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Red Triangle Flashed Screen Said Problem

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by ITGuy1024, Feb 24, 2014.

  1. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Like Patrick said, if you add oil and start monitoring it from now on (to see how much oil the car is using), that way you won't run into this low oil situation again. These Prius cars seem to use oil at higher mileage, so you should really monitor it so you don't damage your engine.

    The money you save from bringing it to the dealer to diagnose should pay for 1/2 the battery.
     
  2. ITGuy1024

    ITGuy1024 Junior Member

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    Agreed. I'll let you all know how I make out. Very much appreciated.
     
  3. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    If the oil is below the minimum mark, you can probably add close to 2 quarts of oil to bring it to the full mark. But start by adding 1 3/4 quarts. Save the 1/4 quart to top off later.
     
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  4. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    Well yeah...
    If the oil is low...especially below the minimum mark, I'd say add oil...but I'd say that to anyone, even if the vehicle hadn't demonstrated any odd symptoms.

    Having a "normal" Oil level is always recommendable..and correct.

    I just doubt that is the cause of his symptoms. I'm leaning more towards 12 vlt. "A few years and 60K since it was replaced"- could easily just mean it's time again.

    But yes, adding Oil just should be done...and it's relatively cheap.

    I agree with Patricks advice of simply doing both...the problem will either go away...or not. But you aren't running the vehicle low on Oil...and with a new battery you rule out the numerous gremlins that a low 12. vlt is routinely blamed for causing in a Prius.
     
  5. usnavystgc

    usnavystgc Die Hard DIYer and Ebike enthusiast.

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    These are the exact symptoms I've seen over and over again when the oil is low on the Gen II Prius.
     
  6. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    Well if you really wanted to prove something...at risk of potential further problems leaving you stranded.

    You could just fill the oil and see if the symptoms go away.

    If you do BOTH simultaneously....we may never know which was the actual cause....

    But I'd start with the Oil...you need that regardless of Dash Lights and Triangles.
     
  7. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Can someone explain to me why his lights would dim while the car is running? To my understanding, when the car is the Ready Mode, the traction battery drives everything. This didn't make much sense to me. The 12v registered 14.1 when the car is on.
     
  8. Rich12

    Rich12 Member

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    Bad/undersized alternator? :p
     
  9. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    you should already know this car doesn't have one.
     
  10. Rich12

    Rich12 Member

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    Odd; I just paid $350 to get mine replaced last month...haven't had any problems since. o_O
     
  11. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    The thing you replaced for $350 is called a water pump. This is the part where you look for the "Wanna get away" button from Southwest.
     
  12. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    For now? Blame Satan...and just fill your oil.

    You said you were pulling into the gym? I'm assuming you were going slow enough to have the vehicle in EV mode. But if it was cold enough, or the HV battery was low enough- you might of had a transition from EV to Engine. Or it could of been going from engine to EV....

    As you know, the Hybrid Battery is maintained or recharged using the Prius engine...assuming you don't have a Plug In Prius.
     
  13. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    FYI, I'm not the original OP from the post.
     
  14. ITGuy1024

    ITGuy1024 Junior Member

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    The lights dimmed sitting at a stop light leaving the gym. ICE was not running.
     
  15. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    Oops, sorry...you can still blame Satan and check your oil.
     
  16. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Satan can't be blamed. There should be a scientific explanation for this.
     
  17. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    Which is precisely why I held back on my advice to paint a pentagram on his hood.
     
  18. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Only thing I can come up with, with my limited knowledge, is when he was at a stop light, his engine sensed low pressure on the oil pump and almost stalled. This is the same time the ICE engine was charging the HV battery and the slight second of lower voltage going to HV caused the lights to dim.
     
  19. usnavystgc

    usnavystgc Die Hard DIYer and Ebike enthusiast.

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    Who knows why the lights dimmed, the fact is they shouldn't have. Let's face it, when a problem occurs in these cars, the symptoms are not always as expected. I'm guessing the lights dimming is an anamoly.
     
  20. ITGuy1024

    ITGuy1024 Junior Member

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    Got the same red triangle and "problem" on the screen again pulling in to get some oil. And the oil was very very low so I topped it off.
    Also I had the battery tested before buying a new one (and they said it was in great shape). So I ended up holding off on that for the time being.

    I'm sure my issues were due to the low oil level. So again thanks everyone for your help and input.
     
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