Any ideas on how to proceed? sudden power failure while driving...

Back on January 27th, I was driving my 2004 Prius down I-95, about 70 miles from my home, when suddenly, I smelled a bad smell, possibly electrical insulation, and abruptly lost ALL POWER (!). This is confidence-shaking, I assure you, especially when you are in the middle lane, surrounded by big trucks. Or maybe I should say, faith-building, as it was a miracle I could get to the right shoulder!

I was unable to get any response from the powertrain, and coasted to a stop on the side of the road. We could not get the car into neutral. A towtruck got us back to our house in Stafford, VA, (by slathering the wheels and his roll-off deck with oil, letting the wheels skitter up the slide) and my usual mechanic opined that it might well have been the alternator. Other PriusChat members suggested the Inverter pump in other situaltions. I have no DTC codes yet.

The vehicle is now still outside, and there is more rain and possibly snow coming this winter. The wheels are locked. I attempted to get the DTC codes, but cannot get the system to behave: I have included a short 10-second video of what the dash lights say upon activating the power button.

There do not seem to be any blown fuses, especially having checked AM-2.

So I have a question: to get the car into the warm, dry garage here, since it does not go into "ON" or "READY",
is there any way to either (a) easily isolate the alternator out of the system, (so I can read the codes) and maybe get it into "ON"
or (b) hotwire the transmission to go into neutral ? I read the posts on dead batteries, etc.
but view the video, please. The mp4 is tho only thing in the zip file below...

I have the factory manual (from RockAuto), and have not gotten good results from the spurious Techstream software. I put the Panalong bluetooth DTC reader to try using the Dr Prius app, but the device got fried....
My clunky code reader says it can't make the CAN bus connection...

I think Advance Auto will test the alternator if I bring it in, but it has been too cold to work outside....
Any ideas on how I might go about tackling this problem?

 

You folks are wonderful, thank you. I changed the inverter pump without further tests.

Bisco asks for mileage: 259,307. Front jump point, mind you, this is with the new pump now. 0.01v but battery reads 11.95v. I am staying away from that mechanic, (except for brakes. He's very good at that...)

Highmilesgarage: stink coming from burn-hole on underside of old pump. See photo 01

ChapmanF: and "just for grins", I did change out AM2. Wow! great idea. Suddenly I get dash display and code reader can now connect with CAN bus. The blown fuse does not look blown at all. More below.

Mr_guy_mann: so indeed it did blow the fuse and maybe some other component (see continuing symptoms). Unplugging the cable, probably due to the blown fuse (I did that just before changing the pump, to see if I could get to the "on" state), but it made no difference, but I was encouraged by your collective unanimity, so I just went ahead and replaced the pump.



A tip for others similarly situated-- when you loosen the inverter, remove the bolts in front, but only loosen, DO NOT REMOVE COMPLETELY the 12mm behind the inverter. It will permit the inverter to raise up higher, but will not take forever to restart the threads on the bolt hidden in back. Just retighten it.



Again, thank you all. Not wanting to subject my 75-year-old wife to a similar thrilling experience, I sprang for the factory pump, G9020-47031. But who knows, maybe I could have pulled a junkyard part with equal risk....

Next, I cannot get from "on" to "ready". Red triangle in "on". See photo 04 showing dash display.

I will try to decipher the wiring diagram, as recommended in the hunt suggested by highmileagegarage. I get the "red car" on the MFD, and the word "problem" and some warning lights, but NO DTC CODES reading on my Innova 3100. (!) see photo 03

Is there a relay or other component that might cause the zero voltage on the front jump point, and my display symptoms?

I will try to get some pictures posted. so far, this is very successful!!
-Daniel

 

Can I use
Autel MaxiAP AP200 OBD2 Scanner Bluetooth Wireless
With Dr Prius app or Torx app? I do have the laptop with a spurious/pirate version of techstream, so I will try that, but techstream wants to update and limits functionality.

I found on page 92 of the wiring diagram, a relay on IGCT, (the INV W/P relay)and I found these pixs on priuschat

Integration Module Removal | PriusChat

I'd happily change out the relay...if I knew which one it be...

No, I did not study the area by the 12v battery. I will report back...

Daniel

 

While I go fetch the laptop, here is a photo of my fuse block and some pages from the wiring diagrams.
In the .zip file are several that seem to be 2004 specific. Back soon, hopefully with codes....

-Daniel

View attachment 237751

 

OK, OK, OK I'm embarrassed enough, already. Rookie mistake: P3140.

I must've pushed the HV safety plug lever up instead of down, after putting it back in.... Hey, I was working on the Inverter bolts in back...lots of orange wires there.... I know, you don't want to hear my feeble excuses. Hey, I gave you guys a chuckle, no?

So that explains the lack of voltage on the front jump point, I guess. Bear with me, now.....I fixed that one.



So then I got the following from Techstream before the 12v battery went down to 5.52v. I am isolating and recharging it now.
C1242, C2310 and C2318.

So right now, it is obvious to me that I must charge up the 12v battery again.....
More later....

I guess the good news is that no other codes are showing up (unless you count the B- codes, which I don't...)

d

 

Wow! after charging the 12v battery, it went into "Ready" mode, and I was able to park it in the garage!

I'm only seeing the minor "B" codes. So good news.

Thanks for your input, Colorado Crow, and thanks for toughin' it out with me, ChapmanF.

To cover my shame, I'll call the "red triangle of deeeaaaaaaattthhhh" the

"red triangle of the-dog-ate-my-HV-safety-plug" from now on.....

Over and out, guys. Let you know in a few days how it is behaving.... hope we all had as much fun as I did!

Oh, and don't forget to look towards the setting sun right now, to see the AMAZING conjunction of Jupiter and Venus!