Intermittent red triangle and problem message on MFD

One potential cause I encountered was when I let the car get low on oil. I when taking a sharp downhill left turn at speed, the problem light sometimes activated just for a moment: that was apparently enough to uncover the oil pump’s input line in the drain pan, until the oil sloshed back around again. There are a lot of possible causes for an intermittent light, but at least this one is easy to check.

 

If this comes up again, make note of battery bar, and which color is displayed. Does it happen while accelerating (under load)?

 

How are you checking for stored DTCs? Most generic scan tools made for OBD II engine and emissions diagnosis can’t communicate with the hybrid vehicle control or battery ECUs, only with the ECM. Have you (or the dealer) tried using a Toyota Techstream diagnostic system or third-party equivalent?

 

+1 for check your oil level.

STOP driving this car until you have checked to see if the engine oil is low.

If you don't see any oil on the dipstick, add 1.6 qts at a time and re-check. Repeat until you have oil on the dipstick. Also, do your checking after the car is off for at least 15 min, preferably first thing in the morning. Always wipe the dipstick clean and re-dip when checking your oil.

Then make a point to check the oil level every time you fill the car with gas until you get an idea of how much it is using. Looking at the space on the dipstick between the top and bottom mark, add a 1/2 qt every time it is a 1/3 the way down from the top mark on the dipstick.

Let us know if it was or wasn't the oil. If it was not low engine oil, we will try more things.

Hope that helps.

 

add 1.6 qts at a time and re-check

Curious why 1.6? Is that how much it takes to go from very bottom of dipstick to the full mark?

 

Yes, well, that is the amount between the two dimples. As it is not known how much oil is in the sump when it doesn't register on the dipstick–there could be anything from 0 - 2.3 qts, it is a safer way to ensure you don't overfill. At least that is my logic.

 

Put the car in IG-ON by pressing the power button 2 times with your foot not on the brake. The Inverter cooling water pump should be running. It's located directly behind the driver headlight. Should be humming and there should be flow ripples in the inverter reservoir.

If not, the pump has failed and you may be experiencing inverter over temperature problems. Often, this causes a P0A93.

Many times this also causes intermittent AC problems, as the car will shutoff the AC if the inverter starts getting hot, but won't always trigger the P0A93. Unfortunately, this sometimes leads to $$ being wasted troubleshooting the AC system.

 

The triangle being triggered under heavy demand, imo, indicates weak cell in the pack. My 2008 had triangle appear under acceleration, the car would continue to drive normally. I reset the code, get another week of use before triangle would again be set while stepping on the gas. Rinse, repeat a week later. Almost a month of. This before pack took a serious dive.

 

Given the report of Inverter coolant leaking, it is more likely the inverter over-temperature problems described by TMR-JWAP. This could have a flow-on effect that may have a detrimental effect on the HV battery, depending on the current state of the HV battery. Fix the Inverter coolant problem and the HV battery will come right too.

 

I stand by my original suggestion

 

Yikes!!! Doesn't sound like such a good shop. Sorry for the encore performance.

 

What a sad ending. I'm really sorry you got so expensively mislead. I hope you will be better than those who took your money and tell the buyer what's really going on with the car.