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If I was a Japanese Toyota engineer...

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by priusrust, Nov 25, 2019.

  1. priusrust

    priusrust Member

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    I would:
    1) allow owner control of engine warning lights- allow some to be disabled- (please let me know if this can be done) my light goes on for a non vital issue. It would be far too expensive to fix- so I won't. However, with warning light on it, 1) annoys- as it is close to my line of driving vision ...and...2) with light on for this minor issue, I would be not be alerted to a more serious issue as the light is already on

    gripe #2: the light that come on to alert you to the fact it is 37 degrees outside. This utterly baffles me. For one, it is a yellow warning type light - right next to engine warning light, and dreaded yellow triangle battery light. So when it flicks on- you get an instant needless adrenaline rush. Then it stays on -distracting you as you drive. It is 37 degrees out- who cares?? why does this warrant placing this light in my line of driving vision with other more essential /critical lights? what is 37 degrees? the melting point of beryllium on Saturn? fascinating! but I dont need a yellow warning light flicking on as I drive.
    rant finished.
     
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  2. nssdiver

    nssdiver Me digging' life

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    Add TPMS light to the mix of light gripes. I have dedicated winter tires on my ‘07 Touring that I don’t want to pay for BOTH extra TPMS sensors AND the cost to have my computer reprogrammed every spring and fall.

    I’m old school and perfectly capable of checking my tire pressures on a regular basis, or, when/if I see them excessively low.


    iPhone ?
     
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    that might be personally desirable, but it may not be legal, or at the very least, would probably get a toyota engineer fired.

    i just put electrical tape over all the warning lights
     
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  4. VFerdman

    VFerdman Senior Member

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    Although I fully understand where your frustration comes from, the "Check Engine" light is governed by federal regulators and not by Toyota. Every car sold in US must comply with the way that light operates. It is to be lit up when one of the emission control system in your car malfunctions (among other reasons). This is usually annoying stuff having to do exactly nothing with the proper operation of your car, but the light is lit and the car will fail emission inspection. Toyota had nothing to do with this.

    As for 37 degrees F, that is the temperature when water begins to freeze here on Earth and conditions for black ice exist. If it makes you feel better, Toyota did remove that light in the 2006 face-lift of the car.

    As Bisco pointed out, electric tape is cheap, available and easy to use.
     
  5. nssdiver

    nssdiver Me digging' life

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    image-2019-11-25-18:18:52-830.jpg
    Perhaps we should ask for some clarification (as the OP didn’t say exactly “Check Engine” light.

    Right now I ride around with a TPMS, ‘MAINT REQD’* and seatbelt light forever on. No, please, just go away.

    * I am well aware that I can turn this one off, but I prefer to disable it. I drive ~36,000 miles/year now and that light seems to come on as soon as I clear it. And it’s not as simple as pushing a button. Just go away. I will maintain my car when I see fit.



    iPhone ?
     
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  6. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Sorry, but that one is by federal law or regulation. They can't legally give you a path to hiding the light without fixing the problem.

    Don't like it? That is what black tape was invented for.
    Yes, it is more complicated that pushing one button. It takes two buttons. And then it stays off for 4500 miles, or about 6+ weeks of your driving pattern.
    As previously pointed out, it is a warning for risk of black ice. I believe this was decided much higher up than the engineer level you questioned. And it has been adopted by multiple car companies, not just Toyota.

    At least my much newer Prius, and my Subaru, just flash brief warnings, so the steady-in-your-face warning has already been addressed somewhere in the 16 years since your car was built.
     
    #6 fuzzy1, Nov 25, 2019
    Last edited: Nov 25, 2019
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    There's a surefire way to turn that one off.
     
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  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    wrap it over the back of the seat and connect?:p
     
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  9. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    If ya'll can be more specific about why your warning lights are on in the first place we can get more specific about how to address the issue.

    And if addressing the issue is not an option we can explore how to trick your computer into thinking all is well... If you're driving with warning lights on than you're flying blind to other more serious issues to could come up...

    Of course maybe ya'll are just complaining about your own procrastination in creative ways and there's no reason for us to try to help? There's just some people that have always driven in broken cars and a car that's not broke doesn't last long with 'em.
     
  10. priusrust

    priusrust Member

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    Good points. My engine warning light comes on due to the otherworldly complexities of the gas tank. Toyota suggested I ignore it in a rare lapse of frank non-profit motivated advice. Ok, black ice light. i can respect that. Certainly a change for better to have it come on briefly then vanish. Your point about "flying blind" is my worry exactly. I have a gizmo to read the engine codes- so I'll post next time it flashes on....thanks
     
  11. Elektroingenieur

    Elektroingenieur Senior Member

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    The reason for that complexity is to control evaporative emissions of fuel vapors, without having the gasoline engine always running to burn them. Toyota wrote in their Advanced Emissions and Driveability Diagnosis training course, “Approximately 20% of all hydrocarbon (HC) emissions from the automobile originate from evaporative sources.”

    That’s also why the regulations require the check engine (malfunction indicator) light to come on when a problem with the EVAP system is detected, even though it doesn’t affect drivability or increase tailpipe emissions.
     
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  12. Classic Car Guy

    Classic Car Guy Active Member

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    Electrical tape work so as taking off the light bulb. After all its been going on since 1985.:cool:
     
  13. priusrust

    priusrust Member

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    Fair enough- good info. From my point of view- the corrective work would be too expensive to justify paying to have it done. I only regret that the light stays on. This masks my being alerted to another -and potentially more serious- condition that arises. (which obviously taping light would not remedy)