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computer glitch

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by mcswell, Apr 15, 2011.

  1. mcswell

    mcswell Junior Member

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    I started my 2007 Prius in the parking lot today, and a *bunch* of warning lights came on: the triangle with the exclamation point, VSC, brakes, and engine warning light. I was in a hurry and didn't have far to go, so (perhaps foolishly!) I kept going. Sure enough, the VSC and brakes lights went out. But after stopping at a light, where the ICE went off, it didn't come back on again--so I pulled over, checked the oil (ok), and turned it back on. Now the triangle was no longer displaying, only the engine warning light. But gas mileage was normal, which made me doubt the engine warning. (It obviously wasn't overheated after driving a half a mile, and there's no steam coming out.)

    After parking it for a half hour and re-starting, there are no more warning lights.

    Ideas? Can the shop get a reading from the computer that tells what it thins went wrong? My own opinion (based on the fact that the VSC, brakes and engine were unlikely to fail all at the same moment) was that it was a computer glitch. But why?
     
    #1 mcswell, Apr 15, 2011
  2. mcswell

    mcswell Junior Member

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    oh, I forgot: the other symptom was that the top inch or so of the computer display was blank. Very odd!
     
    #2 mcswell, Apr 15, 2011
  3. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    1. Odometer reading of your 2007?

    2. When was the last time the car was driven, prior to your starting the car today and the warning lights appearing?

    3. When you say "engine warning light" do you mean the amber "check engine" light which looks like a little engine? If yes, that light doesn't necessarily mean that there is an overheating issue.

    4. Check the operation of the inverter coolant pump. Make the Prius READY, then open the hood and look at the inverter coolant reservoir which is mounted next to the inverter. You should see turbulence in the fluid which shows the pump is circulating fluid. If you don't then the pump is not working and that may be the cause of the VSC and brake warning lights.

    5. Even though there no longer are any warning lights on, the skid control ECU (which turned on the VSC and brake warning lights) should retain whatever DTC had been logged. If the check engine light was on, the engine ECU probably also logged a DTC.
     
    #3 Patrick Wong, Apr 15, 2011
  4. mcswell

    mcswell Junior Member

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    1. 48k miles
    2. three or four hours earlier (parked at 9 AM, started around 12:30 when engine lights came on)
    3. Yes, that light. I know it doesn't necessarily mean overheating, and in this case it couldn't have meant that. My first thought was the oil, but that was fine. I'm sure there are a hundred other things, but the fact that all those lights came on at the same time (Vehicle Stability Control, engine warning, and brakes) tells me that it must have been the computer.
    4. I'll check that, thanks.
    5. ...and tomorrow I'll probably take that car to Anchorhead and have its memory erased, I mean to the dealer to get the readout.
     
    #4 mcswell, Apr 15, 2011
  5. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    Well I can't really say much other than the display's top section not working was probably because there was a car symbol with a "!" through it. You can recreate this symbol by disabling traction control, it is just the generic "hey something is wrong here". Happens when you run out of gas or a major malfunction too.

    Do you have a voltmeter?
     
    #5 2k1Toaster, Apr 15, 2011
  6. mcswell

    mcswell Junior Member

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    As far as I could see, there was nothing in the top section of the display--it was completely blank. I'm talking about the little 5" x 5" CRT at the center of the dash, the one that displays mpg, audio etc.

    Yes, I have a voltmeter. What should I do with it?
     
    #6 mcswell, Apr 16, 2011
  7. firepa63

    firepa63 Former Prius Owner

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    Is your 12v battery the original? If so, start with that. Check the voltages. My guess it needs to be replaced.
     
    #7 firepa63, Apr 16, 2011
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