I was driving and suddenly the dash lights just went out. Tried turning the car off and back on, but nothing changed. The screen stays on even when I try to shut the car off and open the doors.
It’s a 2008 Prius with a brand new 12v battery. I didn’t hit any buttons or anything, it just happened on its own. Anyone know what’s going on?
Try holding down the power button to force the car off. If that doesn’t work, head to the back and disconnect the 12v battery to reset it. You just need to pull out the thick white plug near the positive terminal for about 5–10 seconds, then plug it back in. No tools needed.
Sounds like you’re dealing with the combination meter issue.
@John
That trick of pulling the 12v cable has saved me before too. One time I was stuck right before the Holland Tunnel, and traffic stopped completely. I put the car in Park and suddenly got the P LOCK MALFUNCTION message. I couldn’t put it in drive or park properly. I panicked for a minute, then ran to the back, pulled the cable for a few seconds, and it worked like a charm. Got moving just in time.
@John
That P LOCK MALFUNCTION message is terrifying. Imagine cruising at 65 mph and suddenly worrying about Park being involved…
If you haven’t already fixed it, check the wire from the underhood fusebox (P CON MAIN fuse) to the harness near the positive jump post. Sometimes the 2nd gen Priuses lose voltage there. You can add a piece of wire between the fused side of that fuse and the blue wire on the harness. Haven’t had the issue again in over 30,000 miles since I did that.
@John
Got it, thanks .
Yeah, that’s a common Gen 2 Prius issue. Holding the power button down for a while should shut it off. I usually disconnect the 12v battery for a bit afterward just to be safe. The combo meter probably needs to be repaired or replaced to fix it long term.
@Ramirez
Got it, thanks .
Haris said:
@Ramirez
Got it, thanks!
If holding it down doesn’t work, try double-tapping the power button quickly. That usually shuts it off for me.
@Ramirez
I really thought they fixed this after 2006.
Charlotte said:
@Ramirez
I really thought they fixed this after 2006.
Nope, my dad’s 2009 Touring trim still does it when it gets cold. We haven’t decided if we’re gonna fix it or just sell the car… been like 4 years now.
@Ramirez
You could fix it over the weekend for a few bucks or grab a rebuilt one for about 150. Seems easier than selling the whole car.
Monty said:
@Ramirez
You could fix it over the weekend for a few bucks or grab a rebuilt one for about 150. Seems easier than selling the whole car.
Honestly, my dad just wants a Gen 3 like my 2012 plug-in. I’m trying to convince him to keep the Gen 2 though.
@Ramirez
Makes sense, lol.
Charlotte said:
@Ramirez
I really thought they fixed this after 2006.
Actually, this problem still pops up in Gen 3 as well. Haven’t really seen it in Gen 5, but it’s super common with 2 and 3.
Your combination meter has bad capacitors, and that’s why it’s acting up. It might be on and off for a while, but it needs fixing. You can DIY it using YouTube tutorials, or get a refurbished meter from Texas Hybrids with your VIN and mileage programmed.
Check out: https://www.texashybridbatteries.com
@Bay
Thanks for the tip!
I can send you a capacitor and some videos to walk you through replacing it. If you’re in Oregon, I can even do it for you.
Lucypiper said:
I can send you a capacitor and some videos to walk you through replacing it. If you’re in Oregon, I can even do it for you.
Is it always the same capacitor that goes bad? I’ve heard there’s more than one that can fail.
Lucypiper said:
I can send you a capacitor and some videos to walk you through replacing it. If you’re in Oregon, I can even do it for you.
Hey, could you send me one too?
Lucypiper said:
I can send you a capacitor and some videos to walk you through replacing it. If you’re in Oregon, I can even do it for you.
Hey, could you send me one too?
Sure, just send me your address and I’ll get it out on Monday.
