dealership records only show the battery was serviced and inverter(?) worked on at 89k miles but not replaced like we thought. The dealer is the one that looked into a replacement under warranty before they even called me to tell me what's wrong. Once they inspect it and confirm tomorrow that no one did anything to it to void the warranty they'll be putting in a freebie for us.

Provided it goes smoothly tomorrow, is there anything I need to be particularly concerned about? Should this also improve the gas mileage?

 

Thanks. I'll ask what that battery service was AFTER the new one is in.

 

Thanks for the info and the "Prius Lotto" comment. If we get the free replacement we definitely feel we dodged a bullet since the car has used 125k and over 9 years of the 150k/10 year warranty. This could have been much uglier.

We bought the car from a small, local used car dealer we know and have trusted for over 30 years. He tends to pick up local one-owner cars from people like us who usually just take it to our regular mechanic or dealer for service and "whatever it needs." I know that's basically telling the mechanic "I'm here, I'm gullible, gouge me for something." but we have enough hassle in our lives without having to agonize about the car. I suspect the battery service on the CarFax is probably from the previous owner who took it in under those circumstances and the service went exactly as you describe.

Anyway, hopefully it all goes smoothly and we get the free battery installed today. We won't be able to pick up the car until tomorrow because of logistics on our end.

I'll be here with more details then.

 

We did indeed hit the "Prius Lotto". I just got back from Crown with the car. The service order clearly states they replaced the hybrid battery and there are no diagnostic fees or anything. Absolutely free. Everyone should be this lucky.