What does the ready light indicate

Strongly advise you to RTFM! However, to put you out of your misery, the Ready light comes on after you've gone through the start up procedure. It signifies that the car has checked it's Systems and is informing you that you're good to go. I have found the ready light stays on but after moving away, I'll hardly notice it. The car has a system for alerting you to any problem it finds while it's Ready.

Enjoy your fantastic new car and welcome to Prius Chat.

 

ready = ready to drive

 

Among other things, the Ready light warns first responders that the High Voltage is energized.

https://techinfo.toyota.com/techInfoPortal/staticcontent/en/techinfo/html/prelogin/docs/3rdprius.pdf

There are an number of life saving techniques they should avoid until they get it out of Ready. You would not want to 'jaws of life' through an active 201 DC volt cable. Nor would having the engine start randomly during the rescue be a good idea.

 

I just read a book called Ready Player One. Ready Player One - Wikipedia
It's a book looking back at the nostalgia days of 80's videos games. The title is reference to early 80's arcade games. The words Ready Player One appears in a lot of games to signify, ready to play the game. In the case of the Prius, ready is ready to drive.

 

Once the car is "READY" to go, the message stays on. You are probably mistaken when you stated that it went off when you started driving.

Welcome to Priuschat...

 

pretend that you are married to your beautiful prius, then, it all makes sense.

 

Welcome to PriusChat!
Toyota also has the manuals online.
2017 Toyota Prius Owners Manual and Warranty - Toyota Owners

 

LOL


iPhone ?

 

If you can't get the "ready" light to go on, you can't drive the Prius. It tells you it is, well, ready to be driven. It indicates the state where you can can shift gears (take it out of "P" into "R" "D" or "B", have the engine actually start, turn the wheels under power, etc.

If you press the "ON" button without pressing the brake pedal the car will go into "IGN ON", then "ACC" after a second press, and the "ready" light will not go on in either state. You can't drive it in those states. "IGN ON" is for testing, and "ACC" is for draining the 12 V battery so you will be stranded.

 

Think of it as a "Foreplay Finished" light (and you get a score out of 100 for your performance at the end of the journey) LOL

 

You wouldn't believe how hard in trying NOT to follow up on this!

 

Put it in READY, then D, and give yourself - Room to Move!

 

Well, it does only take 5 seconds and you are done.

 

I remember the first time I noticed the Ready light during my first week and I was confused too.

Wait till you notice you can see part of your license plate in your reverse camera and think the camera came loose.

 

RTFM? ARE YOU KIDDING?
Someone can run over me lying down on the ground in front of my car before I will read the manual. And our Toyota dealer is just over a mile away. So WTH would I ever read the manual unless stranded somewhere in the middle of nowhere without internet or cell service? I would never find the answer needed anyway. And Hubby has dyslexia so badly that he could never read it for me and actually be helpful. So I get the answer online or visit the dealer where someone probably will know the answer because it is a big dealership. And answers like the ones we are seeking are rarely found in the owner's manual. Just sayin'...

 

Even more rarely found in the owners manual by idiots who did not read it. This one goes on ignore, they are not even trying to understand how to drive.

http://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/document/om-s/OM47A29U/pdf/OM47A29U.pdf

 

Actually I have spent lots of time reading owner's manuals after purchasing about 20 new cars over several decades. It seems that the many of the questions have gotten too involved to answer in the manuals. And not everyone learns from reading words or looking at pictures. Some folks need demonstrations of features to understand what they do. Recently my approach has changed; now I seek out help and a demonstration because there are just too many questions that would take too long to answer with all the features in newer cars. The salesmen go over many of these features when you take delivery of a new car, but the amount of info provided at one time is just too much to comprehend. With the dealer just five minutes away from home, it is easier to pop into the service bay and ask a question or two now and then. They know that those of us over 50 have problems adjusting to all the new technology and usually are more than happy to share their knowledge about the cars, especially because we have purchased three new Prii from them in the past 5 years. I used to think that only fools did not read the owner's manuals, but now understand why many folks don't look at them often. For those who enjoy the manuals, hoorah!

 

I am glad you have found something that works for you. I do not trust my local dealer and the dealer I purchased from is 150 miles away.
Many people asking questions here on PriusChat are just too lazy to use the manual or even search. The words and picker supply are many times right from the manual.
Toyota supplies PDF manuals that are easier to search.