Arrrgh! (cough cough) External Sensors Not Connected!?

I just had the same thing begin to happen (9.3K and almost my 1 yr anniversary). It started a few days ago with the battery, mpg, and temp values appearing blank. I did notice some problems with the radio controls too. The touch screen response was also slow. Eventually the values would appear (after 5 min or so), I can't say if this requires fiddling with the displays or not because I WAS fiddling with the displays.

Yesterday the splash screen came up then blank black screen, then the standard display background with the message "Check the System". After the "bluetooth connection failed" message (I have nothing for it to connect to) I got a temporary message at the top in a similar format "External Sensors not Connected".

Eventually it started working again....

Now that I think back, I have noticed that the controls are sometimes slow. Infact I was using the nav system a month ago and the update seemed slower than usual. It is difficult to quantify this. But it all adds up. I'll get it to the dealer. I am apprehensive. I'm afraid they will not find a problem right away and that this problem will consume a huge amount of my time and energy to get it fixed.

BTW, I've seen the posting about the break light switch. I have definitely noticed this problem and it now makes sense. The symptom is that the Prius doesn't start. That is you get the same response as though you did not depress the brake -- lights come on, radio, etc., but the hybrid system does not start. I actually had this problem that morning after I brought the car home, and then very occasionally after that.

Did I say I like the Prius? Yes, I do. The technology is great. I just hope my dealer is responsive....

Kablooie, how did your adventure work out?

 

On occasion (maybe once a month), my Prius will go to Ig-On mode (amber LED), even though I am pressing the brake before pushing the power button. However, it gets stuck there. Won't turn off, won't go to READY with a subsequent retry. Pushing the POWER a few times finally shuts it down, then I can get into READY and all is fine.
Might be too quick in trying to get it into Drive, but even then, it should handle that.

Next oil change, I'll have the reprogramming, alignment, and brake switch done, and rear brake lamp checked. I'll wait on the DVD though.

 

Hmmm, could brake switch failure explain that problem (Ig-on instead of ready)? Also, perhaps it could explain being rear ended twice...

I have had the ig-on thing happen at least twice since new in september.

Very strange.

Nate

 

I thought of that. In and of itself, brake switch failure would get me to Ig-On on SECOND push, but I get to Ig-On on first push during those glitches, and hangs there. Can't trun it off.

It could be the failure is so brief or irratic, that the HV ECU is confused and hangs. Fail-safe should power down if I hold the button for 4 seconds, but it doesn't.

Not frequent enough to be an emergency case, but I'll have the switch dealt with on my next oil change, and will mention the occasional READY failure. The reprogram campaign may take care of that.