Jen

We have a 2010 Prius.

Yesterday, our car started up into a battery on, engine off state. It flashed the yellow triangular warning with the exclamation mark in the center. At some point, I guess DH tried to shift the vehicle, and now it thinks it's not in a Parked state. Since it's not "parked", we couldn't get it to turn off. I finally got it to turn mostly off (held down the break and the power button for 30 seconds), but not fully. The yellow triangular warning was still flashing and an error about not being in a Parked state was displayed. Pressing the Park button does nothing. We left it like that all night.

This morning, the car won't turn on at all. We figured it was the 12V battery and jumped it. It started back up, but into that same error state! We disconnected the jump, it died again. We know we can get a slow charger and charge the 12V to at least get back to the error, but we have no idea how to reset the state information about what gear it's in. The car is parked, but it thinks that it's not. Disconnecting and reconnecting the 12V battery is apparently not going to be enough to to a reset, since it ran out of batteries last night and the error persists today.

There are usually a series of button presses that you can do to change the state information on the computer with these hybrid cars, but I can't find them published online anywhere. Nor do I even know that there is a manual reset code for this particular issue.

Unfortunately, the service department doesn't open until Monday, but I'm guessing they won't be able to fix it.

Ideas, anyone?

I have a 99 Ford Escort, which I have kept in great shape. It recently has started making a creaking noise whenever I get in or out of it. It sounds like it's coming from the righthand front wheel area of the car. Not the wheels themselves, but something they're connected to? Does anyone know what this could be? I know it's an old car but I was hoping it would stay alive for a bit longer, but a 10 year old car making a creaking noise when you sit down in it just makes me worry it's going to collapse or something! lol

I'm looking for a translation of technical words such as "database" "computer" "program" "keyboard" "help files" etc. I don't know that I trust online translators to give me correct translations for some of these more technical terms. Does anyone know of a good reference for this?

I always thought the drink was included in the "meal" but when I went through my drivethrough they charged me $2.00 for a coke! I could just go to the gas station and get a coke for $1. What's up with that?

I am having weird symptoms, not like a typical cold. For one thing, I have no congestion. My tummy is slightly upset and I have a burning/hot sensation behind my ears. I have a temperature of 99.2 and my fingers and toes are cold.

I'm not tired at all, but I'm wondering if maybe I'm coming down with something?

Is there a function I can use to data sanatize a string in VB.NET?

What are the potential problems with buying from ebay / the gotchas? I've never bought used before!

I think my car is on its last legs and I need a new one.

What car out right now has the best mileage?

I have a '99 Escort. This morning I put the key in the ignition, turned, and the car lights all started but the engine wouldn't turn over completely the first time. The check engine light is on.

It also spat out the tape that has been stuck in it for the past 5 years, and I didn't even hit eject.

A few weeks ago the horn stopped working. I check the fuses but they seem fine.

Any ideas on this one? Did my car sputter its last death or can it be revived?

How do I turn on "large fonts" in Windows Vista?

I know where the setting is in Windows XP but not in Vista. The Vista fonts are really hard to read.

What is the difference between an expensive "professional" makeup brush and the less expensive options? Are there any less expensive but still of equal quality makeup brushes out there?

I purchased a bike but it turned out to be far too heavy and is hard to ride on hilly roads. I need something lighter for regular use. What are the top few types of materials used to make the lighter bike frames?

I ride on city streets!

Thanks.

I have a wall made from stone bricks that I need to mount a 35 pound mirror to. Does anyone know how to do this: what tools I need and how to use them?

Thanks!

For some reason lately I'm cleaning them just about every day.

I'm looking for the cheapest eye makeup remover per volume to clean my brushes with.

Could I pull off Ashley's look in this pic:

http://img2.timeinc.net/instyle/images/2007/galler...

Or is it a hopeless cause for me?

Me:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2191/2481133847_dfc...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2336/2481135593_745...

I am not so sure I would look good with blond hair, but could I pull off the side swept bangs? Is my hair too fine for bangs or would it look alright?

Hi folks,

I have to stay for a week in Brooklyn on business. Can anyone recommend a good hotel in downtown Brooklyn or in the Brooklyn borough? Preferably with rooms larger than closet sized and with no bed bug problems. Actually, the nicer the better.

Thanks!

I just had an ER visit to examine my thumb after getting it stuck in a car door. They took my blood pressure (they did it wrong-- I had a sweater on so they took it above the wrist), then the took an xray of the thumb at 3 angles, then they made me move my finger around, then they said my blood pressure was too high so they took it again, only to discover it was fine (like I said they took it wrong the first time). Then they gave me a motrin and told me I had a really bad bruise.

Great. Except that I have an HDHP with a deductible of $1500. I'm terrified of the bill they are going to send me. These people wouldn't give me any indication of cost before I went in for an essentially meaningless checkup but the ER is known for charging a lot.

Anyone know what this will cost me? I don't have $1500!!!!