OK! My FIRST real problem with my Prius....

One extremely rare possibility is what is called a Single Event Upset. This is where a cosmic ray or electronic glitch causes the software to go into a strange, one of a kind state that remains until the system is completely powered down. The identifier, lacking a complete memory dump of the software registers and memory, is that it never returns. If this problem appears again, then that is definitely not the cause and more conventional explanations apply (intermittent connector, chaffed or shorting wire, etc.)

I have definitely seen these in flight control systems where the recording of any unusual software behaviour is completely captured and the event can be traced to what memory or register bit changed. Fortunately, flight control systems have a lot of automatic backup and redundancy to immediately isolate the malfunctioning devices. The Prius is not engineered like this yet, but is engineered so that unsafe conditions cause the system to go into a safe mode.

 

Someone else posted here with the exact same scenario. I dont' recall what the problem turned out to be.

 

Its a problem with the Combination Meter. There is a thread on it, plus a blog entry at Luscious Garage.

http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-main-forum/57445-instrument-panel-problem-video.html

Luscious Garage | Blog | LG TV - Prius Dead Dashboard

More threads:

http://priuschat.com/forums/care-ma...0-no-speedo-odo-wheels-not-turning-mfd-3.html

http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-main-forum/56597-my-prius-will-not-turn-off.html

 

Cool. Nice to have those that keep up with these things keep me up to speed.

 

I'm still undecided if it *really* is the combi meter, or a bad connection on one of the four connectors at the combi meter. I posted the connector locations at the thread you mentioned.

Sometimes a component may look or test "bad," but the problem may actually have been a poor connection on one of the pins of one of the connectors. Just the act of removing all the connectors removes the oxidation, the "bad" combi meter is replaced with a brand new expensive one, and magically the problem is gone

What if instead, replacing the combi meter is only coincidental and the real issue is a bad connection? Without the use of an appropriate MSO to examine for glitches (Good luck with that for a rare/intermittent problem) on CANBus, you're guessing

Before I spent the money on a combi meter, I'd pop and reseat all the connectors first

 

If I was spending the money, I would try your way. If it was under warranty, I would let the dealer deal with it.

 

I'm guessing you're one of the rare but documented humans who are a Malfunction Magnet

That's the warning for the parking pawl, isn't it? Low 12 vdc voltage?

Ok, I'll be the first to admit I sometimes will go out with a real Coyote Ugly woman, but lets leave my personal sex life out of this serious discussion.

 

Of course. What is the warranty on a combi meter? 3/36?? A lot of Prius are therefore off warranty for a repair like that

 

Whats the history of the 12 aux/boot battery in trunk. How many times have you been jump started?

 

Is this where the thread jumps the track? :madgrin:

Yep, at least in the US its 3 / 36 unless you purchased an extended warranty. Apparently, this has happened on a few 07 and 08 cars.

 

Yep. Baaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Not 04-06? Wondering then if a manufacturing problem, eg like how the 04-06 MFD's could be repaired with the solder job

 

I'm hoping Hobbit gets ahold of one of the failed Combo Meters at some point.

 

I would also like to have somebody with a "bad" combi meter just reseat all four connectors. If that clears up the problem .... problem solved.