new 08 prius owner

You are experiencing a common problem that is caused by at least one failing capacitor on the combination meter (CM) board.

The cheapest fix is to remove the board yourself and, if you are experienced with and have the tools for surface level PCB repairs, you can remove the failing capacitor and replace it with a new one (more info). The next cheapest option is to send the board along with your ODO reading to Matt @Texas Hybrid Batteries who will send you a refurbished board set to your ODO reading. Costs $150 and has a lifetime warranty. The most expensive (and longest downtime) option is to have Toyota do the repair. It will take them 2+ weeks (as they have to send to Japan for a new CM programmed with your ODO) and will cost $800 - $900. While they do the repair you are without the car.

 

I do believe that is correct.

You can get the car to turn off by pressing and holding the Power Button for 5 – 10 seconds.

 

theres a thread for that

 

I should have made a video when I replaced my wife's. It was very simple. The inside plastic panels on the hatch just pop straight off. There are a couple plugs to unplug. I think it's just one for the license plate light and one for the latch/lock. It'll be obvious when you get the panels off. Then the are four bolts securing the garnish that will need a 10mm socket and an extension. #2 Phillips screwdriver for the latch "button" if I remember right. Easy peasy. Hardest part by far is cleaning the goo off before putting on the new cover.

 

I respectfully disagree. Besides being a pain to get the plastic panel off, the screws securing the latch assembly are some strange "head" and were put on by son of Godzilla. I had to use a screw extractor.

But, it is possible and not THAT bad.
kris

 

Probably a Torx head. If you don't have a set of torx drivers in your toolbox, guess what you're getting for your next birthday/Christmas/no-special-reason present? Without a torx driver, it probably would be very hard to turn.

 

The one I worked on used #2 Phillips head. The replacement rubber piece even came with a cheap right angled offset (Z type) screwdriver. If it had been Torx screws, I wouldn't have paid any attention since I've been working with them for years and have more Torx bits than Phillips. LOL!

I will admit that popping off those plastic panels was a little nerve wracking the first time. I had seen videos, so I knew how it was supposed to go, but I was still afraid I'd break something.

However, when I replaced the blade drive in my office iMac, I did have to scrounge up a teeny-tiny little star head driver. It was so small I needed a magnifying glass to see that it wasn't a Torx! That job was a serious pain. The lift handle on the Gen 2 Prius was a walk in the park, even if it gave me a stiff neck from looking up so much.

 

I remember there was a thread about taking out that gummy latch and Patrick Wong actually tracked down what sort of screw they use. It looks like a normal head, (Phillips?) but it is actually some special size/shape from Japan. IIRC, a Phillips does "sort of fit," but not well??

I do not know, it has been a few years...

 

In that case, it probably is a JIS (Japanese Industry Standard) head.

Here is an informative article on a motorcycle forum where you can read all about it, if interested. It seems to be more of an issue with Japanese motorcycles than cars from what I am reading there.

So You’re Telling Me That’s Not A Phillips?

Enjoy.

 

YES! That's what he said. JIS screws. Strange, almost like some other company installed that part. That link to the bike forum discussion is great.

 

I'm almost sure you're right. I run into those stupid things every now and then. (Well, actually, the Phillips head is stupid; these are smarter for most uses. LOL). I should get some JIS drivers and/or bits.

 

To me from what I can hear it sounds very normal. The sounds I can identify sounds like a) the normal whining of the inverter and b) the A/C compressor running.

Nope, it is just your compressor stopping. However, over the internet, it is hard to say with surety from a short sound bite categorically that compressor is all good, but I don't hear anything of concern. You need to search for posts by @lech auto air conditionin. He is a qualified and experienced A/C technician who has posted a lot of information about A/C.