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Fixed my P0A80 Code by removing the 12V battery connections Can it be that easy?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Technical Discussion' started by fortec, Jun 22, 2022.

  1. fortec

    fortec Junior Member

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    My 2011 Prius accumulated around 187K miles. Two days ago, while going to have my tires replaced, the "triangle of death" came on. I was able to drive the car still but it's on gas only as the hybrid system is down. I was worried b/c this will normally happen to others, but not me. Right?

    By chance, I looked at the 12V battery - which I was meant to do a while back due to the corrosion on the negative side (black). So I manage to remove the 12V battery terminal for cleaning. It took about 10 minutes.

    I put back the 12V terminals. And... surprise surprise... surprise, all the codes relating to the hybrid system aka P0A80 were gone. The triangle was gone. So I took the car for a test drive, and my hybrid system is working again.

    What did I do that is right? Did the 12V reset the hybrid system? Or is it just luck and the faulty hybrid battery will come back to haunt me again.

    Thanks,
     
    #1 fortec, Jun 22, 2022
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    It'll come back to haunt you again. You just reset the system so it'll have to detect it again.
     
    #2 JC91006, Jun 23, 2022
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    it is possible that a bad 12v connection will produce false codes. fingers crossed, you'll know shortly
     
    #3 bisco, Jun 23, 2022
  4. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    You can also clear your codes while in the drivers seat by using a phone app like Dr. Prius. You just need a device like this to connect your phone to your car: https://www.ebay.com/itm/265484403768 After going through this process a bunch of times you'll have a pretty good sense of what needs to be fixed. And make sure to share some screenshots in this thread so we can help you with your repair options.
     
    #4 PriusCamper, Jun 23, 2022
  5. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Around 10:00 or 11:00 years I wouldn't say that's uncommon for the hybrid battery pack to get a refurb one put in or something like that done
     
    #5 Tombukt2, Jun 23, 2022
  6. douglasjre

    douglasjre Senior Member

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    #6 douglasjre, Jun 23, 2022
  7. fortec

    fortec Junior Member

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    Well, it has been a few days now since the triangle incident. The code P0A80 has not come back, keeping all my fingers crossed. My mechanic aka friend told me that it may be a faulty code due to it being a hot day. Ok, I will take his words for that. By the way, I did remove all the battery's bus bars to clean them. And now they are cleaned clean. As soon as I see something wrong you guys will be the first to read about it.

    So far, my conclusion is when you run into a situation like this the first thing to do is reset the system via the 12v battery terminal removal. That's just my 2 cents.

    Happy Hybrid-ding :D
     
    #7 fortec, Jun 24, 2022
    bisco likes this.
  8. ImAnOilburner2

    ImAnOilburner2 Junior Member

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    Not to hijack, but my similar experience recently: So my daughter has disconnected the negative cable a few times over the past few months. Each time it has "cleared" the code and eventually come back after a month/few weeks. Last week I replaced her inverter coolant pump (and water pump/thermostat at same time); as she lives an hour away and I didn't have access to the car until after I ordered the parts. The inverter pump was dead, I presume the water pump and thermostat were fine but wanted to change them out being that I was changing coolant on both systems. Anyhow, a few weeks later and the code came back. I got an OBDLink MX+ and determined the P0A80 code is a permanent code (guessing that really can't be cleared, just suppressed) and therefore keeps coming back some time after the battery cable disconnect.

    My question, if I install a refurbed battery will the P0A80 code fully clear? Or can that only happen at a Toyota dealer? Thank you
     
    #8 ImAnOilburner2, Jun 27, 2022
  9. Rudd

    Rudd Junior Member

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    I had a refurbished battery installed 2
    weeks
    ago
    and the check engine light went off
    without having to delete
    it.
    So ya, it'll
    go
    away.
     
    #9 Rudd, Jun 28, 2022
    ImAnOilburner2 likes this.
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    try disconnecting and reconnecting the orange service plug
     
    #10 bisco, Jun 28, 2022
    ImAnOilburner2 likes this.
  11. Paul E. Highway

    Paul E. Highway Active Member

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    my "permanent" P0A80 code went away 3-4 days after I put my new traction battery in. Car knows what it's doing.
     
    #11 Paul E. Highway, Jun 29, 2022
    ImAnOilburner2 likes this.
  12. Jay0129

    Jay0129 New Member

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    I have similar issue with the hybrid battery, the code disappeared after I reconnect my 12V battery, wonder if the code ever came back after 2 years?
     
    #12 Jay0129, Sep 1, 2024
  13. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Interrupting the 12-volt supply simply made the ECU forget that it had detected a battery problem. The code won't come back until the ECU gets around to running that battery test again and sees a problem, and then it will.
     
    #13 ChapmanF, Sep 1, 2024
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