Exclamation point and problem on 2007 prius

The red triangle does not mean the car is just low on oil, it's telling you there's a problem with the car.

I suspect you have a bad inverter pump. That usually causes intermittent triangle to appear. You can verify this by reading the codes on the car

 

There are probably more lights on? Anything else you're leaving out?

If you read the codes, you'll know your problem without guessing

 

If there are no other lights, you most likely have 2 issues.

Low coolant or failed inverter pump.

You should not drive long distances until you find out the issue (less than 10 miles)

 

I would first check the inverter coolant reservoir first, turn the car on READY, then see if the inverter coolant has movement in the coolant. If the car is Ready and no movement in the coolant, the inverter pump is not working. If there is movement, then proceed to next step, which is checking engine coolant level at the radiator

 

This is the inverter coolant reservoir

 

No, you need to have PINK Asian fluid in there. Either from a Toyota dealer or an autoparts store.

The question now is how the heck did that get empty? That's not suppose to empty on it's own.

 

The coolant at the dealer runs about $25-$30 a gallon, less expensive versions are at autoparts stores for under $20.

But you really don't want to fill it and have it leak out again. It's not cheap fluid....but on the other hand, it costs $120 for a dealer to just diagnose the problem.

 

Have you noticed anything dripping under your car? I would recommend you find someone who knows cars to check all the fluids in your car. The cooling take the same coolant as was mentioned above, they are both pink.

 

I have used Zerex Asian coolant.

Buy ZEREX Asian Vehicle Red Ready-to-Use Antifreeze Coolant 675130 at Advance Auto Parts

 

Don't use water and don't use standard antifreeze. Some helpful discussions if you Google "Prius inverter coolant"


LG-H830 ?

 

Besides the thrown code (P00012), what else did the mechanic say or do?

Length of ownership and total miles on this prius?

Who generally services the prius and where at?

 

Here is your code.

P0012 TOYOTA Camshaft Position 'A' Timing Over-Retarded Bank 1

Have you checked your oil lately?