# 2005 Toyota Prius red triangle **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** prius, toyota\ **Created:** [April 16, 2020, 10:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2005-toyota-prius-red-triangle/162947 "2020-04-16T22:16:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tanner\_Erwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Tanner\_Erwine](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tanner_Erwine)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 10:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2005-toyota-prius-red-triangle/162947/1 "2020-04-16T22:16:39Z")
![IMG_20200416_152259](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/c/6/c60bee0c4154099fa74fab0b83484a9b4d210e88.jpeg) Any idea what this symbol means? It came on when the triangle came on. Battery reads 11.7 when off ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 10:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2005-toyota-prius-red-triangle/162947/2 "2020-04-16T22:25:41Z")
That looks like some kind of headlight symbol. Have you checked your owners manual? It calls it the “Automatic head light leveling system warning light” How old is your 12V battery? ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 10:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2005-toyota-prius-red-triangle/162947/3 "2020-04-16T22:31:01Z")
That is the automatic headlight leveling system warning, page 125 and 127 of the owners manual. “This light warns that there is a problem somewhere in the automatic headlight leveling system.” Have your 12 volt battery tested before attempting to repair the headlight leveling system. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 10:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2005-toyota-prius-red-triangle/162947/4 "2020-04-16T22:36:56Z")
> **[Red Triangle of death check engine?](http://www.cleanmpg.com/community/index.php?threads%2F49609%2F)** > > 84,500 miles 2006 Prius > Red triangle of death > Initially on screen-car with Exclamation point > Now just triangle on dash > and check engine icon on dash... Tester ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 10:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2005-toyota-prius-red-triangle/162947/5 "2020-04-16T22:42:01Z")
The red triangle is a general warning indicator, it is lit when a warning light is on (check engine, ABS, maintenance required, etc) or when there is a warning message. ---
**Author:** ![Tanner\_Erwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Tanner\_Erwine](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tanner_Erwine)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 11:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2005-toyota-prius-red-triangle/162947/6 "2020-04-16T23:19:02Z")
I believe it is original to the car. There’s about 137k on the car ---
**Author:** ![Tanner\_Erwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Tanner\_Erwine](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tanner_Erwine)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 11:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2005-toyota-prius-red-triangle/162947/7 "2020-04-16T23:19:48Z")
If the 12v tests bad, would that just mean the battery is bad and nothing to do with the headlight? ---
**Author:** ![Tanner\_Erwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Tanner\_Erwine](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tanner_Erwine)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 11:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2005-toyota-prius-red-triangle/162947/8 "2020-04-16T23:50:34Z")
Also, would a normal shop be able to fix or is this a dealer only issue? And does it have to be fixed asap or does it soley affect the headlights? Thank you for all your help. ---
**Author:** ![wolyrobb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/wolyrobb/32/45497_2.png) [@wolyrobb](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wolyrobb)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 12:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2005-toyota-prius-red-triangle/162947/9 "2020-04-17T00:05:43Z")
The sensor mounts on the rear suspension with a couple of bolts, any mechanic should be able to do it and have probably done this many times. The shop we’ve used for 27yrs now knows these cars very well. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 12:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2005-toyota-prius-red-triangle/162947/10 "2020-04-17T00:12:05Z")
It only affects the headlight level. If the headlights are still aimed reasonably well I wouldn’t spend a lot of money on repairing this. Here is a service bulletin that may apply to your vehicles problem; > **[2009-05-01\_195955\_prius.pdf](https://ww2.justanswer.com/uploads/PENTICO/2009-05-01_195955_prius.pdf)** ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 1:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2005-toyota-prius-red-triangle/162947/11 "2020-04-17T01:59:23Z")
If you have an original 12V battery in a 2005 car, I’d replace it first, before doing anything else. It might clear up those other problems. And you need it, regardless. ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 1:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2005-toyota-prius-red-triangle/162947/12 "2020-04-17T13:00:09Z")
My favorite line from that discussion: “ every time I disconnected/reconnected the 12V for no apparent reason.” I only disconnect a battery for a reason.