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Loss of Forward Power on Freeway (Red Exclamtion and other lights illuminate)

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by pc95, Sep 14, 2022.

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  1. pc95

    pc95 Junior Member

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    While driving HWY 5 North back from commute home, was in the fast lane at about 74 mph and I heard a chirp, and the red triangle, vsc, check engine lights all came on. I had to frantically weave through traffic as I had no forward propulsion to get to right side of the freeway while going up a hill. Once parked turned off the engine,the engine would turn on but gurgle and only move slight forward until the red triangle came up cutting it off. I got a tow back to our place (not too far luckily). And after the car being off for 20 min, it came on for a bit longer while parking. Car is 2007 - I bought it used in 2018 with 77000 miles, it has 96000 now. I'm thinking its the Lithium batteries. Also have the dash illumination going in and out from time-to-time. Was hoping to drive it a year or so more but the time may be up. (Was in a small accident with cosmetic damage in FEB).
    Car shopping right now does not sound fun to me but neither does very expensive maintenance on a 15+ yr old car. The tow-truck driver gave me a scalper's number....will keep it handy. Any ideas on the red triangle and power cut? Thinking could be lithium battery temperature (or gone bad.)

    Thanks.
     
    #1 pc95, Sep 14, 2022
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    sounds like the car overheated. Maybe your inverter pump has failed. You can check for codes on the car, that will be better than an educated guess
     
    #2 JC91006, Sep 14, 2022
  3. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    When dash lights go on error codes get logged to document what's wrong. Times like this if you had a OBD2 reader in your glove box you could use a phone app to read and clear the codes, then research the severity/risks and keep driving home to document how long it takes for the problem to return. Here's buyer's guide for an OBD2: Hybrid battery diagnostic and repair tool for Toyota and Lexus

    If you're lucky, the problems could be as simple as corrosion in your hybrid battery packs wires that cause corrosion in the battery ECU and you simply clean that up/replace voltage sensor harness. Or it could be more expensive?

    And if you need help I'll be driving the I-5 Between Seattle and Sacramento this weekend...
     
    #3 PriusCamper, Sep 14, 2022
  4. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    FWIW, the battery is NiMH, not Lithium, unless someone swapped in a non-OEM unit.
     
    #4 fuzzy1, Sep 14, 2022
    disgruntled2007 likes this.
  5. pc95

    pc95 Junior Member

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    Thanks, I have a Samsung S7 - may look into OBD2 Diagnostic tool.....I've already had the CAT CONV stolen in 2020 --- expensive even after deductible. I need to figure out what's wrong this time. It was not fun losing propulsion on an active freeway. Read the code will tell you if its the cells or not - but often is with the Red Triangle. Called the scalper and he said if cells, a dealership charges $3000 for new cells, and of course he'd do it for less than a 1/3 the price, or give an (low-ball) offer to purchase (I didn't ask).
     
    #5 pc95, Sep 14, 2022
  6. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Don't automatically assume you have a HV battery issue, that way you'll be throwing lots of money at something that might not even be your problem
     
    #6 JC91006, Sep 14, 2022
    disgruntled2007 likes this.
  7. pc95

    pc95 Junior Member

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    Yes, I'm thinking to purchase or borrow an ODB2 scanner to at least return the code to get a better idea. Thx.
     
    #7 pc95, Sep 14, 2022
  8. disgruntled2007

    disgruntled2007 Junior Member

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    Is the drive belt which turns the water pump intact? Having codes read would help.
     
    #8 disgruntled2007, Sep 14, 2022
  9. pc95

    pc95 Junior Member

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    Error code was P3193 (out of fuel) which I know to be false. The fuel gauge before would get reset when the battery leads were taken out but sometimes take 10-20 min for it to begin reading. Now that's too much time as the engine cuts out in 5-30s. I'm thinking the computer is not outputting the correct code or the unit cannot receive the correct code.

    Are Prius 2007 tire sizes compatible with Prius 2013? I'm thinking to swap out my tires between me 2 Prius if so, then trying to sell with needed repair.
     
    #9 pc95, Sep 24, 2022
  10. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    If the car says it's out of fuel, you lose power, it's out of fuel. 2007 tires are slightly smaller, but shouldn't be an issue for 2013. 185/65/15 vs 195/65/15
     
    #10 JC91006, Sep 24, 2022
  11. amandathegreat

    amandathegreat New Member

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    —
    I am going through the same problem.. my 2007 has died 3 times, 2 of them the dealership said nothings wrong with the car, I just ran out of gas. Except I had JUST filled up 30 miles prior.

    Dealership did a full inspection & said it needed a new drive belt & transmission flush. I also noticed the coolant was slightly low - all that’s been fixed but not knowing if any of that caused the problem is unsettling.
    Maybe some of my endeavors can help you.
     
    #11 amandathegreat, Sep 24, 2022
  12. mr_guy_mann

    mr_guy_mann Senior Member

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    You can sell it if you want.

    I would do some testing first. Maybe put a few gallons in the gas tank. Check if the pump works, get a pressure gauge on it. But that's me.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #12 mr_guy_mann, Sep 24, 2022
  13. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    @pc95 where on the I5 are you nearest, as some members may be interested in purchasing.
     
    #13 SFO, Sep 24, 2022
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  14. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    There is No drive belt, only a belt that runs the water pump. Don’t think a transaxle flush would change anything either.

    i would seriously avoid this dealership adviser, he’s recommended Services that won’t do anything but empty your wallet
     
    #14 JC91006, Sep 24, 2022
    dolj and SFO like this.
  15. Another

    Another Senior Member

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    Injection problems?
     
    #15 Another, Sep 25, 2022
  16. disgruntled2007

    disgruntled2007 Junior Member

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    How much fuel was/is in the tank (actual, not indicated on the fuel gauge)? Numerous people have complained about the accuracy of the gauge, and when my best friend had a Gen2, she resorted to filling up every 200 miles.
     
    #16 disgruntled2007, Sep 25, 2022
  17. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

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    Never heard that before....
     
    #17 TMR-JWAP, Sep 25, 2022
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  18. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    ... or fuel is not getting to the engine? Or some but not enough of it getting there?
     
    #18 fuzzy1, Sep 25, 2022
  19. Another

    Another Senior Member

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    Take a look at this discussion
    P3193 code | PriusChat
     
    #19 Another, Sep 26, 2022
  20. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    The car's ECM doesn't have any sure-fire way to know whether you have run out of fuel or not. What it can do is look at two things it does know, and then make a sort of reasonable inference.

    There is a P3190 code that it can set if the engine seems to be running, but for some reason has gone 100 revs or six seconds without producing more than 20% of the expected torque. That code's fortune cookie is "poor engine power".

    There is also a P3191 code, with the fortune cookie "engine does not start". If the conditions are pretty much the same as for P3190, but also this happens right away when the engine is to be started, you get this code instead.

    If the conditions are right for either a P3190 or a P3191, and also the fuel gauge is not reporting above a certain level of fuel, then the ECM will say "hmm, could this be because of low fuel?" and set P3193 instead.

    Perhaps if you have recently reconnected the battery, and then tried to start before the fuel gauge has determined a reading, you could end up getting P3193, even though it would have been simply P3191 if the fuel gauge reading were known.

    In which case, if you're sure there is plenty of fuel, you would just approach the troubleshooting as you would for a P3190 or P3191.
     
    #20 ChapmanF, Sep 26, 2022
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