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Comments
The other day, in a grocery parking lot, I tried to start the car and all of the lights flashed and I could not get FOB out. Waited and pressed power button and car powered off. Started again and it was fine. It seems that it had to recycle or something.
Today, when starting I felt the brake push against me and the triangle flashed on for a moment. I pressed the power again with light touch on brake and it started. Seems many people have same or similar problem but no Toyota dealer seems to have ever heard of this!
Anyone else with same problem?
!!!3 TRIPS TO THE DEALER FOR A BULB!!!
What are they going to do when something goes wrong on my car that is more complicated than a light bulb?
It causes my head to hurt when I think about it.
Incidentally, the armrest on the driver's door is broken under the upholstery. They removed the door panel to check it out. I had to return for the "factory man" to rule on the repair. They took the door panel off and examined it and said it was not covered by the warranty.
They didn't put the panel on right and my triangular speaker fell off.
The rear bumper cover is pooched out on the side and was never right from delivery.
It is not clipped into the proper tab and is bowed out. I had to return when the "factory man" was in town again. The "factory man" ruled it was not covered since it was past the "adjustment period".
It seems they are better at declining repairs than at actually repairing cars.
I have never met, nor even seen the "factory man". I am not sure he even exists.
Now, the coloring on the leather seat cover is coming off. I am concerned I will have to repeat the same kangaroo process.
Arlington, TX.
Sounds like you got one like Gosch Auto in Hemet, CA.
That's where I got my Prius.
Great car, bad dealer to make many long stories short.
Yesterday it happened again. However, this time both the cruise control AND the A/C compressor went off and stayed off. (Its 90 plus in Sacramento today). The fan kept fanning. All else is fine. Anybody heard of this one, and if "yes", what was the fix?
Several months passed, then one headlight failed. I tried to replace the bulb, but was surprised to find the female electrical connector had melted and fused together with the bulb itself. As a matter of fact, the wiring was melted back about an inch from the connector and the insulation was GONE.
Since I was unable to "unplug" the bulb from the connector, I was dismayed to find that VW offered only a COMPLETE headlight [non-permissible content removed]'y ( $$$ ) as a replacement part for the melted wiring and connector.
Fortunately, my experience as a M-B mechanic provided me with a safe and reasonable "way out". I ordered replacement connectors from the M-B parts department and repaired the melted wiring on BOTH headlights.
I now have "normal", factory headlight bulbs back again in my VW and hope never to forget the lesson life has taught me concerning "super duper" replacement light
bulbs.
My '07 Prius ( pkg #6 ) came equipped w/HIDs and I have had to replace only 1 headlight bulb ( under warranty, 3 trips to the ?Service? Department ), so far.
Incidentally, my 30yrs experience as a M-B mechanic also taught me that the ML :lemon: was, at the time, the very worst vehicle that M-B ever produced for sale in the US.
That vehicle has been superceded by the W211 E-Class :lemon: as the very, very worst Mercedes-Benz EVER produced for US clients/customers!
Thanks,
Ken
It has to be pitch dark to see them. The dash lights are blindingly bright in comparison.
I consider this a "shortage" that Toyota has given me due to the fact that they are so dim, they are hardly visible.
With use, you will be able to hit the right button at night. It just take time to familiarize yourself with their placement. And if you have the Navi system, you can use voice commands for some of the features. Meanwhile, "practice makes perfect".
I also consider the lack of a glovebox light(s) a "shortage".
A rear dome light would have been nice.
The lights in the bottom of the doors when they are open are nice, but perhaps lights in the dash vents was considered overkill.
Armrest storage compartment light(s) must have been overkill too.
I really like my Prius, but the "furnishings" and appointments are just a tad Spartan for me. But then it IS a gas mileage kinda car.
Day 2 Saturday the Dealer wanted the top mechanic to look at and see if he can figure out what happened.
Day 3 was Sunday.. nothing got done
Day 4 Monday the mechanic thinks it was the battery but wanted to drive it for a while to make sure. He drove it like 7 miles according to the a rep.
Day 5 Tuesday still thinks its just the battery, and that controls the computer. That's why the anti lock brakes didn't work.
Battery went dead when I was driving it on the freeway at 65 miles a hour? The Question is and I can't get an answer is Why did it go dead, when caused it?
Thats not normal. Dead batteries don't start cars, not go dead when they are running and the Prius never died out, even when it was on the side of the road. And I was able to start it to move it when tow truck came.
If a car does that then its a car you shouldn't own. If a battery can go out and cause the brakes to go out when your driving at high speeds, your just asking to get killed in it one day!!
The dealer still has my car, today will be Day 6 and maybe he'll put a battery in it. But Torrance Toyota wants me to pay for it. The 7 year battery warranty he said does not cover that battery. That one only has a 3 year. I've only had it 3 1/2 years, and if I gotta pay over 200 bucks to fix that.. well it sucks. I got my Toyota van with 300,000 miles that nothing ever goes wrong with it.. sometimes I wish something would so I can get a new one.
Aleks.. :sick:
The software bug allowed a sensor failure to shut down the ICE engine which then results in a low or dead traction battery a few minutes later. There were several dozen similar reports in 2006, none from owners that had the software TSB applied.
Thanks, Pete
It's note really worh taking your eyes off the road. You will get used to them, and one day ( night ) you'll see them.
GOOD LUCK!
I will call the dealer with the VIN and see what they will be willing to tell me.
Any information on potential "issues" with the '05 model would be very good to know prior to purchase.
Thanks
My headlights are hologen and they are too dark & amber-like. do you know if I can change to a diff light bulbs to make them little brighter and whiter. ? thanks
Due to the increased current draw of the "Silverstones", the plastic connector, and some of the adjacent wiring melted. The light would not light, and due to the damage, I could not "unplug" it from the connector. I was, however, able to obtain a like connector and wiring pieces to save me from having to replace the complete headlight [non-permissible content removed]'y. These were NOT available from VW, but since I worked at Mercedes-Benz, I was able to find the "repair kit".
My advice is to stick with what the Lord gave you. Or possibly face costly replacement(s).
I received a rebate when I bought the "Silverstones" and they cost maybe $10ea.
But the "repair kits" and my labor made them no bargain.
2007 Prius with less than 7500 miles. No nav.
Was doing 65 mph and in the passing lane with a bus on my tail. Finally got off road without getting killed. Put vehicle into park and turned off everything. Did a restart and had no more problems for the remaing 70 miles.
Really scarry.
Anyone else lose power?
My wifes prius has experienced this exact issue on two ocassions.
The first time Toyota took the car and 3 days later with the help of HQ stated that there was a loose communications wire that connects the battery monitor system with the control computer.
The second time they took the vehicle and it is still in the shop.
This is a large disappointment as this is my second Prius and also own a Toyota Camary that has had a steller performance record.
However, this is a huge safety concern when you suddenly loose all power and then you have to jump to the shoulder and put on your emergency blinkers becuase it just wont go over 10mph.
She called the dealer and told her to drive to the dealer that it would do no further damage to the vehicle to drive it to them HEY offer to tow the vehicle because you are placing your customer of 3 hybrids life at risk !!
It's a five year old battery and I don't want my wife stranded just to get more out of an old battery so I am going to replace it soon.
I did a search as you suggested, and found a ton of great info. Thanks.
The NHTSA has investigated the claims of BOTH HID headlights failing while driving.
All they found was ONE light out at a time.
They closed their investigation.
I had an intermittently functioning R-H side ( passenger ) HID headlight.
I took it to the dealer when it was hot under the hood and they told me to come back so they could "diagnose" the HID system. They could 't get it to malfunction since the lot boy shut off the car after parking it on the lot. ( After I told the NOT to ).
So I picked up the car and before I reached the edge of their driveway, the light was out.
Anyway, I took it back to them ( 3rd time ) and they replaced the HID "burner" ( bulb ) under warranty.
They told me it was a $400 repair. The 1st service writer surrendered when I initially presented the car for repair. She said it was "probably a bulb, and they didn't stock that part". What a JOKE!
That was over a year ago, and so far everything is still going strong.
Now the fog light and parking light are out on the left side and the lights go off and we can get them back on by flipping the switch. We don't think our dealer knows how to fix it--now they say replace all headlights at $200 each. Any suggestions from anyone? Crockett96
"You can't sell the second one, if you can't fix the first one."
I can use the old battery to start my backup generator. It will arrive next week.
I and others had this same issue as well about stalling on the freeway. There are a few things that I recently tired and what others tried as well.
1. Ask for a software upgrade ... should be able to do it under warranty or under 100k miles for free
2. Crankshaft Sensor...when the sensor gets hot or fails, sets off engine light and shuts down engine...something like that. I paid $390 for both of these installs...I have an '05 prius with 156k miles...so warranties don't apply.
I did a test run tonight and ran it for over an hour at 80mph. It hiccuped a few times during acceleration, but kept strong.
My problem is that my engine continues to run even at a dead stop...when it usually shuts down and secondly my fan for the battery (in the back seat) stays on and does not shut off. Dealer told me that my recharable battery is bad and also possibly the inverter...those are $4k a piece parts. So I tried the first top two.
See if any of these solves your issues...as for the battery and inverter...those should be covered up to 100k...so if your issue continues, opt for one or both of these to be replaced. Good luck!
It seems to me you might be on the wrong track. I see there is a recall on MY'04 Priui for a brake light switch that can be overcome by "silicone oxide corrosion".
The switch is to be replaced.