I was changing the oil on my work truck today and my elderly neighbor asked for help with her car. Its a Prius. Those things are pretty complex. The car wouldn't move. The parking brake light remained on no matter what we did, with the brake on or off. Since the brake was on the car refused to move. Couldn't start it, move it, nothing. I am guessing the computer won't allow anything to happen since it thinks the brake is still on. I am guessing a sensor somewhere is screwed up. I had a good laugh since I couldn't help her at all but I gave her a ride to meet her husband in, you guessed it, the 300D! You couldn't give me one of those things. RT

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When all else fails, vote from the rooftops!
84' Mercedes Benz 300D Anthracite/black, 171K
03' Volkswagen Jetta TDI blue/black, 93K
93' Chevrolet C2500HD ExCab 6.5TD, Two-tone blue, 252K

I'm guessing its pretty hard to "disconnect the battery" to reset stuff too.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

So I guess that means that one couldn't "power brake" in a Prius?

The brake light on most of my cars means that either the Parking Brake is on OR that it is low on brake fluid.

Have her check the brake fluid level.

They might have added the interlock without looking to see what causes the light in the first place.

-Jim

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1995 S350D, Green with black leather interior.
Bought January 2008 w/ 233,xxx miles.
I did 22,000 miles during the first year of ownership.

But I'd rather drive my 300D. The prius is the apex of computer control(depending on your opinion!). When it comes to safety related items it is very stubborn. Usually the Multi Function Display (MFD) in the dash will give you a rundown of what the problem is, the car is full of sensors. If something is serious enough to disable the car the dash should have lit up like a Christmas tree. I have never run across a similiar problem. Keep us posted as to what the problem was if you can.

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Muleears
'07 E320 Bluetec 133K my DD
'04 Jaguar XJ8 VDP, 34K
'10 Hyundai Accent 60K Grocery Getter
'02 VW Golf soon to be on the road again
'97 E300 Diesel Son's DD
'61 VERY tolerant wife

Hampton Roads, VA USA

Gone but not forgotten:
'67 250S 95K
'86 300SDL
'87 300D Turbo, 364K! R.I.P.
'98 E300 Turbodiesel, 213K
'02 S420, 164K
'01 Prius 138K

Those Prius's give something like 59 mpg around town, 51 (actually less) on the highway because then the gas part of the motor kicks in. I'm glad Toyota and Honda are leading the way on these hybrid cars. They might have kinks now, but will only get better as they make them in coming years. And my gut feeling now is that they don't have many kinks on the current models. They're likely to be very dependable with the Honda and Toyota nameplates.

The BEST PART about all this, is we can make the Arabs mad! We will need less of their oil!! And that is better for EVERYONE (except them).

LOL, maybe the U.S. will only use 19.9% of the world's energy, instead of 20%, that'll show them how serious we are. It's an interesting gesture, but hardly a long term solution.

uh oh. its moving off topic.



really, though, we have a prius and its a very reliable car. we have had no issues with it since we have owned it. im curious as to whats going on with your neighbors.

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1980 300D

agreed. a bandaid on the gaping wound in the overall consumption issue. sorry, haha.
on the thread, the thought of being killed by my cars electrical system is a scary one.

I'm gonna guess that the smart key is either dead or confused. Put the key fob in the slot and I bet it will start. Owners get so used to the keyless starting that they forget they can still use the key if they need to.

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Palangi

2004 C240 Wagon 203.261 Baby Benz
2008 ML320 CDI Highway Cruiser
2006 Toyota Prius, Saving the Planet @ 48 mpg
2000 F-150, Destroying the Planet @ 20 mpg



TRUMP .......... WHITEHOUSE
HILLARY .........JAILHOUSE
BERNIE .......... NUTHOUSE
0BAMA .......... OUTHOUSE

The gov is eliminating the tax benefit for hybrid purchasers. Won't be able to give them away soon.

Hybrid drivers need to drive 100,000 miles with gas at $5/gal in order to pay for the purchase price premium. Real smart.

Hybrid drivers will all lie when you ask them, but hybrid popularity is really due to the fact that many states allow them on the HOV lanes with only one occupant.

Hybrid drivers will need to purchase new hybrids in order to keep their old tags allowing them ride solo on HOV thus trapping them into buying another hybrid if they want to ride solo on HOV.

Hybrids = Betamax

Prius rhymes with POS.

Respectfully submitted...sort of.

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2009 E320 Bluetec 117,000
1995 E300D 306,000 Sold
1996 Ford Taurus LX 130,000 Sold
1985 300TD Still 225,000 Sold
2016 Ford Fusion 24,900

Ah yes,, the dreaded HOV. I didn't even know what an HOV was til I moved here. What a stupid idea.

If what's posted here didnt' fix it,, is there any help on a Prius Fourm? Or do they just talk about how much they are "saving"?

Why have we reverted BACK to 1937 U-boat power systems. The USA has long been the world's beta tester and the fact (not opinion) that diesel outsells hybrid in Germany (birthplace of the automobile and highway - at least when I lived there) by more than ten to one, with fuel costs of over $5 per gallon (eq.)

Think crash safety --- do you really want to be inside a rolling welder??

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1987 300D (230,000 mi on a #14 head-watching the temp gauge and keeping the ghost in the machine)
Raleigh NC - Home of deep fried sushi!

Ohhh, you meant that the Hybrids are like U-boat power systems.....I was thinking you meant our diesels.....which technically are relatives to the U-boat MB diesels of that era.....especially the OM615,616,617 series....

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Virginia is beginning to phase out the HOV exemption for hybrids. This has already been done for new purchases and the existing hybrids will be kicked off.

I'd be more impressed with hybrids if they were flex-fuel and the 85% alcohol fuel subsidized to match foreign oil prices. Or better, bio-diesel.

Funny how "some" people always need something to worry about. Now with the gaining usage of grains for bio-fuels, people are getting upset that the USA won't be able to feed the rest of the world for free. Um. Screw-em.



Ken300D

Carfax Request - Please lower your prices - too expensive for the individual users.

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1982 300D at 351K miles
1984 300SD at 217K miles
1987 300D at 370K miles