2005 Prius Maintenance Req'd Light on then off again with smell

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by anastasiav, Mar 1, 2017.

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  1. anastasiav

    anastasiav New Member

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    Location:
    NH, USA
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    Yesterday while on a short road trip I refueled, and when I turned the car on the "maintenance required" light came on. I have 2k left before an oil change. I drove it on a hilly highway back to town for about 30 minutes and started to notice an electric burning smell (I had had the defrost on for a while because it was a frosty morning). I pulled in to my mechanic's, but they didn't have any appointments until bright and early this am. The mechanic drove it a bit to see if its ok to drive until today, and said it was ok. When I turned the car on again, the light was still on for a full minute, but then turned off. No burning smell. Any ideas???? Don't want to waste a visit to the mechanic's if I don't have to.
     
    #1 anastasiav, Mar 1, 2017
  2. mmmodem

    mmmodem Senior Taste Tester

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    All is perfectly normal. The light comes on as you described 4500 miles after the last time it was reset. It's supposed to remind you get an oil change soon. At 5000 miles it will stay lit all the the time. If it hasn't been 4500 miles then whoever did your oil change did not reset the light.

    The burning smell is probably your mind worrying there is something wrong with your car.
     
    #2 mmmodem, Mar 1, 2017
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    welcome!
    how many miles on her?
     
    #3 bisco, Mar 1, 2017
  4. anastasiav

    anastasiav New Member

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    Base
    112k
     
    #4 anastasiav, Mar 2, 2017
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    if the burning smell persists, i would get thee to a dealer.
     
    #5 bisco, Mar 2, 2017
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  6. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    The car has two PTC electric heaters. If not turned on for a while they may emit an odor.
     
    #6 Patrick Wong, Mar 2, 2017
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