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My Prius is not well :( Check Hybrid System Msg

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by GrumpyCabbie, Apr 16, 2011.

  1. Flaninacupboard

    Flaninacupboard Senior Member

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    Well we shall see. Unless the HV battery ECU controls the DC-DC converter for 12V power (i'm pretty sure it doesn't) then you'll end up with a no start again :(

    Good luck.
     
  2. Ryanpl

    Ryanpl Active Member

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    Grumpy, Glad your car is up and running. Unlike many of us here a malfunctioning car means decereased income for you which is a BAD thing.
     
  3. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    You got it. Every morning sat at the dealers while they run diagnostics is lost earnings at a time when every penny counts.

    I'm still half convinced it's a slowly failing 12v but thought I'd go with the dealers this time and see. I'm doing nights this week (which I was when I got the problems) so if it is a dodgy 12v I'll find out sooner than later.

    It might be more cost effective for me to pay £100 for a new 12v than lose this in earnings whilst sitting at the dealers for a morning enjoying their 'free' coffee.

    We'll see. :cool:
     
  4. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    Well it's nearly a month on from when the first problem arose and about 2 weeks since the car was fixed.

    The car has been fine, 100% OK. No repeat of any warning lights or weird behaviour of any kind. The car has been left a day or two without use and has started up no problem with no errors etc. Fuel economy has been fine as has performance.

    Guessing it must have been a faulty part as the dealers said. The 12v has been ok since and the power windows appear strong when I try the cold morning all up, all down test. The cynic in me half believes the dealers also changed the 12volt. ;)

    They did mention one or two other gen3's had had the High Voltage Control ECU replaced (elsewhere in the UK) so I'm wondering if this could be a faulty part? Has anyone else had an issue with this ECU?
     
  5. telmo744

    telmo744 HSD fanatic

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    I'm glad you have your car back in shape!!
     
  6. Flying White Dutchman

    Flying White Dutchman Senior Member

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    so the ecu was replaced?
    and the 12 volt battery?
     
  7. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    The ECU was replaced for sure. They didn't say the 12v was replaced but the window test in a morning indicates that the 12v has suddenly had a new lease of life - somehow. Perhaps the faulty ECU was causing lower charging levels into the 12v?
     
  8. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    Possible but not probable.

    Most batteries sold in the US (or for US markets that never make it here) have a sticker showing the date of manufacture.

    Since your car is a 2010, I would expect a 2008 or 2009 battery to be installed. I would check your sticker and see if the manufacturing date is after when the car was delivered to you and/or the dealer lot.

    I am not sure if the stickers make it onto the UK batteries, but a quick visual inspection should be pretty simple. In the boot under the little triangle wedge.
     
  9. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    No date code that I could see but the battery looks original. It was covered in dust with no finger prints or signs of disturbance to the dust and the bolts holding it in place looked untouched.

    So that answers my cynicism :cool:
     
  10. billnchristy

    billnchristy Active Member

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    If it is a computer, as the name describes it to be, then it probably runs on 12v or lower. Maybe it had a fault to ground and it was draining the lv battery?