Prius (2004-09) :: 2008 - Cannot Start Vehicle / P Lock Malfunction
Feb 26, 2012
I have a 2008 Prius. I drove it around in Florida for a few days and everything ran great, but about 4 hours into the trip back to Minnesota, the red ! triangle light came on with a message on the display screen. It said "There is a problem with the transmission "P" lock mechanism Park your your car on a flat surface and fully apply the parking brake." This happened as I was driving, so I pulled over and did what it told me. After shutting down the car, I tried starting it back up and none of the gears worked. P, R, D, or B.
The message still displayed and the red ! light was still on. After shutting it on off several times, it finally started. No warnings. I found the nearest Toyota dealer and had them check it out. They found nothing but one short circuit, around the same time the warning lights would have gone on. I googled the problem, and it seemed like everyone was saying the problem is caused by a bad 12V battery, so I told the dealer to put in a new one. I was on the road again. However, the first stop I made for gas and sure enough, the light came back and I couldn't get it into a gear without restarting the car several times. I just hope I won't need to spend any more money on this 2 year old car.
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I have a 2008 Camry Hybrid with about 125k miles. A few thousand miles ago the door locks have been displaying portions of the following issues and then finally ended up with all these issues described:
Driver door lock: (OK)
- Opening door when in locked state by using latch, works
- Manually toggling lock/unlock on the door works
- Power door lock switch locks and unlocks door
Front passenger door lock: (Issue)
- Opening door when in locked state by using latch, works
- Power door lock switch on this door or driver door, does NOT lock/unlock door
- Manually toggling lock/unlock on the door works
Rear right door lock: (Intermittent Issue)
- Opening door when in locked state by using latch, works
- Power door lock switch on driver and passenger doors intermittently fail to lock/unlock this door
- Manually toggling lock/unlock on the door works
Rear left door lock: (Issue)
- Opening door when in locked state by using latch, does NOT open the door
- Power door lock switch on driver and passenger door does NOT lock/unlock this door
- Manually toggling lock/unlock on the door works
What specific parts would need to be replaced?
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Recently, I've been having issues with my door locks. When exiting the car, and pressing the door lock on the outside handle, I would here the door lock solenoid fire once, then open, and the door would not lock. Same thing would happen when I used the FOB. The door would not lock. On occasion, I would get the door to lock, and stay locked by using the door lock inside the car when the door was open.
On the occasions when I did get the door locked, I then had issues unlocking. If I approached the drivers door to unlock the door, the car would just keep repeatedly beeping, and would not unlock the drivers door. But, the back door would unlock, so I could reach in, and open the drivers door from the back.
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My F150 4X4 would not start a few days ago, after only having turned it off a few minutes prior. The gauges would sweep wildly and get stuck at various positions. I checked the fuses and they were fine, then unplugged the battery for a bit and it started back up. Occasionally it won't start and i'll have to disconnect the battery again to get it to start.
I'm still having some strange electrical issues though. The radio no longer turns on unless the ignition is turned to AUX. My back up alarm for going in reverse doesn't come on anymore. The gauges take at least 10 seconds to wake up after starting the truck. The dashboard blinker indicators will randomly stop blinking or making any noise. I was thinking it could be the computer, but could it be something else?
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2008 Blinking red car warning light after the car is powered down, if remote key is installed it stops.
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I have an 08 prius with about 36k miles on it. Never had a problem other then getting the water pump replaced under warranty during scheduled maintenance.
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I've searched & still haven't resolved my problem.
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I let the Prius sit for 3 days over the long weekend, and on Monday it would not start. Got a big red triangle exclamation mark on the dash. Figured it was the 12V battery going, so I replaced it with the Optima Yellowtop. Took it all apart, put it back together. Charged the yellowtop using a Schumacher automatic battery charger made for AGM batteries. Run fine around the block, so I figured it was good.
My wife took the car to work this morning. Said the ride in was just fine. Locked it and went into work. When she came out at break, it wouldn't open. Completely dead. I walked her through using the metal key to open the door, and she says it is all dark, nothing happens when she pushes the start button. We have the SKS, of course.
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I've been having an intermittent problem starting our 2007 Passat 2.0T. Sometimes when I insert the key fob into its slot the car starts then stalls immediately. The steering wheel icon is displayed and the MFD says "Steering column lock malfunction". The car eventually starts after several attempts but I'm wondering what's causing the problem
My wife are both guilty of two things that I've read in the manual and I'm thinking that may have contributed or is causing the problem. We both insert the key and push it in to start the car in one motion. The book says to do it in three motions. We also do not depress the brake pedal when starting the car.
Needless to say we are not going to that anymore. If I may have done damage to the steering column and its associated parts?
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We purchased a used 2012 a couple of months ago and have had no issues with it. A few weeks ago it was in an accident and mostly sat at the body shop for the next two weeks. Got it back a week ago and seemed to work fine for commuting for the next week. Then let it sit for two days and then the next day drove it for a few short trips over a couple of hours. Everything seemed fine. Next morning it won't start. "P lock malfunction when parking, park in flat place and apply parking brake securely. Shift to P position and push power switch to turn off". Cannot shift into D; can shift into N; pushing P button doesn't illuminate the LED on the button or move it out of N.
Searching this error indicates often caused by failing 12V battery, and I can see that might be the problem given the age and the abuse the battery has taken the last few weeks. The battery reads 11.84V when car is off and 11.45V when "on" showing the error. I can replace the 12V battery. Is there some other simple diagnostic I can do?
Alternate explanations are, something got buggered in the accident that didn't surface until now or the groundhog we shooed out from under the car right before it wouldn't start was chewing on something.
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My GX used to honk when I hit the lock button on the key fob. Now it locks the doors but there's no honk. The horn works when I press it.
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Error messages on my dash were originally the triangle exclamation and - p lock malfunction when parking , park in a flat place and apply parking brake securely ....
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I loved my Prius to death on day 1 but now I am having some frustrating problems starting and stopping the car. I drove the car on Sunday for several journies with no problems. I even did a 120 mile round trip in which i cruised at about 65 and 70mph to test the mpg (around 50-55mpg which I was quite happy with)
Anyway.. onto today..
So I tried to start the car at 7:20 for my usual drive to work and tried the usual approach..
1) unlock doors
2) put key fob into slot
3) put foot on brake
4) press the power button
but nothing happened. I cant remember the sequence but various messages popped up. After that I thought i would lock and unlock the car but i wasnt able to, so I stepped out of the car and was still not able to lock the car. All I could do was lock from the inside the 3 other doors and manually lock the driver door. (and call a friend to pick me up!). So this evening I have tried again. still problems..
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I have to use the mechanical key on the SKS to open the door, then plug into the slot on dashboard to start the 2004. Replaced battery, nothing changed.
There are two causes I suspect:
1. The CR2023 Battery was bought on Amazon for cheap, about 6 month ago. What's the voltage should be if no load?
2. The plastic cover on the SKS was broken. It could be that rain or not-so-clean-water gets into the electronic part.
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I own a 2001 Honda CRV and have realized that I will never own another Honda because it has had many of the exact same problems that my old Accord did. Seems certain things just break on Hondas. However, unlike the last car, I have decided that doing the repairs myself would be a cheaper way to fix these minor problems. To the point: A few months ago, my driver's side door lock started acting up. (Note: I quit using the keyless entry a long time ago and simply use the key). At first, it randomly wouldn't lock/unlock along with the others. However, simply using the key or pushing/pulling on the lock knob did the trick. As time went on, the lock got more and more stubborn. Eventually, it took turning the key (hard) at the same time as pulling on the lever to unlock the door. Locking it still was not a problem. Now, even that does not work, and the only way to unlock it is to pull hard on the outside handle while pulling on the lock knob (this requires the window being down and is therefore impractical for any kind of daily use). Hence, I am resigned to climbing in the passenger door. After reading that Hondas usually have this problem and that it is usually the door lock actuator that is the problem, I purchased a new lock mechanism and actuator (I figured replacing the entire thing couldn't hurt...). So, I have replaced the entire mechanism within the door. However, the problem is still exactly the same. What else could this be?
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07 Prius, non smart key. One fob failed, other one works but button covers worn off. Purchased new fob, did the chicken dance, fob will now start car... but will not open/lock doors remotely. Took battery from working fob and put in new fob, no difference. New fob light blinks like the old working one when buttons are pressed. I do not have the "fob" button under the steering column, just a tire pressure set button there. In another thread someone wrote that with the new fob in the slot, start the car, and open and close the door, and function the locks to set new fob to be able to operated the locks... no luck.
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All of a sudden, my 2008 prius, basic package without the smart entry system, stopped locking or opening the doors when i pressed the button.
At first i thought it must be a dead battery, so i replaced it with a new one and got the exact same behavior. i checked the old battery and it was still giving off 3 volts as was the new one when i checked that with a volt meter. when i press any of the buttons on the key, a small led light goes on and on the dashboard a picture of a key lights up briefly. the owner's manual does not show the key as a warning light.
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Weird thing happened this evening. About sunset I went out to the front porch and pressed the door lock button on the fob to lock the doors. It honked at me. Never done that before.
Then it started making a loud clicking noise, like a relay, from under the hood. I went around to the drivers door and pressed the unlock button but the doors did not unlock. Pulled the emergency key out of the fob and opened to door.
I was thinking maybe it just wanted me to start it up and recharge for a minute. Haven't driven it since last Thursday before a spell of freezing weather on Friday & Saturday.
Inserted key fob in dash socket & tried to start it - nothing happened except some warning lights on the dash started blinking in time with the relay clicking sound. Turned it off & back on and door locks started clicking like it was trying to lock & unlock.
Kept turning it off and on, tried to manually unlock or lock the doors. Left the door open and went inside & put a new battery in the key fob, went out to try again. Tried to start it but it would not. Eventually, everything stopped except the "Check Engine" light came on. Car still won't start. Now I can't lock the drivers door.
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My command start for 2008 explorer was installed by ford dealer couple of years ago. Now when I press remote start, horn beeps 1 time, doors lock, lights come on then it should start but instead horn beeps once again and vehicle does not start , radio and heater in vehicle run as if vehicle was started.
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The noise is related to vehicle speed, not engine speed. Easiest to hear when all is quite coasting at 30mph. Sounds like the front. It just started the other day.
The noise sounds like moan from airplanes high ahead (think WW2 movies). I replaced the front springs and shocks a few thousand miles ago and did not get it realigned. No noise until now. The tires are good and feel smooth (no sign of cupping, feathering,..). It is 4wd. How best to tell if it is wheel bearing? Rear end? Get it aligned?
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I have an 05 F150 2WD Auto, 4.2 (work truck)...I have owned it since new, no accidents , no towing...used as an "extra car." It now has about 36K on it. About a month ago, I noticed a vibration felt throughout the vehicle. You definitely feel it in your backside and the rear of the truck. I have since purchased new tires, roadforced balanced twice, and also just had the front and rear u joints replaced. (the shop said the center was rather difficult to replace and would require sending the driveshaft out to replace) Nevertheless, the front and rear were replaced. They said the center u joint "seems" fine however.
The tires and wheels are pretty much perfect. The vibration begins around 30 mph or so and is most evident to around 50 mph...both on acceleration AND deceleration.
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