2008 Prius problem *diagnosed*

[Atty]

As I was leaving my house today I heard a somewhat loud noise from the car and got an error saying, "Problem" on the dash screen. Immediately a car symbol in the left corner of the screen showed up with an exclamation point on it. As well as a red exclamation point showed up on the dashboard. I've done searching on Google and can not find info on what this is. I haven't tracked down my owners manual yet so I can't reference that yet.

Anyone experienced or heard of something like this happening? Or of any known causes?

I'm a few hundred miles over my oil change frequency but nothing alarming, I wouldn't think that could be the problem?


E: I checked it out online through Toyota's website. The error I have on the screen is the "Hybrid System Warning" light. I checked the oil and there was plenty of it, I'm 600 miles past due for my next service but I've been clocking a lot of highway miles for work. My last oil change was 10/12/11. No idea what it could be -- battery problem? Scared for $$$$.


Another E: It was the hybrid battery that went bad. Being replaced under warranty.

 

[HarryLui]

Warranty time.

 

[satyajitmenon]

Idiotic owners manual doesn't seem to say anything about those warning lights? Aside from instructing you to take it to the dealership.

http://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/document/om/OM47613U/pdf/sec_02-02.pdf

 

[SparkyJJO]

That's the most helpful error message ever.

 

[satyajitmenon]

That's the most helpful error message ever.

In the future, the error message will just say "Problem. Dialing dealership now. Please keep your bank account/credit card information ready for a royal Nigerian Style Scamming". :biggrin:

 

[PottedMeat]

hmm did you try fiddling with the hidden service menu? ( where you flip the lights on 3x then something ) it should give you a bunch of readings, see if they're in range.

 

[Jeff7]

That's the most helpful error message ever.

Love those.

At work, one program gave this: "Unknown error. Contact <manufacturer>."
Oh, well. Great. I wonder how many of those are in the code, and how much they really want to hear from anyone?

I have tried contacting them before, though it was to report numerous other issues. I get an "automated" response, usually 6-8 hours after submitting a ticket, and then nothing else.

Would it kill the manufacturers to put a little 7-segment LCD/LED display in there that would at least list the numeric problem code? And maybe an indicator along the lines of "Minor: Your gas cap may be loose" or "Your engine is completely out of oil and it will be destroyed unless you turn off the car NOW." Maybe a yellow LED and a red LED. Small indicator LEDs are cheap. Really cheap.

 

[Doppel]

To be honest OP this could be a pretty substantial problem in that car. Hybrid issues such as this in the Prius are few and far between but typically not cheap.

Good news is that car is still under warranty and the hybrid warranty is much longer than the bumper to bumper so I would not worry much about this yet.

 

[Atty]

Further investigation has lead me to either A) Coolant issue or B) 50,000 mile warranty Hybrid battery has reached its life span and needs replacing. Hello $5,000 and a thank you to the free replacement with the warranty.

 

[Jeff7]

Further investigation has lead me to either A) Coolant issue or B) 50,000 mile warranty Hybrid battery has reached its life span and needs replacing. Hello $5,000 and a thank you to the free replacement with the warranty.

Please do update the thread once you get a solid diagnosis.

That'd suck though - only about 4 years old and the battery might be going dead?


I wonder how Hyundai's going to fare in the near future. Their warranty page says that they're covering the batteries for the electric portion of their hybrids for 10 years/100,000 miles. I didn't think you could get lithium-ion batteries that would last that long and still be usable.

 

[Atty]

Hybrid battery is dead. Lasted 48,380 miles. It costs $5,000 to replace. Luckily its covered by a 10 year, 100,000 mile warranty. Other things wrong: Engine filter needs to be replaced, oil changed (aware of that), A/C system needs a recharge and filter change, brakes need some cleaning (?), and tires need rotating.

The main problem was the battery though. Everything that went wrong is covered under warranty, the other stuff will cost me out of pocket because its normal maintenance, which I'm not worried about.

 

[bruceb]

$5,00 for just a battery ? ? Granted, not the same as a regular car battery, but still, very costly. And you only got 3 years out the original and half the warranty mileage / 1/3 the years of the original warranty. I hope the replacement battery has a decent warranty. Odds are, it will only be for the remaining amount of time and mileage left on your original.

 

[LTC8K6]

Isn't this almost unheard of?

 

[Atty]

Got the car back last night. So far so good, have to wait and see if the mileage gets better now. Over the last year or so its gone down, from averaging in the 50's to the 40's. I figured that was just how it went. We'll see.