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Yellow Indicator Light

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by polwygle, Nov 23, 2009.

  1. polwygle

    polwygle New Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
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    A little background: I drive a 2005 which has really had no major problems to speak of. (It had a brake problem last year which had the exclamation point in the triangle warning light which the dealer fixed.) I returned home from a long road trip last weekend which again had no problems. The next day, the anti-lockout feature failed and my keys were locked in my car. I used the back-up smart key to unlock the door (didn't have to use the james bond key). The next day the car didn't want to unlock at first, and it wouldn't start with either key. It eventually started and we brought it into the dealer who said the problem was with the 12 volt auxiliary battery. We paid them for the battery and installed it ourselves.

    Problem: After installing the battery, the car is now showing the yellow indicator light (the exclamation point in a circle, within a parenthesis). Is there a way to reset this warning signal? Or should we bring it back to the dealer?

    Husband's side of the story: My husband thinks that the light is just coincidental to the fob and 12v batteries dying but doesn't know how to reset it. He also doesn't want to bring the car into the dealer to pay them if there isn't a problem, especially since he is very competent.

    Wife's side of the story: I've been driving around town with this light on for approximately one week and haven't noticed any symptoms. I am concerned with all the additional travel I am about to do, and I would like to know if there is a problem. However, I also do not want to bring this car back to the dealer unless I must. (I love Toyota cars but not their dealerships. The service representative tried telling me that the "anti-lockout feature" isn't included in my car and kept asking me if I meant the alarm.)

    Please help me convince my husband that this needs to go to the dealer, or please help allay my fears by pointing me in the right direction to the reset procedures.
     
    #1 polwygle, Nov 23, 2009
  2. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    It's in your book . . . page 5, 6, or 7 ... the little light you described relates to brakes ... maybe your fluid level is a tad low? Anyway, it's a brake warning light ... that's what the light relates to. If it's something other than brake fluid level let us know. You can check it your self by looking into the fluid reservoir and seeing if the fluid is up to the full line. You can fill it your self, only make certain your fluid is rated for the prius, as there are a ton of different brands.

    Anti lockout? If you can start your car without putting the fob (also called SKS ... or smart key system) into the dash ... and you have 'activated' the SKS system, then you can NOT lock your self out of the car. Does your car have a tiny button just below the steering colum? THAT's what turns on/off the smart key system. When active ... if you accidentally leave the fob in the car, it WON'T lock ... rather it'll beep, warning/reminding you the fob was left behind. I believe the system is turned 'off' when the tiny button is pushed in, and turned 'on' when the button is sticking out (it's been years since I checked which way it goes).

    If you DON'T have SKS, then yes, you can lock your fob in the car. The other way to tell if you have SKS (other than the tiny button under the steering column) is by looking at your fob. Is the Toyota logo 'Silver' ?? or is it just black. Silver fobs are for the smart key system.

    Welcome to PC ... too! Sorry it has to be under stressful circumstances.

    .
     
    #2 hill, Nov 23, 2009
  3. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    The warning light means that your brake system is impaired. That light has nothing to do with the fob battery or the 12V auxiliary battery being replaced.

    The yellow color means that you can still drive the car, and should immediately go to the dealer. If the color was red, then you are supposed to stop the car and have it towed.

    I strongly suggest that you do as the owner's manual recommends, which is to have your car taken to the Toyota dealer for diagnosis and repair.

    What was the brake problem last year? Is it possible that problem has reappeared?
     
    #3 Patrick Wong, Nov 23, 2009
  4. brick

    brick Active Member

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    The first thing I would do is to re-check all of the connections on and around the 12V battery. There are sensor wires that plug into positive post as well as the wire that runs to that capacitor pack that keeps your brakes from failing in the event of a loss of power. After verifying that all of the connections are good (or plugging in whatever was loose or missing) I might pull battery negative to reset everything and then put it back and power up. For what it's worth, my car absolutely freaked out when I changed the 12V. I got every warning light there is, including the triangle of death and the giant band saw. I don't know what caused that, but it did go away after I re-seated everything as I described above. Obviously, go to the dealer if that doesn't help!
     
    #4 brick, Nov 24, 2009
    1 person likes this.
  5. polwygle

    polwygle New Member

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    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
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    N/A
    @Brick You were right. According to the dealer we missed a brake wire, even though everything was working fine. We ended up paying them for the diagnostic fee and labor which was more than if we had just had them change the battery in the first place.

    @hill You CAN lock your keys in the car with the SKS when your key fob dies at the same time as your 12v.

    Thanks for the helpful responses.
     
    #5 polwygle, Dec 4, 2009
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