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P0300, P0A80, P3014 Codes

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Emily_0021, Mar 20, 2015.

  1. Emily_0021

    Emily_0021 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2014
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    Location:
    NC
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    II
    2004, 159,000 miles
    My check engine, red triangle ((!)) lights came on yesterday so I took it to the dealership and they told me the hv battery needs to be replaced ($3K+). The codes were P0300, P0A80, and P3014. I'm considering replacing the battery High Voltage Solutions, LLC since they charge much less than the dealer. However, when looking up the codes, I found that P0300 means an engine misfire, not a bad battery cell. I don't want to spend a fortune on a new battery if something else is wrong with my car. What could P0300 mean? Could it only be giving this code because of the battery? Could it only be giving the battery codes because of the P0300 code?

    On my way home from the dealer, my car went into "limp" mode where the gas engine was running loudly, I couldn't accelerate, and the energy screen showed no energy going to charge the battery, no energy arrows leaving the battery, but the battery power dropped from 3 blue to 1 red bar. Today, I went to move my car and it showed the gas engine charging the battery but then stopped once the battery reached 4 blue bars and the gas engine continued to rev loudly. Is the battery really dead? Is the car directing power way from battery just because it thinks it's dead? Could the P0300 code be the cause of the battery problems?
     
    #1 Emily_0021, Mar 20, 2015
  2. nh7o

    nh7o Off grid since 1980

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    Yes, the battery is in need of replacement, and it is not related to the P0300. The misfire code can be several things. For example, when did you last replace the spark plugs? Check the air filter? Simple tune up things are the first to try for misfires.
     
    #2 nh7o, Mar 20, 2015
  3. Renae3

    Renae3 New Member

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    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
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    N/A
    I just wanted to share my recent experience with the same thing. I was trying to figure out if I should A) get a new car, B) have the hybrid battery reconditioned, or C) replace the hybrid battery. The reconditioning was coming in at about 2k with a 3yr guarantee on only the cells that they replaced (so, hypothetically, next month other cells could go bad and I would be having the same problem). I called the dealer and asked for a quote and was told 3125 for the part and about 600 for labor by the parts department. After debating the whole day, I called the service advisor I normally deal with and he told me to call Toyota (corporate I am guessing) and explain that I am a long time client with them and lay it on thick about the dependability of the Toyota name. The service advisor told me that one of their clients went through the same thing and ended up only paying about $1500 out of pocket for the replacement battery.

    I did as was told... and it didn't go exactly as planned. The Toyota rep was a real nice person and told me I had to deal with the dealership directly and there was nothing they could do. I called the Client Service Manager and explained things and he had the Service Manager call me back. The Service Manager was confused with why this Toyota representative was following a different protocol than they normally do and he called them back on my behalf.

    It took a few days of the Toyota Representative doing "research" but I ended up only paying $1388 plus tax for the new battery and the dealership took care of the labor costs for me. The Service Manager really spent a lot of time over several days acting as an intermediate between myself and Toyota so I ended up having them do an oil change and replace my license plate bulbs and windshield wipers while they had my car there (yes, I know how to do those things myself, but they just got me a great deal I figured I would spend the few extra bucks). All told I paid $1595.

    For reference: I have a 2005 Prius with 167k on it when the engine light came on stating I needed the new hybrid battery.
     
    #3 Renae3, Mar 20, 2015
  4. Emily_0021

    Emily_0021 Junior Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    NC
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I replaced the spark plugs 25,000 miles ago. Had a top engine/induction clean and engine air filter replaced 11,000 miles ago. Does anyone know what the worst case scenario with the P0300 code is? $200 repair? $1000 repair? Could it be related to the transmission? I went to the dealership for an oil change and on the 23-point inspection the transmission fluid checked off as good and then a week later I was at another service shop and they found that my fluid was low by almost 1.5 quarts... I bought the correct transmission fluid from toyota for them to put in but because of that, I don't know how long I was driving with low transmission fluid because the dealership says they check it but they don't.

    I can have the battery replaced by High Voltage Solutions for $1300 with a better (2 year) warranty than Toyota so I don't think I will call and as for a better price. I really don't trust them anyway. They didn't tell me the P0300 code was related to the engine. They just said it was "probably related to one of the specific battery cells".

    Oh, also I got a new 12V battery about 2-3 years ago and ever since I got it, occasionally when I turn on my car the dashboard is black (no lights turn on) and in order to get the speedometer, and all the other lights to turn back on, I have to unplug the 12V battery and then plug it back in. Does anyone know what might cause this problem and if it could be related to the current problems and codes?
     
    #4 Emily_0021, Mar 20, 2015
    Last edited: Mar 20, 2015
  5. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Since you recently had the iridium spark plugs replaced, (hopefully with the correct NGK or Denso plugs) then maybe what is happening is that some water has dripped into the spark plug wells, causing an occasional engine misfire. Or there could be a problem with the fuel injectors or fuel pump located in the fuel tank. In any event the repair should cost three-digits.
    Don't confuse the warranty term (which is a marketing offer) with the actual battery longevity. Your personal experience shows a new battery will last 11 years. If you get 3 years of service life out of the "remanufactured" battery that would be pretty good.

    I understand you may not trust your Toyota dealer, but is it impossible to find another dealer whose service department might be more competent?

    If both the combination meter and the MFD are dark when this happens, then the IG1 relay located in the relay/fuse box under the instrument panel may be at fault. That is a relatively easy repair.

    If the combination meter is the only component which is not working, it will need to be replaced which will be fairly costly at the Toyota dealer. That meter was the subject of an extended warranty which probably has expired by now for your 2004 model year vehicle.
     
    #5 Patrick Wong, Mar 20, 2015
  6. Emily_0021

    Emily_0021 Junior Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    NC
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Just an update. I called Toyota and asked for a discount on the hybrid battery replacement. They called back and said they could replaced the battery for half off (~$1600 with taxes versus ~$3300 with taxes). So Toyota (Corporate) is amazing with customer service! Prius was getting good MPG (~51) for a few thousand miles. Now, I moved to foothills/mountains of Virginia and my MPG has plummeted... ~35MPG. These mountains don't compare to the Rockies and I was getting better MPG there so I doubt the low MPG is due to the mountain driving alone. Also, when I would normally be getting 99.9MPG coasting down hills, the car instead says it's getting about 50MPG. The car seems to be running the gas engine too much and not taking advantage of coasting. Based on the energy usage screen, this new hybrid battery does its best to stay at 6 blue bars, whereas the old battery would vary in charge a lot more.

    The starter battery still has the same problem where the dash lights dont turn on with the car occasionally and I have to unplug the starter battery to fix it. Not sure what to think or do at this point. I'm taking it to the dealership for oil change next week and will ask them to check hybrid battery and starter battery.
     
    #6 Emily_0021, Oct 3, 2015
    jdcollins5 likes this.
  7. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Location:
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    Two
    How old is the 12V battery? Can you measure the voltage across the battery in the morning, before the car has been started for the first time that day? If the voltage is low (12.4V or lower) I would start by either fully charging the 12V battery, or if more than 4 years old, replacing the 12V battery.
     
    #7 Patrick Wong, Oct 3, 2015
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