Yesterday when my wife started our 2016 Prius v, all the indicator lights started flashing. She tried to shut the car off but it would not turn off. She left the car in the garage, taking the key with her, and went to call the dealer. When she went back to the car, it eventually settled down to have just one warning light on (she doesn't remember which) and made whirring noises. Later she returned to the car and found it running and multiple indicator lights on steady without the key in it. She was eventually able to shut it down and then restart it and drive it to the dealer. The dealer "could not verify complaint,... found no engine or hybrid codes stored... Checked accessory battery, battery testing good." I checked the 12v battery myself and it read 12.23V. The car has also had a few sporadic problems recognizing the key lately - the doors don't unlock the first time you touch the door handle, occasionally it says there is no key when it's in your pocket. Any advice?
Ah! I found the answer to my follow-up question here: At what point do you replace the 12v battery? | PriusChat >12.4V apparently is where i want to be, so yes, 12.2V is not enough.
Since Bisco and I specialize in conjuring up the spirits of malfunctioning cars from a land far far way, my "speculation" (eg guess) is somehow the car ended up in Ready mode without the engine initially running. She left it and it beeped at her like a spurned lover. Later after everybody "cooled" off, things were better again. I would consider getting a bluetooth OBD2 reader and leaving it on the car. Install a free app or two like Dr. Prius and Car Scanner (for IOS) or Torque (for Android) and teach everyone how to use them (one key is connecting at the time).
I would doubt that 12v would have been the problem because it had actually started OK. If it had failed to start, maybe suspect that. Once the car has started, the 12v is basically out of most operational loops.
Thanks all. I'm surprised and disappointed that the dealer was unable to find any issues. That motivates me to take y'all up on your suggestions. I've ordered a smart battery tender that plugs into the OBD II port and it looks like I'll be getting an OBD II reader as well.
Take a cell-phone video of the display hiccups next time(s), and present it to the dealership as a record of the event.
