1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Weird flashing lock on dash once car is off?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by ecco22, Aug 21, 2009.

  1. ecco22

    ecco22 New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 9, 2008
    7
    0
    0
    Location:
    los angeles
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    I got off the freeway, going no more than 75 and into my garage and on the right hand side of the panel, I get a flashing odd light. It looks like a lock attached to something. I think maybe a gas tank but it's flashing so fast that I can't really tell. BF tells me that it might be b/c the car was in contact with other car alarms, but my pack 2 has no alarm other than the panic button. I'm a little freaked to take it to work and have the locks not work and be locked out. Anyone have any ideas?
     
  2. Mike Dimmick

    Mike Dimmick Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2008
    963
    247
    0
    Location:
    Reading, UK
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Car symbol with a key superimposed? That's the security light telling you that the immobilizer (and alarm if fitted) is armed.
     
  3. bokone

    bokone Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2009
    25
    6
    0
    Location:
    Columbus, OH
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    The manual is your friend, embrace it.
     
  4. ecco22

    ecco22 New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 9, 2008
    7
    0
    0
    Location:
    los angeles
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius

    Yeah, we read the manual too. But it wasn't very clear and the car isn't set up with an alarm. I have no idea what an immobilizer is. I just didn't want to have a problem tomorrow and it was 3 am when we got home from poker. Thanks.
     
  5. 32kcolors

    32kcolors Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2009
    5,683
    952
    124
    Location:
    Redondo Beach, CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Not if it flashes so fast you can't make it out.
     
    georgeabella likes this.
  6. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2006
    18,058
    3,073
    7
    Location:
    Northern Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    All new Prius have an immobilizer, even without an alarm system. The immobilizer is the part that keeps the car from starting without the key fob. The flashing light is a warning to car thieves to not waste their time.

    Tom
     
  7. sumguy

    sumguy Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2009
    92
    13
    0
    Location:
    Ohio
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    no kidding. My eyes aren't as young anymore and it took me a while to figure out what it was because it doesn't stay lit long enough. Someday I'll rtfm. Maybe an easter egg exists to change warning light flash intervals.
     
  8. Jim Calvert

    Jim Calvert New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2009
    255
    28
    8
    Location:
    Worthington, Ohio
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    From your response I assume that it is normal for this light to always flash as long as the car is turned off. Right?

    Thanks, Jim

     
  9. going red baby!

    going red baby! still a n00b

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2009
    610
    96
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I was wondering about this light flashing as well since it doesn't seem consistent. The first time it was noticed was when I was running errands with my mom and left the keys in the car with her. I thought maybe it was because I opened and closed the driver's door and left the keys inside, or that it knew I was no longer in the seat (since it somehow knows there's a passenger in their seat based on the passenger air bag light going on).

    But since then I've seen it flash sometimes but not all the time. I also thought the manual was not very clear on what this icon was about. I still don't understand it but am going to make a note of when I do and do not see it flash.

    So based on this thread if I go out to my car it should be flashing... going to check it now.

    And flashing it is. :)
     
  10. XMAN LIVE

    XMAN LIVE "Just have Fun!"

    Joined:
    May 21, 2009
    271
    23
    49
    Location:
    Cypress TX
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Hello, I have had my Prius for two years now... and don't remeber seeing this flashing light before. Two things I want to make sure. Is this normal all prii do this.... other is can I turn indicator off?
     
  11. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2009
    2,516
    1,789
    0
    Location:
    NEPA
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    Limited
    Umm, haven't most cars had this for at least the past 10 years or so? I remember having it on my 1998 Taurus.
     
  12. eadams44

    eadams44 New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2011
    17
    1
    0
    Location:
    Jonesville, SC
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Maybe 10 year old cars with an alarm systems do it? My 2000 Camry does not have an alarm system and has no flashing indicator. My 2011 Prius with no alarm system does do the flash thing.
     
  13. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2009
    2,516
    1,789
    0
    Location:
    NEPA
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    Limited
    My 1998 Taurus did not have an alarm system. My wife's 2004 Explorer does not have an alarm system, but does have a flashing "immobilizer" light front and center on the dashboard. As I said, this appears to be nothing new.

    EDIT: Maybe new for Toyota.
     
  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,480
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    I think I've seen that when the car is just shut off, before exitting and locking the car. I guess that's to say the car is "immobilized" already. Still:

    I'd prefer if it just went on when the car was locked, at least then it would serve as a clue to doorlock status. Anyway, think it's main purpose is to freak out potential thieves. And yes, it flashes so fast it's hard to visualize, LOL.
     
  15. XMAN LIVE

    XMAN LIVE "Just have Fun!"

    Joined:
    May 21, 2009
    271
    23
    49
    Location:
    Cypress TX
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Thank for the feedback...
     
  16. Capt Ed

    Capt Ed Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2011
    41
    9
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    The manual is, IMHO, severely lacking. Very poorly written and lacking in detail.

    Ed
     
    shinygee and georgeabella like this.
  17. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,480
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Oh, it has some good advice, like: Don't slam the hatch on your head. :rolleyes:

    How to change the oil and filter would have been a nice addition.
     
    m-ikea likes this.
  18. MrMeta4

    MrMeta4 New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2012
    1
    1
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Okay, like a lot of other people, I'm convinced that this light just started recently flashing. I know I'm not nuts. Another difference I noticed was the interior light now turns on when I just approach the car without ever touching the handle. It never did this earlier.

    Then I remembered that I just had the car in for a replacement of the HID headlamps and that they had disconnected the battery as part of the process. I know they did this because the reverse beep which I had previously disabled was back.

    So... It simply makes th most sense (applying Occam's Razor) that the disconnection of the battey resulted in some sort of change. Or... Maybe the factory has an unmentioned computer firmware upgrade that they don't want you to be aware of designed to fix the systemic HID problem...

    Just saying.

    :rockon:
     
    georgeabella likes this.
  19. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2006
    18,058
    3,073
    7
    Location:
    Northern Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    What makes even more sense is that you just noticed it. Taking the car in for service resulted in a heightening of your awareness, causing you to notice the flashing icon.

    If we are going to throw poor Occam under the bus, the simplest explanation is that people don't notice things that they see every day until some external event causes them to look. I noticed all sorts of normal sounds when the wheel bearing started to fail on my 2006. The new noise made me pay attention to all of the noises. It happens to everyone.

    Tom
     
  20. blzlovr

    blzlovr Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2007
    25
    0
    0
    Location:
    Riverside, CA
    Vehicle:
    2018 Nissan LEAF
    Model:
    N/A
    Just changed my 12 volt battery and now the flashing key is on. I must have turned it off somehow previously. I've had the car for 5 years and it never flashed before when the car was off.