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Check Hybrid System ...But Starts and Drives to 24mph

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Pollymath, Feb 15, 2021.

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  1. Pollymath

    Pollymath Member

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    My 2010 with 220k just threw up its first "Check Hybrid System" warning. No amount of unplugging the 12v battery and letting it sit, nor Starting the car has reset or removed the warning. I had to get a ride home...in a Tesla.

    This all started after a hard acceleration with a fair amount of wheel spin. Immediately there was a clunk, a beep (from traction control) and "beep beep beep" from the Check Hybrid System warning. I then limped it to a friends house, with very little power, only able to go about 20-24mph with ICE engine revving its heart out.

    Having previously used Dr. Hybrid, it said the battery was actually in good condition, and we've never had any issues with the hybrid system.

    The car is our "beater" and I drive it hard.

    Accompanying the Check Hybrid System warning is the "Yellow Triangle of Death", the VSC warning light (Traction Control) and the Check Engine Light (due to a bad catalytic converter...it's been on for a year now, I just ignore it).

    The car starts fine, immediately fires up the ICE, and drives up to 24mph...at which point it's as though the transmission isn't "shifting". Yes, I know, these CVT transmissions don't have gears, but still, it's like the transmission is kinda "stuck" in its lower range.

    The car starts and drives fine, and because as of this morning, the car was running great and giving no indication of any issues with the hybrid battery, I don't actually think the problem is the Hybrid battery. My guesses are: Inverter or Transmission.

    I hope to pull the codes via Dr. Hybrid next time I'm with the car (it's an hour away) and hopefully get a better idea of what's going on.

    In the meantime, any guesses?
     
    #1 Pollymath, Feb 15, 2021
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    it's probably the ipm module in the inverter. have you had the recall done?

    also, check the inverter fluid reservoir for movement
     
    #2 bisco, Feb 15, 2021
  3. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    I guess that all guesses before reading the codes are guesses.
     
    #3 ChapmanF, Feb 15, 2021
    TMR-JWAP likes this.
  4. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

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    I guess this first part says it all...

    My 2010 with 220k just threw up
     
    #4 TMR-JWAP, Feb 15, 2021
  5. Pdaddy

    Pdaddy Member

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    Inveterter/transformer. Has a unlimited milage warranty due to chronic failures. Check with dealer to see if your prius is covered...my 2010 was covered and yours probably is too.

    SM-G960U ?
     
    #5 Pdaddy, Feb 15, 2021
  6. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Pdaddy is probably referring to the warranty enhancement program ZE3. It does have no mileage limit, and a 15 year time limit (which of course has not expired for any Gen 3 yet).

    You can see from the document which trouble codes would indicate that the problem you've had is covered by this warranty. So again, it all comes back to knowing what actually happened, which comes back to having the codes.

    A Toyota dealership will certainly have the tools to read the trouble codes to determine whether ZE3 applies. If what happened turns out to have been something else, you'll have the codes that go with whatever did happen. If ZE3 doesn't apply, they may charge the normal shop rate for reading the codes.

    The ZE3 warranty repair isn't to be performed on a vehicle that hasn't had the E0E recall done.
     
    #6 ChapmanF, Feb 15, 2021
  7. Dubhe

    Dubhe Junior Member

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    I recently had a recall fix on my Prius. Something to do with an update to the electrical system. I have the same problem as OP. My car stopped on the freeway. I know I have a crack in the oil filter sub assembly that has been causing an oil leak. The check engine light has been coming on for a few moments then it goes away. A couple days ago the engine shutdown. I was able to keep it at 55mph until it eventually stopped. Could the cause have been with the recall fix?
     
    #7 Dubhe, Feb 15, 2021
  8. ozmatt

    ozmatt Active Member

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    Is 24mph around what speed the car can drive off battery before the ice kicks in?

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #8 ozmatt, Feb 15, 2021
  9. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    #9 ChapmanF, Feb 15, 2021
  10. ozmatt

    ozmatt Active Member

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    Yes seen that but is the power from ice actually making it through the trans to the wheels, or maybe free revving and vehicle is propelling from battery only

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #10 ozmatt, Feb 15, 2021
  11. Pollymath

    Pollymath Member

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    Codes are as follows:

    P0A94 - Likely IPM Failure
    P0171 - O2 Sensor Bank 1 Too Lean
    P0420 - Catalyst system efficiency below threshold (Bank 1) - this is likely because my cat is trash. Burning 1qt of oil every 1
    P3190 - Poor Engine Power

    Dealer was trying to play coy by saying "it's got a lot of miles on it, so it could be a lot of things." Then I said "well it's throwing a P0A94 so its probably inverter related, and I know there is a recall for the IPM." Then they switched to "well we'll run a diagnostic to confirm that, and if its the IPM, we won't charge you for the diagnostic."
     
    #11 Pollymath, Feb 17, 2021
  12. Pollymath

    Pollymath Member

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    So, the dealer has agreed to fix the IPM/Inverter as part of the 15 year warranty recall on that part/system. Hurray!

    But, they've also "discovered" a brake master cylinder issue. An issue I had never gotten codes or noticed any issues with previously.

    The dealer has been trying to convince me that I should absolutely not drive this vehicle off the lot because of the codes concerning the Master Cylinder Leak. They say:

    "The brakes could fail catastrophically with no warning. We've had it happen here at the dealership."

    I'm skeptical.
    1) Never had any brake related codes come up in my owning the car for the last year.
    2) Never had brakes leaks, or disappearing brake fluid.
    3) I get the feeling they really want to charge me a $100 "Diagnostic Fee" so they aren't eating the entire cost of the IPM failure warranty.

    Is there any way of my validating their pointing to this Master Cylinder Failure without TechStream? Will the brake system throw another type of code? If the Brake Accumulator "ABS Assembly" does fail, will it do so catastrophically as they suggest?
     
    #12 Pollymath, Feb 20, 2021
  13. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    This question about the brakes was multiply posted, and the answers are happening on that other thread.
     
    #13 ChapmanF, Feb 20, 2021
  14. Pollymath

    Pollymath Member

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    Yes. My reasoning was to provide more elaborate details of my experiences to other users who may have the warranty on the inverter but also sees other codes come up. In case my brake related codes are a fluke.
     
    #14 Pollymath, Feb 22, 2021
  15. Pollymath

    Pollymath Member

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    So I got the car back from the dealer.

    The brake related code they pulled was "C1253"

    However, I'm not getting any "blinky lights" or CELs as of yet (maybe an hour or so worth of drive time.)

    I'm going to drive it more and then pull the codes and see if it comes up.

    One thing is apparent - the IPM Warranty Recall Fix has negatively impacted the cars "Power Mode". Definitely not as zippy as it was previously. Oh well.
     
    #15 Pollymath, Mar 1, 2021
  16. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    That's not a master cylinder leak code, and there are nine pages of troubleshooting instructions for it that could end up finding you a simple electrical connection or wiring harness problem. There are also nine different 3-digit subcodes that can go with that code. Did the dealer happen to give you that? Do you have a way to retrieve those yourself?

    The resolution could still end up having to be replacing an assembly, but I wouldn't let anyone jump to that conclusion before doing the troubleshooting and ruling out the easy stuff. It doesn't sound like the dealer was doing that (in fact, it sounds like they had that code mixed up with a different one).
     
    #16 ChapmanF, Mar 1, 2021
  17. Pollymath

    Pollymath Member

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    It's interesting because the work order states "per TSB, replace the brake booster with master cylinder and the brake booster pump assembly" - that sounds more like they wanted to replace these brake parts not because they HAD failed, but because they MIGHT fail.
     
    #17 Pollymath, Mar 1, 2021
  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    That was all billed to Toyota? That’s sweet; not a cheap repair.
     
    #18 Mendel Leisk, Mar 1, 2021
  19. Pollymath

    Pollymath Member

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    No, only the IPM recall.

    The wanted me to spend $2500 to repair the brake assembly that aint broke on a vehicle I bought for $700.
     
    #19 Pollymath, Mar 1, 2021
  20. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Well, something's broke, but with C1253 it might be something small. Worth having looked into while still small, by someone who will follow the real troubleshooting steps before jumping to conclusions about expensive parts.
     
    #20 ChapmanF, Mar 1, 2021
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