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dashboard display malfunctions

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by jdixon, Feb 7, 2009.

  1. jdixon

    jdixon New Member

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    Location:
    northville ny
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    I have a 2007 with 55,000 miles on it. The dash display does not always come on when the car starts. It generally takes 30-40 minutes of driving before the dash comes on. Until that time, nothing on the dashboard works--so I have no idea how fast I'm going and the odometer has not tracked the mileage I've driven once the dashboard does come on.

    This started over a year ago, but at that time the malfunction occurred 1-2 times a month. The frequency has increased, however, and it now occurs about 9-10 times per month. It only happens in the early morning. Most times it's cold (zero to -5), sometimes it's 40 degree weather, and once it was warm but pouring rain.

    The dealer cannot replicate the problem and has not provided a solution. Has anyone else had a similar problem with the dash?
     
    #1 jdixon, Feb 7, 2009
  2. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
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    Two
    There have been several recent posts with similar complaints. A further complaint is that the car may not power down when you press the POWER button.

    The solution seems to be to replace the combination meter, which is the dash display unit. At your mileage this will not be covered under warranty, and the part is pretty expensive. However if you buy a new unit from your Toyota dealer, the new unit will be programmed with the odometer reading from your current unit.

    An alternate solution to buying a new unit from the dealer is to buy a salvage unit, however the odometer reading will be from the salvaged vehicle.
     
    #2 Patrick Wong, Feb 7, 2009
  3. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    #3 cwerdna, Feb 7, 2009
  4. jdixon

    jdixon New Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Once in a while I also have a problem with the car not powering off when I press the power button. Will the combination meter replacement resolve this issue as well? I do have the extended warranty so I'm hoping this will be covered. (In addition, I first brought this to the dealer's attention at 32,000 miles. They just haven't been able to resolve it.) Appreciate the info!
     
    #4 jdixon, Feb 8, 2009
  5. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Location:
    Green Valley, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Yes, Carolyn at Luscious Garage developed the theory that when the combination meter is not working, since the car doesn't know what speed it is traveling at, it will ignore your pressing the POWER button as a safety measure (don't want your car to be turned off accidentally when you are at speed.)

    Until you get this fixed, if that particular problem occurs it might help to depress and hold the POWER button down for several seconds, waiting for the car to power off.

    If you can document that the problem first occurred at 32K miles, then you should be able to ask for the combination meter to be replaced under the 36K mile warranty. Good luck.
     
    #5 Patrick Wong, Feb 8, 2009
  6. murray

    murray New Member

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    Location:
    tonasket
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    does anyone know what a snowflake symbol is? I replaced my intermittent display with a used display, and everything works again, but there is a symbol (not listed in the manual) that persists on the screen, and looks like a snowflake on a highway?
     
    #6 murray, Jan 12, 2012
  7. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    2006 Prius
    Snowflake got removed on 06 and newer Priuses. Perhaps you got an older display?

    It supposedly comes on if the outside air temp reaches 37 F or below. Is that city you indicate in WA state?
     
    #7 cwerdna, Jan 12, 2012
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