1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

My first breakdown today (kind of) Need advice

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by djfrugal, Mar 16, 2005.

  1. djfrugal

    djfrugal New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2004
    26
    0
    0
    Location:
    Glendora, CA
    2005 Silver Prius package #6 (highest), 9000 Miles

    Here is what happened:

    I was driving to work on the freeway going about 35-45 mph when all of the sudden 3 warning lights came on: the triangle, engine light and VSC lights all came on at the same time. The car was still running but then as I am trying to pull over I notice the Gas engine will not start when I am giving the car some gas so I am running on electric engine only. I pull over, shut the car down. I then turn the car back on, the VSC light is now off, but the engine light and triangle light is still on. The car then was driving like normal and the gas engine was working again so I finished my drive to work , where I am now.

    Any experience with this?

    thank you,

    Paul B
     
    #1 djfrugal, Mar 16, 2005
  2. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2003
    19,891
    1,192
    9
    Location:
    Nixa, MO
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Yup, not that uncommon. You went into "Limp Home Mode" (use that phrase with the service writer). If you do 2 more restarts the other warning lights should go out.

    You probably need to have some firmware updated. Most of us who've experienced this it was a one time experience and it never recurred. Nothing to get freaked out about.
     
    #2 efusco, Mar 16, 2005
  3. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2004
    13,439
    640
    0
    Location:
    Winnipeg Manitoba
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    If you have a 2004 Prius like mine, there is a TSB out for this:

    http://www.alldata.com/TSB/59/045983AY.html

    Your dealer will have to flash a new Calibration. This is software-only, no actual parts should have to be replaced. Plan on it being at the dealer 2 hours.

    Mine conked in city traffic last November with the same symptoms.
     
    #3 jayman, Mar 16, 2005
  4. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2004
    3,790
    152
    0
    Location:
    Park View, Los Angeles, CA. U.S.A
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    take it to the dealer asap. i heard of only one other person having an iccident like this.. not sure if it was the exact same though.
     
    #4 V8Cobrakid, Mar 16, 2005
  5. djfrugal

    djfrugal New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2004
    26
    0
    0
    Location:
    Glendora, CA
    Thank you guys. I have a 2005 Prius. I am going to take it in one way or another. I have a front left brake problem as well. As I am slowing down to stop, the last 10 feet or less of the stop my front left wheel stutters (grab let go , grab let go0 really fast and you can hear it. It is very strange.

    thank you,

    Paul B
     
    #5 djfrugal, Mar 16, 2005
  6. rick57

    rick57 Member

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2005
    572
    6
    0
    Location:
    Circleville, Ohio
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I agree with the others here Paul. The reflash of the ECU will take care of the engine problem. But as for the brakes,that is a new one on me. Sounds like maybe the ABS is coming on,possible wheel speed sensor problem. Let us know what that is,ok? :wink:
     
    #6 rick57, Mar 16, 2005
  7. djfrugal

    djfrugal New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2004
    26
    0
    0
    Location:
    Glendora, CA
    Thank you,

    I will let you guys know.


    Update: Went to my car after work and all warning lights were off and car running perfectly. I will take it in this weekend unless more problems occur. I drove 40 miles after work tonight and no problems whatsoever except the slight brake problem mentioned before.

    Paul B
     
    #7 djfrugal, Mar 17, 2005
  8. ejlazarus

    ejlazarus Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2004
    6
    0
    0
    Location:
    Germantown, TN
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    I also had the exact problem yestuday on my way home from work. I was abel to pull off the road , Once I turned the car off and tried to restart it and it did seem to work ok. I took it in to the dealer, and they got right on it , they had to re-program the engine computer. It all well now. Glad to know I am not alone. The tech told me that the computer thought that I ran out of gas, of course I was not out of gas, so I am note sure what made the computer to get that "hick-up"
     
    #8 ejlazarus, Mar 22, 2005
  9. Devil's Advocate

    Devil's Advocate Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2005
    922
    13
    1
    Location:
    Las Vegas, Nevada
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Nearly the exact same thing occurs when you run out of gas, don't ask how I know. Except I think ALL the lights on the dash came on. Isn't that red triangle kind of coof though, except for the fact it means you may be scrugied. :silly:
     
    #9 Devil's Advocate, Mar 22, 2005
  10. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    May 11, 2004
    14,816
    2,497
    66
    Location:
    Far-North Chicagoland
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco\";p=\"73067)</div>
    Spoken like a true doctor. :-D Oh yeah, you'll be freaked out. You'll wonder when and if it'll do it again. Even after reading about the funny things Prii do, I freaked out when Priapus went haywire in the parking lot for no apperant reason. It took a week before I stopped checking on him every couple of hours.

    But what Evan said is true. For me anyway, after that one freak-out, Priapus has been calm and collected.
     
    #10 TonyPSchaefer, Mar 22, 2005
  11. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2004
    13,439
    640
    0
    Location:
    Winnipeg Manitoba
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer\";p=\"74881)</div>
    Tony:

    Maybe the Prius tech played Chic's "Le Freak" to calm it down?
     
    #11 jayman, Mar 23, 2005
  12. duanerw

    duanerw senior member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2005
    140
    8
    0
    Location:
    lexington ky
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    post states that this happens on 2004 and early 2005 so i called the 800# and the gal wasnt verry helpfull.I wanted to know if the 2005 i purchased,made in dec o4 was an early model and she couldnt tell me.said this is covered by the warranty but if i took it in to have it checked they would charge me.she finally took my vin number and told me mine was ok.didnt have much info so i told her to check out prius chat so she could learn something.
    I asked when the 2005 first arived in showrooms and she couldnt tell me.
    was lucky to find one in stock and bought it same day.changed tires to assurance and made big difference in the ride.2700 miles on the car and 1200 on the tires.
     
    #12 duanerw, Mar 23, 2005
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)