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Prius turns OFF when Lightning strikes

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by carsarefunky, Sep 14, 2012.

  1. carsarefunky

    carsarefunky New Member

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    Hello,

    I have a 2006 Prius and whenever I'm driving along and lightning strikes nearby it just turns off. There are no lights on the dashboard, no warning, everything goes off. And I can't brake! I've had to e-brake. Once I've gained my bearings I just turn it back on and everything is FINE. As if the car did NOT just turn off when lightning STRUCK. After the first time it happened the key faab stopped working but that has been the only lasting consequence.

    The first time this happened I took it to the dealership and they did a diagnostic but said they couldn't find anything wrong and that I would need to pay $300 for the faab to be re-programmed. I figured that it must have been some freak thing and how often can that happen anyway. Yesterday it happened twice.

    Any ideas? I've called Toyota and they say that they'll just do the same diagnostic...and I'm assuming I'll just get the same response.
     
  2. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    mine immediately takes control and hides in the nearest parking garage on the lowest level behind a hummer.:cool:
     
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  4. John H

    John H Senior Member

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    are you missing any organs when you wake up? :)

    sounds like an interesting problem. we are having some very high solar flare activity. where are you?
     
  5. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    When this happens, are you putting your full body weight into the pedal (i.e. treating it as an old-fashioned manual brake when the power boost has failed), or just the normal pedal force you expect to need when the power boost system is working normally?

    Under federal safety regulations, it is permissible for power assist brakes to fail-safe into manual mode, needing up to 112 pounds (500 newtons) of pedal force to bring the car to a stop in a certain (somewhat long) distance from a certain speed. It is not permissible for them to fail completely, such that your full body weight cannot make them work.
     
  6. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    Lol, I like trolls.
     
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  7. uart

    uart Senior Member

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  8. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    We get all kinds here. Now, a troll who demonstrates a creative spelling for "fob".

    Probably a Saab fan upset that company went belly-up.
     
  9. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    That's too much for a diagnostic. Take it to another dealer.
     
  10. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    The PC Shop should start selling tin foil hats. With a Prius logo on the front.
     
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  11. roflwaffle

    roflwaffle Member

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    Do we know this is a troll? I've had nearby lightening strikes (half mile or less) generate enough EM to fry a GFI and make speakers talk (they were switched off) FWIW.
     
  12. John H

    John H Senior Member

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    It seems all first time posters on PC are trolls by default, until proven otherwise. Not always a friendly place.
     
  13. uart

    uart Senior Member

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    I agree rofl, I was also a little unsure at first. I know that making this assumption can sometimes be a bit harsh, but first time posters with some really obscure problem (that nobody else has ever experienced) do almost always turn out to be trolls. Also the fact that the OP hasn't returned to the thread seems to add weight to the assumption.
     
  14. KK6PD

    KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _

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    [​IMG]
     
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  15. John H

    John H Senior Member

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    If I was greeted as a troll on my first post I probably wouldn't return as well. I have sought help on a few forums and don't always know how to ask the questions or describe the problems in the terminology of the particular forum I enter. Being insulted by the old guard is discouraging but usually just a small hurdle until I can find the "ignore" button.
     
  16. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i have some land in florida for sale...
     
  17. John H

    John H Senior Member

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    full-time waterfront or just time-share waterfront?
     
  18. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Beachfront recently re-nourished by hurricane.
     
  19. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Wish we had known that.
     
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  20. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Ha!! Thank you!