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Just got my inverter repaired thanks to the recent class action settlement

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by pbwhat1, Apr 3, 2023.

  1. pbwhat1

    pbwhat1 New Member

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    What a timely court case. I got the postcard in the mail a few weeks ago and considered it to be a scam.

    Well last week my car wouldn't leave neutral and had all of the dash lights come on. I panicked, had some issues with my OBD scanner, but finally I pulled some inverter codes (P0A0D, P3004). I called my local dealership and they completely denied any knowledge of an extended warranty. I called corporate and received the same response.

    I was a bit let down, but I did some research and was convinced that the lawsuit was legit. So I brought the car in and let them diagnose it. The representative hinted that it would probably be covered but didn't really elaborate. A day later I got the call that it would be fully covered. It was just the IPM module, so they essentially just swapped a board inside the inverter I guess.

    My current dillema is trying to have the towing bill reimbursed. Dealership and corporate are both denying coverage. It's only $110 but I'd like to get it back, obviously. The settlement website says I'm only eligible for reimbursement via them if the incident happened prior to March. 3 So I'm filing an appeal with the settlement administrator for shits and giggles (and $1.74 postage). I will update if I am reimbursed for my tow bill.
     

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    #1 pbwhat1, Apr 3, 2023
    Last edited: Apr 3, 2023
  2. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    I thought this was a campaign and after the lawsuit it was covered for most generation threes or whatever they put a sticker on the inverter after they change the IP whatever module and that sort of thing If I'm not mistaken when we're looking for inverters in the junkyard we're looking for the sticker then we know what's updated.
     
    #2 Tombukt2, Apr 3, 2023
  3. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Good thing you had the P3004, one of the trouble codes that triggers the coverage.

    The P0A0D is weird. That's the safety interlock circuit; usually means someone has been fooling with the orange plug on the battery, or the covers on the inverter. Good thing someone at the dealer wasn't of a suspicious nature.

    That's "a board", but not quite like you're used to seeing. Those are the coolant hose nipples you see on the ends. The aluminum cooling passages are part of that "board". It's also responsible for cooling the DC/DC converter, which is mounted just below it, on the underside of the coolant passages. There are about seven pages of instructions for getting the thermal grease properly applied between the two parts. (The yellow sheet in the photo is a stencil for getting the grease in the right pattern.) The replacement job is definitely honest work.

    [​IMG]
     
    #3 ChapmanF, Apr 3, 2023
    JohnPrius3005 likes this.
  4. pbwhat1

    pbwhat1 New Member

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    Ah cool, I was actually trying to find an image of the actual IPM. I couldn't find any. Well somebody had fun at the dealership then.

    I think I actually cleared the P0A0D before it got towed to the dealer. I cleared the codes with Dr Prius and disconnected my 12V for awhile. I also re seated that orange safety switch for good measure. I just wanted to see what would happen, but in retrospect I would've left it alone.
     
    #4 pbwhat1, Apr 3, 2023
  5. Biopete

    Biopete Junior Member

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    My sons 2010 Prius just got the inverter codes. His car went into limp mode on the interstate on the way out of town starting a long trip. He turned back and got a ride with someone else. Codes were P0A94 and P324E. We cleared them with Dr Prius app amd P0A94 would never go away.

    Off to the dealer we limped , the car could go a max of 40mph, in Murfreesboro TN. They said the code is indicative of inverter failures amd will probably be taken care of due to the class action lawsuit that was settled. Today he called to say the parts are ordered and it will not cost us a thing.

    Thank you honest dealer and thank you Priuschat amd thank you LA folks who sued. It is a very dangerous thing when the car can go into limp mode on the interstate. Especially in a place like Nashville Murfreesboro. Drivers are nuts there.
     
    #5 Biopete, Apr 8, 2023
    ASRDogman likes this.
  6. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    It was a stroke of luck that the code came back right away. If it had stayed gone, you would have code-cleared your way right out of a covered free repair.
     
    #6 ChapmanF, Apr 8, 2023
  7. DPri

    DPri Junior Member

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    How many miles when it failed? What's you driving style, city/highway ratio?, do you use Power mode?, if yes, how often?
    Thanks.
     
    #7 DPri, Apr 8, 2023
    Last edited: Apr 8, 2023
  8. pbwhat1

    pbwhat1 New Member

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    It failed at 107k miles. I have only owned it since 90k. My work commute is about 50/50 city/interstate (22 miles total 1 way). I used power mode for a few months leading up to failure and did alot of 80mph driving on the interstate before it failed. Since the repair I have mellowed out and stay about 70-75mph.
     
    #8 pbwhat1, Apr 12, 2023
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