Welcome. You have what we call a Generation 2 Prius. Your car does not have a transmission. It has a transaxle the contains the 2 electric motors, cooled by fluid. I believe the transaxle fluid can be checked by removing the filler plug. Many people here change the fluid periodically to prolong vehicle life.
Does it need to go on the lift at the shop to look at the filler plug and my reason for asking is that my maintenance required light flashes when I start her up
Actually, I corrected my earlier post. You have a Generation 2 Prius. There are many here who are more familiar with that generation. @bwilson4web , @bisco , & @Raytheeagle are some of our more knowledgeable members. One of them should be here soon. If you wish to search, the main forum is at Gen 2 (2004-2009) Toyota Prius Forums | PriusChat
To answer your original question, there is no transmission/transaxle dipstick, only an oil dipstick. All of the dash lights will illuminate briefly when you first start the car as an internal diagnostic check. If this is what happens in your case, then there shouldn't be any need to remove the transaxle filler plug short of having an obvious fluid leak under the car.
Ok but the maintenance required light stays on a little longer after everything else has gone off when starting her up and this just started last night so do I need an oil check or a filler plug check and can jiffy lube do it or do I have to go to the dealership
Maintenance required is just a timer, about 4500 miles from the last time it was reset, it will start reminding you to do maintenance again, by 5000 miles after the last reset it is very insistent. None of that means anything is wrong, just that it is time for service.
Ok but what kind of service tune up service oil change service. I am very concerned considering the fact that I just had a new hybrid battery put in about 6mos ago so now when anything lights up on this dash I get very very concerned
That depends on how many miles it has been driven. The owners manual and maintenance manual are listed on this page. 2004 Toyota Prius Owners Manual and Warranty - Toyota Owners I have also attached the maintenance manual to this posting. Generally engine oil & filter are replaced every 5000 miles.
If it is only 1100 miles since the last oil & filter change, perhaps the mechanic did not reset the service indicator.
Ok so what to do Do I just ignore it or do I get something checked she was in storage for almost a year because she need the hybrid battery replaced and I got that done about 5/6mos ago so do I get her tuned up or oil checkd I don't know what to do...
You could reset the light yourself and then it will come back on in 4,500 miles. As for the transaxle dip stick, there is none. If you were to remove the fill plug, you would check level by sticking you finger in. When replacing transaxle fluid, you fill with the Prius level until it comes out of the fill hole, or 3.9 quarts. Hope that helps.
If you haven't, join the owners site. Log into Your Toyota Owners Account | Toyota Owners There you can see what previous owners have had done at a Toyota dealer and download the owners manual which has a maintenance schedule. To cancel the light:
Yes heading to jiffy lube to have oil and transaxle fluid checked all of you guys was a big help I learned a lot from your responses Thanks so much Love My Prius Hybrid
First make sure they don't overfill the oil which is very bad. Second, the transaxle level doesn't need to be checked (it's sealed) and is considered by Toyota to last the life of the vehicle. Many here (including myself) do change the fluid but don't let jiffylube charge you just to check it. IOW, either change it (jiffy won't have the correct stuff) or forget about it. The light doesn't come on for it.
It is probably a good idea to have the oil & oil filter changed if it has been sitting a year. Many vehicle oil change intervals specify every 6 months to a year even if the mileage limit is not reached.
Go to a Toyota dealer, jiffy lube may have a technician doing the work, possibly, but chances are not, and your transaxle needs to be emptied and filled, it’s simple, if you use the correct fluid, which Toyota would, and not having the oil door ripped off, and getting the correct filter and oil for the ice would be nice, being penny smart but pound foolish won’t work well.
