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Prius v "Hybrid Systems Failure"

Discussion in 'Prius v Main Forum' started by j-la, Oct 26, 2012.

  1. j-la

    j-la New Member

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    I purchased a pre-owned, 2012 Prius v a few months ago - it had 2,900 on it. I driving the vehicle and it simply quit; shut down in the middle of the road, the hybrid systems failure icon came on about 2 seconds before it quit. It had 11,025 miles on it. We had been having some bad weather throughout the night and it was storming the morning the car broke down. I had been driving the car for approximately 2 hours that morning before it broke down and hadn’t noticed anything wrong with it. Once the car stopped working I notified Toyota Roadside assistance and had it towed to the dealership where I bought it.

    As soon as the Prius v arrived at the dealership, a gentleman called from the service department to let us know the car had arrived and that he would keep us posted as to the progress of the repairs. Approximately 2 hours after the first call, the gentleman called back to say that they could not get the car to connect to the computer to diagnose the problems and wanted to know if we had done anything to the car, as in had anyone worked on it or had we added any accessories. We had not done either of those things. He proceeded to tell me that there was a strange wire sticking out of the fuse panel and they weren’t sure what it was, why it was there, or what it was connected to. I told them that the car had never been worked on by anyone, outside of the 2 times it was serviced by them. I also reminded them that the windows were tinted and the towing package/bike rack was already added to the car before we purchased it. On the next call the serviceman informed me that they still couldn’t get the car to connect with the computer and that the person who owned the vehicle before us had tinted the windows and installed the “bike rack,” but had not used a Toyota dealership. The serviceman, nor anyone else would speak of the bike rack or the wire hanging out of the fuse panel again. On the final call of the day, the service person called to let us know that they still were not able to get the car connected with the computer and would call Toyota directly the next day.
    The next morning the Toyota dealership called around 8:00a.m. and stated that they believed the vehicle was struck by lightning. The service man who called said that it was also Toyota’s belief that the vehicle was struck by lightning. The Service man stated that after a discussion with Toyota, the fact that the car would only connect with the computer for short periods of time and then only give partial diagnostics, and the fact that there were so many electrical systems out they believed that there was no other explanation; the car must have been struck by lightning. I reminded them that I was driving the car when it shut down and had been driving it that morning for about 2 hours. The service man told me that there was no other explanation for all that was wrong with the vehicle and said that they would not work on the vehicle until I contacted my insurance company to file a insurance claim, have an adjuster come out and assure them that if it were lightning that insurance would cover the repairs.
    So, I filed a claim with my insurance company, who provided me with a rental car while the claim was open, as the dealership where I purchased the car refused to provide a rental. The insurance adjuster met with the Service manager who could not show him any sign of a lightning strike on the vehicle. The service department manager showed the adjuster a red mark or scratch on the front right panel and stated that such a mark was proof of a lightning strike. My insurance company denied the insurance claim because they were not provided with any evidence that the car had been struck by lightning, the adjuster stated that if the car had been struck by lightning there would have been a burn mark, or a bluish tint to the metal around the strike. He stated that the red mark on the vehicle was just a scratch, not indicative of a lightning strike at all and went on to say that he had never been called out to look at a vehicle before proof of a lightning strike was located. My insurance company also stated that they ordered a report from the National Weather Service on lightning strikes in the area, which showed no lightning. I, however, disagree with this assessment as I saw lightning that very morning as I was getting ready to leave for work. Also, a local dealership had 2 vehicles come in around that time that were struck by lightning, although there was clear proof on those vehicles of a strike.
    PLEASE HELP- I am paying for a car that I can not drive!!!!
     
    #1 j-la, Oct 26, 2012
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  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    wow, that is a very unfortunate scenario. sorry i can't help but all the best to you in resolving it.
     
    #2 bisco, Oct 26, 2012
  3. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Escalate to Toyota customer care outside the dealership. I think you are right that the car did not fail from lightning as you were driving it. If you were hit while driving you would have heard the lightning explode on your car. Dont mention any lightning that morning. The wire from the fuse box is irrelevant.
     
    #3 rjparker, Oct 26, 2012
  4. syscon

    syscon Member

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    Isn't the car under warranty from a dealer you purchase it? 1-year should be bumper to bumper warranty.
     
    #4 syscon, Oct 26, 2012
  5. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    Along with Toyota Customer Care also see if your dealership has a Customer Representative. If so, explain what happened and see if that might help the situation. It significantly helped in my situation with getting TSBs performed.
     
    #5 spiderman, Oct 26, 2012
  6. Jin

    Jin Blizzard PRIUS 2010, Nav+ solar roof

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    Call the Toyota Headquarter, and tell them you got a lemon! The first Prius LEMON that I heard of. But please keep us update on your progress, are there any Prius technicians here that can assess what is wrong with the vehicle? If this was a computer and plugging it in, not getting any startup screen I would say your motherboard needs a replacement! Prius has a computer motherboard as well, check if that thing is fried...
     
    #6 Jin, Oct 29, 2012
  7. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

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    The hybrid system on the Prius"v" was changed on those manufactured after 12/11. The components manufactured after 12/11 are different than those made 1/12 and later.

    I found this out at the parts counter, curiously, when I was asked when my 12/11 Prius'v" was manufactured, when I wanted a part.

    I don't know, if this does or does not matter.
     
    #7 Mike500, Oct 29, 2012
  8. GerryL

    GerryL Master Model Railroader

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    How do you find out when it was manufactured?
     
    #8 GerryL, Oct 29, 2012
  9. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

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    There is a label right on the front door jamb pillar.

    Mine was manufacturered 12/11.

    I'm thinking that the pre-1/12 manufactured cars used the same hybrid system as the 2012 Gen III's.

    They switched with the 1/12's.

    There is no switch for the regualr Gen III 2012 Prius.
     
    #9 Mike500, Oct 29, 2012
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  10. syscon

    syscon Member

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    It would be interested to know what was the reason for the switch/change on 1/12-models and up and what was manufacturing date of the "j-la" model; the one that failed.
     
    #10 syscon, Oct 29, 2012
  11. GerryL

    GerryL Master Model Railroader

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    Thanks!
     
    #11 GerryL, Oct 29, 2012
  12. coach81

    coach81 Active Member

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    wow.. talk about your bad luck....
     
    #12 coach81, Oct 30, 2012
  13. DrElectron

    DrElectron Junior Member

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    It is unlikely lightning-related damage - especially if you can't find a burn mark. Lightning looks for the least path of resistance to ground. That is how a lightning rod works. Your car is isolated from the ground because of the insulating properties of the rubber tires. I would focus on the mysterious disconnected wire. Depending on its intended function, it could cause the malfunction that your car is experiencing.
     
    #13 DrElectron, Oct 31, 2012
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  14. coach81

    coach81 Active Member

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    the plot thickens...
     
    #14 coach81, Oct 31, 2012
  15. Jin

    Jin Blizzard PRIUS 2010, Nav+ solar roof

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    Prius is becoming a stew!
     
    #15 Jin, Oct 31, 2012
  16. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

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    This is a repair for an experience computer hardware technician, not just one who works on cars.

    I built PC's from the early days of the 1990's until 2001.

    These individual component modules are so complicated that the most expediant thing to do is to swap out each individual component with "known good" modules. That said, a car of the same configuration of the same build date would be used as a "control" comparison.

    The risk, here, is that the module that "fried" one component module will do the same to another.

    This is not a job for the "faint of heart. Basically, it is to Toyota's benefit that the corporation be contacted to determine why the car failed. The experience would be worthwhile for them to invest in to find out what's wrong.

    It is NOT an investment that either the owner or dealer can apparently afford at this point. It would have been a greater advantage, if the owner was the original purchaser.
     
    #16 Mike500, Oct 31, 2012
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  17. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    #17 JimN, Oct 31, 2012
  18. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

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    For the reason stated, I try NEVER to buy USED, unless it has been a rental or fleet "program" car.

    More than 3 years old might also be OK, since the car has a record of proper function.
     
    #18 Mike500, Oct 31, 2012
  19. reidfm

    reidfm Junior Member

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    Hi j-la, I sure think the "burden of proof" lies with the dealership. Please keep us updated on this intriguing disaster. Hope my "v" never stops while I'm driving down the highway!
     
    #19 reidfm, Oct 31, 2012
  20. Kensterfly

    Kensterfly Junior Member

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    Nine months later..... so??? what happened??
     
    #20 Kensterfly, Aug 31, 2013
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