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hazard lights flash once every hour or so when car is off

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by hello_alex, Oct 5, 2020.

  1. hello_alex

    hello_alex New Member

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    I've been taking my 2005 Prius to a local mechanic who I've started to get weird feelings about.

    They recently overcharged $1400 for a (used) instrument cluster replacement. The dashboard now works, and I have no problems turning the car on or off. But every hour or so, the hazard lights will blink. Like, the car is off, and they just....blink.

    Immediately before the instrument cluster, they replaced my aux battery and drastically exaggerated the state of my drive belt to upsell a replacement over the phone. Would this blinking light thing have something to do with the aux battery? Or the instrument cluster? I called them and they said they could only diagnose the issue if its consistent. I cannot pay them another ~1.4k for the HaRd LaBoR of opening my dashboard again.

    Anyone else have a similar problem?
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    welcome!

    i would say they definitely messed something up in the cluster. $1,400. is more than dealers charge. if they won't repair it for free, i would move on.

    how many miles on her?
     
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  3. hello_alex

    hello_alex New Member

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    about 111,000. the new cluster says 99,000 though
     
  4. priusrecon

    priusrecon Member

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    Get another mechanic. Slimeballism is rampant in that community.

    When your lights flash, is your car unlocked afterwards?

    I have noticed that my car sometimes spontaneously unlocks itself in the driveway or parking lots.
    It may be something as simple as the keyfob activating in your pocket, like pocket dialing your phone occurs, or a fault in the security system if your keyfob is no longer present.
     
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  5. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    That was my thought too. I know I've had that happen.
     
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  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    Is it the hazard lights or regular?
     
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  7. hello_alex

    hello_alex New Member

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    i think i used the wrong terminology. it's the lights that flash when you lock or unlock the car with the keyfob. keyfob wasn't in my pocket and i didn't touch it.
     
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    do you have two fobs?
     
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  9. hello_alex

    hello_alex New Member

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    i do, but it was just sitting on my desk
     
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    try taking the batteries out of them, just to eliminate them as a possibility
     
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  11. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    Welcome to PriusChat!!

    There are locals on CL that would've done the dash removal, basic capacitor fix, and install for around $250. A lifetime warranty replacement part, programmed to your mileage (including the 299k limit odometer fix), could've been purchase for $150 plus shipping at : Prius Speedometer Replacement

    Given what you've describe about your local mechanic experience, I would heed the above advice from @bisco and move on, but you may want to compose a tactful yelp review, or some other kind social review that makes you feel whole and helps others.

    Maybe Matt @Texas Hybrid Batteries has a moment to chime in on this 'hazard light' blinking issue.
     
    Raytheeagle likes this.