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fly in instrument panel

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by rshalit, Oct 30, 2010.

  1. rshalit

    rshalit New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2010
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    Location:
    oosah
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    A month after purchasing Prius III a "housefly" appeared inside of the instrument panel. I observed it on and off for around a week, its underside visible when it sat on the inside "glass" of panel. Eventually it disappeared and I assumed it had died and settled to the bottom. Several weeks later I brought car into dealer to have some basic settings changed & to install SAT radio, as they didn't have time when I first picked it up. I told them about the fly. One manager said they'd look into it. They called back to say that they would have to remove the entire front and it would take half a day. I said fine. Then they called back and said this wasn't covered by warranty. I asked how fly got in there, and was told there are several places that a fly could enter. Finding this odd, I called another dealer who said instrument was completely sealed and there must be a problem. I called my dealer and reported this alternate info, and they said they would look into this. Finally, I received another call an hour later, was told that the person who said there were many places a fly could enter was incorrect, but was then also told the fly had actually been sitting on the outside of the 'glass', not inside, and I had been observing an illusion! I didn't know what to say - I needed the car back (by now they'd had it 2 days as the radio took longer than they thought it would; I didn't push the issue - they were giving me the SAT radio and installing it for free, as I'd been told when I purchased it by the salesman that SAT radio was installed, which it wasn't.) I hadn't seen that fly inside or out for weeks by the time I brought it into dealer. Where I live in NE we have very few houseflies, and I've never seen one inside the Prius, then or since. I'm certain there's a dead fly in there where I can't see it. So, are there openings to the instrument panel where a fly could enter, or not? Was the dealer lying to me because they didn't want to hassle with getting into the panel??:confused:
     
  2. jim256

    jim256 Member

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2009
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    Location:
    Eastern NC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Part of the display is actually reflected from below to a mirror, so it can be outside.
     
  3. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2010
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    Location:
    South Yorkshire, UK
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Maybe it was a maintenance drone checking the Fly-by-wire systems.:D
     
  4. lenjack

    lenjack Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2006
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    Location:
    Pennsylvania USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Beautiful...a great one!
     
  5. Econ

    Econ Member

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2009
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    Location:
    East of the Berkshires - MA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    What area is the fly located on the display? Left near the MPH ETC?
     
  6. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2009
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    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    You have to get the fly out of there! It's extra weight will lower your MPG over time. :)
     
  7. Joe166

    Joe166 New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2009
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    Location:
    South Florida
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    V
    I would try inserting a small gecko.
     
  8. KK6PD

    KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2008
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    Location:
    Los Angeles Foothills
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
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    N/A
    SSShhhhhhhh.......Keep it quiet, mums the woid!
    If all the other drivers find out, they will all also want their own fly in their dash!
    We don't need that kind of "Recall"