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After removing Orange Traction Battery disconnect tab, "BROKE" the prius after pressing Start button

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Eng2Mtr, Feb 28, 2010.

  1. Eng2Mtr

    Eng2Mtr Junior Member

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    Hi.

    (2008) After reading that a Prius still works with a defective Traction battery, while installing a Volt Meter to the Traction battery (for fun), I wanted to see what driving the Prius was like without the Traction Battery. But after simply removing the plastic orange safety interlock on the traction battery and pressing the START button, the (dumb) car no longer works with the orange interlock restored (and confirmed with 217v as seen on the battery side. I also have a ScanGuageII and cleared an error code (but before examining it because I thought this was a trivial thing). Iconsidering doing it again to see if I log another error code. Currently there are no error codes. I also tried disconnecting the 12v battery for 15 minutes, but this made no difference.

    Does anyone know what should be a fix for a trivial (dumb) issue?

    Thanks!
     
    #1 Eng2Mtr, Feb 28, 2010
  2. Flying White Dutchman

    Flying White Dutchman Senior Member

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    Re: After removing Orange Traction Battery disconnect, "BROKE" prius after pressing Start button

    where did you read that its possible to drive the prius without the traction battery?

    because without it the ice will not be able to start.
    the starter motor ( just to call it ) gets its energy from that battery..

    and mmm wy do you want a volt meter to the traction battery if you have a scangauge??

    o yes there is a fix.. i guess you did not push the orange plug down good enough. ;-)
     
    #2 Flying White Dutchman, Feb 28, 2010
  3. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Re: After removing Orange Traction Battery disconnect, "BROKE" prius after pressing Start button

    Go press the orange interlock again, hard, there's a final "snap" that you have to get to fully lock it down or the car won't work. Just about guarantee that's the problem.
     
    #3 efusco, Feb 28, 2010
  4. Eng2Mtr

    Eng2Mtr Junior Member

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    Re: After removing Orange Traction Battery disconnect, "BROKE" prius after pressing Start button

    Thanks for the fast reply!

    Well you are sure right about that, which I would have realized immediately (ICE could not start - I knew that) when nothing happened. What I meant is to what I have read in many (or a few) places is when the battery is defective/bad (=won't "hold" a charge and needs to be replaced) that milage drops to 30-someting and the ICE runs all the time.

    Now what do you mean by not pressing the orange button in enough? That HV simple plug (to complete the circut) is inserted enough at least to the point that the 217v can be seen with a Volt Meter on the battery side (which we know does not exist when the orange plug is removed). What orange button are you referring to?
     
    #4 Eng2Mtr, Feb 28, 2010
  5. Eng2Mtr

    Eng2Mtr Junior Member

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    Re: After removing Orange Traction Battery disconnect, "BROKE" prius after pressing Start button

    Wow, cool, and thanks to both! Going to try this minute :)
     
    #5 Eng2Mtr, Feb 28, 2010
  6. Eng2Mtr

    Eng2Mtr Junior Member

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    Re: After removing Orange Traction Battery disconnect, "BROKE" prius after pressing Start button

    Looking good so far. Going to take it for a drive now. (Said another way, that lever one pulls to "lever" the plug out, needs to be pushed DOWN into place. Odd that without the vertical push that 217v is seen on the battery side but that is not sufficinet for the car to work. Hmm.

    Thanks! (Not feeling so smart knowing that the traction battery starts the engine.)
     
    #6 Eng2Mtr, Feb 28, 2010
  7. Eng2Mtr

    Eng2Mtr Junior Member

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    Re: After removing Orange Traction Battery disconnect, "BROKE" prius after pressing Start button

    Thanks! - works again.

    That big Red Triangle with Exclamation Mark light seen on the dash is now always lit, and there are no OBDII error codes. Should this go off by itself over time as many or most OBDII codes do once the problem goes away?

    Thanks!
     
    #7 Eng2Mtr, Feb 28, 2010
  8. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Re: After removing Orange Traction Battery disconnect, "BROKE" prius after pressing Start button

    Usually takes 3 start up/shut down cycles to clear the triangle.
     
    #8 efusco, Feb 28, 2010
  9. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    Re: After removing Orange Traction Battery disconnect, "BROKE" prius after pressing Start button

    Yep. Reset cycles.
    Hopefully, after the 3rd or 4th restart the system will completely reset.
     
    #9 TonyPSchaefer, Feb 28, 2010
  10. Eng2Mtr

    Eng2Mtr Junior Member

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    Re: After removing Orange Traction Battery disconnect, "BROKE" prius after pressing Start button

    Thanks again for all responses. After learning that pushing down the lever for the car to work again, I examined the orange plug and noticed this additional set of contacts. This explains how the battery voltage can be seen yet the car won't start. Wonder what this additional completed circuit is for...

    No reasonably sized small images can be uploaded? I took a small photo of the underside of the plug that shows the 2nd set of contacts. "Prius Traction Battery Orange Safety Interlock Plug" 40K
     
    #10 Eng2Mtr, Feb 28, 2010
  11. direstraits71

    direstraits71 Member

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    Re: After removing Orange Traction Battery disconnect, "BROKE" prius after pressing Start button

    To post images, click Go Advanced Under the Reply to Thread box and then roll down to Additional Options/Manage Attachments. This will allow you to upload an image file from your computer via the Browse Button. When you press submit it will show in your posting. Use Preview Post to check before posting if you wish. Pictures are always appreciated!
     
    #11 direstraits71, Feb 28, 2010
  12. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Re: After removing Orange Traction Battery disconnect, "BROKE" prius after pressing Start button

    Don't confuse a poorly performing battery with a completely nonperforming or absent battery.
     
    #12 fuzzy1, Feb 28, 2010
  13. vertex

    vertex Active Member

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    Re: After removing Orange Traction Battery disconnect tab, "BROKE" the prius after pressing Start bu

    The extra circuit is an interlock switch. It prevents the car from trying to start without a battery, and gives an error code. This broke in my car, and I had to jumper it out.
     
    #13 vertex, Mar 1, 2010
  14. jk450

    jk450 New Member

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    Re: After removing Orange Traction Battery disconnect tab, "BROKE" the prius after pressing Start bu

    Toyota states that pushing the power button with the interlock removed can damage the HV ECU. I have never seen this happen, but it's something to keep in mind.
     
    #14 jk450, Mar 11, 2010
  15. thetorvic21

    thetorvic21 Junior Member

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    what about disconnecting the orange plug while car is in ready
    ireplaced a cell that was bad and ran it for a test drive and when coming back i left car on ready and was putting the car bacck together and accidntely pulled the orange plug car did not like that it keeps reapearing after reseting the car after 5 mins saying P0AA6
     
    #15 thetorvic21, Jul 17, 2019
  16. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Battery ECU has been damaged. BTw, did you check the ecu the circuit board in the metal can before you re-installed the battery. Take the battery back out and look closely at the plugs and plug socket for corrosion and for corrosion on the board itself.
     
    #16 edthefox5, Jul 18, 2019
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