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Help check engine light on and red triangle?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by Manpower, Jun 20, 2016.

  1. Manpower

    Manpower Junior Member

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    I have a 2007 prius. I was driving home all a sudden I get a big red triangle warning and the engine logo came on. On the display screen its show a logo of the car at the corner in red with exclamation mark. I use the car obdII scanner but no error code came up. I decide to check the engine oil. When I remove the cap, I notice inside the engine it look weird like a gold color and some blackish. The engine cap inside look like it have stains on it too. The hole where you pour the motor oil down I notice that piece inside don't go down for the funnel to stick in. I attach some pictures. I have no clue what's wrong with it and I don't wanna drive it to make it worse. The prius only have 90k miles on it. If anyone can help me out? Thanks in advance.
     

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  2. S Keith

    S Keith Senior Member

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    You check the oil with the dipstick.

    READ CODES. Options in my signature.
     
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  3. Manpower

    Manpower Junior Member

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    My engine oil was due so I actually just did the oil change. I notice it was pouring out black.
     
  4. S Keith

    S Keith Senior Member

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    Before or after the trouble? Did you over fill?

    Read codes.
     
  5. plug-it-in

    plug-it-in Active Member

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    2007 Prius? The "death" triangle might indicate that you need a new 12V battery. A new battery fixed my problem on my old 2008. YouTube has instructions how to do it. Basically all you need is a 10mm socket and a bit of patience.
     
  6. Manpower

    Manpower Junior Member

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    It happen before so I decide to just do my oil change to see if it helps but the error didn't go away still there.
     
  7. Manpower

    Manpower Junior Member

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    Yes its a 2007 and only 90k miles on it. Is this common? Was the battery expensive. I hoping that and not the head gasket being blown.
     
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    welcome! around a hundred and fifty bucks. you should have the dealer check for codes or buy mini vci for diy.
     
  9. Manpower

    Manpower Junior Member

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    So the color inside the engine and the engine oil cap I shouldn't be worried about? I notice when I put the funnel inside to fill the engine oil something was blocking it at the top. So I push down the hole inside with the funnel so it's able to stay to pour the oil. I hope I didn't damage the head gasket or something inside. I don't remember it being block like that at the top hole before when I did the other oil changes.
     
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    that does seem odd, and it looks a little milky in there.
     
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    check your coolant level.
     
  12. Manpower

    Manpower Junior Member

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    My coolant on the front bottom is low so I just refill. The top coolant is fine. I have a question if someone is able to check the inside of engine where you fill the engine oil in. It seem like the hole where the oil goes in on my engine inside is block by somthing toward the top. I believe its the valves...isn't it suppose to be a clear path so the funnel and oil able to go down easily? I attach a picture showing how it look on mine. I don't know if that's normal but I don't remember it being block inside like that before in the past when I did the oil change.
     

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  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    is it sludge? i don't recall that on my '08.

    did the bottom come off your filler cap?
     
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    how is the car running, does the engine sound normal?
     
  15. Manpower

    Manpower Junior Member

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    Engine sound fine and car run normal.
     
  16. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    how did your 12v check out?

    could be the first signs of hybrid battery failure i suppose. 9 years in the texas heat could kill anybody.
     
  17. Manpower

    Manpower Junior Member

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    My battery was good it was around 12.3-12.4v. I did change my oil late this time around, I was putting it off for over 5,000 miles but I always ran it with full synthetic. Maybe that could trigger the red triangle. I disconnect the battery to clear the code so gonna drive it awhile and see if the issue pops back up.
     
  18. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    late oil change won't prompt any trouble codes.
     
  19. Manpower

    Manpower Junior Member

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    The car drive fine battery still work not sure what else could be the issue. The only thing I notice different is the engine hole to fill the oil looks block and my ac just now stop blowing cold air. I use my innova obd scanner for error code but it's not reading. Do the prius need a special scanner to read the codes?
     
  20. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    yes, you either have to go to a dealer, or buy mini vci on line and use and old windows laptop.
     
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