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

mystery needles in dash

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, Jan 2, 2014.

  1. gliderman

    gliderman Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2011
    751
    223
    0
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    What does the service department at your dealership say it is?
     
  2. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu

    Gracie Jiu-Jitsu New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2013
    13
    1
    0
    Location:
    Scottsdale, Az
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I'll see if I can get some video......stay tuned.
     
  3. PriusInParadise

    Joined:
    May 24, 2012
    180
    91
    0
    Location:
    Hawaii
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I believe KBeck is correct. There is likely an object similar to a toothpick or mechanical pencil lead that is rolling over the horizontal face of the display. As you state the "needle" appears after firm acceleration, I suspect the object is rolling back and forth. The mirror in the instrument cluster translates the motion to up and down. Acceleration causes the object to roll backward, and the image to rise.
    Take a small mirror and a strong light, and closely inspect the area directly below the speedometer display.
     
    Les_PL likes this.
  4. Grren4ever

    Grren4ever Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2013
    347
    166
    19
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    maybe stick a magnet there and try to magneto it out?
     
  5. Les_PL

    Les_PL Active Member

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2012
    317
    248
    0
    Location:
    Gdynia, PL
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    III
    If it's toothpick or alike it wouldn't work but it is worth to try. Or with the vacuum cleaner with narrow nozzle try to suck it out.
    Definitely the idea of PriusInParadise to inspect the mirror with the other mirror and small torch is recommended.
     
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,781
    48,985
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    should fall under the 3/36, let them replace it, problem solved.
     
  7. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu

    Gracie Jiu-Jitsu New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2013
    13
    1
    0
    Location:
    Scottsdale, Az
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I'm planning on asking next time I go in.
     
  8. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu

    Gracie Jiu-Jitsu New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2013
    13
    1
    0
    Location:
    Scottsdale, Az
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    You guys, this is part of the car. It's not a foreign object; it is temperature needle of some sort. I was a mechanic for 10 years, trust me.
     
  9. gliderman

    gliderman Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2011
    751
    223
    0
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    I smell a troll. :)
     
  10. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2010
    5,194
    1,912
    0
    Location:
    Herefordshire England
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    This is not part of the car. The display is a vacuum florescent display it is not capable of displaying black objects.

    John (Britprius)
     
  11. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu

    Gracie Jiu-Jitsu New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2013
    13
    1
    0
    Location:
    Scottsdale, Az
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    ok you guys, I admit it, I'm an idiot! It turns out to be a small sliver of plastic. I promise to stop sniffing glue!!! Thank you all for your help and concern. :)
     
    PriusGuy32 likes this.
  12. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2011
    6,972
    3,209
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    All is well!
     
  13. sosarahsays

    sosarahsays Member

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2013
    117
    37
    0
    Location:
    PNW
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Glad you solved it! I was reading through this thread and getting into a conspiracy theorist, unsolved mystery mentality!
     
  14. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

    Joined:
    May 22, 2009
    9,083
    5,796
    0
    Location:
    Undisclosed Location
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Mystery Solved!

    Glad it worked out...cheaply and easily.

    Thanks for keeping us on our toes. We need a post like this one, once in a while to keep us awake.
     
  15. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

    Joined:
    May 22, 2009
    9,083
    5,796
    0
    Location:
    Undisclosed Location
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I bet ya, it's a small sliver of plastic.

    (Too Late?)
     
  16. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2010
    5,194
    1,912
    0
    Location:
    Herefordshire England
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    I've just gone back to sleep.;)

    John (Britprius)
     
  17. PriusGuy32

    PriusGuy32 Prius Driver Extraordinaire

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2012
    1,411
    506
    0
    Location:
    Harrison Township, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four

    [​IMG]


    :D