

I checked the coolant level on both sides, normal. I found the engine oil was low and added a quart as any good tech would.

I started with the most obvious stuff under the hood. After being in this industry for 15 years, I have learned a thing or two about checking the basics. Suspecting there was a root cause, I began digging around.

I figured this was normal since the engine shut off whenever the master warning light was triggered, no engine running, no oil pressure, right? Some of the time, though, the oil pressure warning light would be present. When the master warning light would come on, the display screen would say issue. There were no codes, but one thing tipped me off that led me to fix the problem in just a few minutes. I observed the issue for several days, with a scan tool hooked up. So for the light to come on and off randomly. Usually, though, it comes on and stays on. The master warning light can come on for a bunch of reasons. Intermittent Master Warning Light: Solved It would not store trouble codes, but it would intermittently set the master warning light and say "problem." I had to get to the bottom of it, and here is what I did to solve the problem. I recently came across a Gen 2 Prius that threw me for a loop. Most of the issues that I have encountered with the fuel saver have been relatively easy to repair.

This recall is really nothing more than a speed bump.I am one of those Prius repair guys that have to find a solution to every problem. Given the strong sales trends, lack of incentives, and more efficient manufacturing, it's pretty much a slam dunk that Toyota and Honda will continue to grow and expand their share at the expense of General Motors (NYSE:GM) and, to a lesser extent, Ford. The new Civic, in particular, appears to have narrowed the performance gap with Toyota's Prius. Honda is a close second in sales with its hybrid Civics and Accords. Having researched cars as a consumer, it's clear that Toyota is the current king of hybrid makers, with the most efficient and usable design. Hybrid sales at Toyota, Honda (NYSE:HMC), and Ford (NYSE:F) are all healthy - have you seen any special financing offers on hybrids lately? In addition, more models are on the way from those three manufacturers, and others are getting into the hybrid game as well. Worldwide, it only affects 160,000 vehicles manufactured from mid-2004 through early 2005. Toyota's fix sounds to me like the equivalent of updating a computer's firmware and rebooting it.įor investors, the recall really isn't a big deal.
#Prius master reboot drivers#
The car's electrical motor, steering, and brakes remain operational, so drivers can hopefully navigate their way to the shoulder of the road and turn the car off and on again.
#Prius master reboot software#
Toyota's recalling the Prius to fix a software bug in its electronic control module that causes the car's gasoline motor to stall. The recall - sorry, "Special Service Campaign" - Toyota (NYSE:TM) announced yesterday for its hot-selling Prius hybrid helps prove my point. There will probably be a few technological bumps along the road as well. I like the technology, but like all technologies, I expect it'll get more efficient, more powerful, and less expensive over time. Having written about hybrid cars a few times in the past year, I can tell you that they have a lot of passionate fans and detractors alike.
