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engine codes

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by misterdean, Aug 20, 2024.

  1. misterdean

    misterdean Member

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    the auto part store told me it could be several things. how would i go about narrowing in on what my issue is? not sure if relevant, but i've always had a tire pressure light on, when the engine light came on, the tire light went off. i noticed the center display is no longer displaying the mpg bars. also noticed this other light that i've never seen before. pics attached.
     

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  2. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    You need to change your inverter coolant pump to get the red car off of the MFD center display The pump is behind the driver side headlight if you put your hand on it with the car ready it should be humming and you should see a little bit of movement in the reservoir between the engine and the inverter that says hybrid synergy drive If you see no movement but you feel vibration probably time for an inverter pump by the real Toyota one so you don't do it again anytime soon I know the $39 one seems tempting but they fail as fast as you install them so be ready to do it often The PO420 if you have a missions in your state then you may need a spacer with a swivel made out of stainless steel that has a piece of converter material in the end of it they make these they're about $18 that may get the light off for you If not you're buying a very expensive catalytic converter like 12 or $1,400 seriously where I live I don't have to pass emissions so we don't have to do anything with that your city or town may be different
     
  3. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    In Florida I don't think you have anything down there You can do anything you want with your vehicle so you can just leave that light alone I have one or two here that I've had that code for 5 years they still get excellent gas mileage and everything this has nothing to do with anything except the catalyst being below threshold of some computer setting that is probably set too tight to begin with anyway It's nothing we can change AE11 Corollas had this exact same problem more or less it was an ACDelco firmware problem for the computer between the 2 02 sensors
     
  4. misterdean

    misterdean Member

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    is the auto part store full of shit telling me it could be several things? was kinda hoping it could be a sensor.

    what does the inverter do exactly? wondering how this will effect the car and if i shouldn't drive it until fixed. does this effect the AC? any chance one of these issues could be effecting the other. i find it strange both lights came on at the same time.
     
  5. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

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    The P0A93 code is showing there is a problem with cooling of the electronics (the inverter, located in the engine compartment). That code has two possible subcodes, one that points to the pump being a problem and one that points to the cooling fan being a problem. 95% of the time, the problem is the cooling pump failing. That pump is located directly behind the driver headlight.

    The inverter converts DC power from the HV battery into an AC waveform. This AC is used to power the transaxle and also powers the AC compressor. When the inverter loses cooling, it tries to protect itself. One of the first things is will do is stop powering the AC compressor, so intermittent operation of the AC is one of the first signs of an inverter cooling water pump failure.

    Drivability of the car depends on weather conditions. I've driven a Gen 2 with a failed inverter pump 40-50 miles at 45mph in cool weather and never had a problem. Drive faster (more load on the inverter) or during hotter weather, or with AC blasting and the inverter may have temperature problems. It will protect itself and once it gets warm enough, will code out and put the car in a safe mode until it cools sufficiently. Short, low speed trips are usually not a problem. Highway speeds will make it code out within 15 minutes.
     
  6. misterdean

    misterdean Member

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    wasn't sure if it was in my head or just hot today but it did seem like the AC was not as cold as it should be. sounds like don't worry about causing damage to the car just don't use the AC for now.
     
  7. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

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    I would definitely not run the AC, to maximize driving time. The inverter temps are usually ok for short low speed trips, but the amount of heat generated by the inverter directly depends on how fast you drive, how far you drive and outside temperature. If it does overheat, it will code and put you on the side of the road for an hour while it cools off. Once it cools some, it will let you drive again. Obviously, this is not the ideal way to treat the electronics, but if you need to get around, you need to drive, right?

    There's many threads on the forum about this pump. It's the inverter cooling water pump and is available from Toyota dealers for about $130. Counterfeit versions are also available for $50, but how long they'll last is anyone's guess. Takes about 2 hours or less to replace if DIY with no prior experience.
     
  8. misterdean

    misterdean Member

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    understood.

    the inverter pump is vibrating in accessory mode. the reservoir is not. when i opened the reservoir to look inside i can see the fluid moving. since the inverter is vibrating, and the fluid is moving, should i look at the fan? where is it? i tried to search for inverter pump fan but wasn't getting any hits. assuming i'm using the wrong key words.

    whats your opinion on the catalytic converter code? 100% it needs to be replaced or could it be a sensor or something else?
     
    #8 misterdean, Aug 21, 2024
    Last edited: Aug 21, 2024
  9. MAX2

    MAX2 Member

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    P0420 An error in the low efficiency of the catalyst will have less impact on the ability to drive the car. This is more of an environmental problem.
    P0A93 Failure to cool the inverter will damage the inverter and stop the hybrid transmission. As a result, the car will stop traveling.
     
  10. MAX2

    MAX2 Member

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    There is no such thing as an inverter fan or an inverter pump fan.
    There are two large fans on the radiator grill of a car.
    When cooling systems overheat, these fans must turn on to cool the coolant that flows through the channels and tubes.
     
  11. misterdean

    misterdean Member

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    so it only turns on when overheating? is there a way to test if its working?
     
  12. MAX2

    MAX2 Member

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    #12 MAX2, Aug 21, 2024
    Last edited: Aug 21, 2024
  13. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Put on the air conditioning before you get the car overheated and you hear the two fans running they are working That's that pretty much so now take the car out for a drive and get it a little warmed up in Florida this shouldn't be any problem at this time of year generally speaking now when you pull in after you get the car warmed up 20 minutes of driving it a little bit above 45 or 50 mph this time of year should do it turn your air conditioning off keep driving a few minutes pulling a parking lot see if your fans are running because the engines warm not the air conditioners on and you're cooling fans are pretty much running so they work so then generally they should be coming on when the engine is warm and or the inverter coolant temperature gets warm enough to need fans which is probably pretty rare just moving in the air even hot air keeps the inverter temperature down really easily. So even on a real hot day if the car's not doing any work the inverter temperature loop will be ambient temperature whatever it is outside it'll be real close to it You got to get the car really going for a while to get the inverter temps up to where they're warm enough to be of any talking point basically and talking about things going off on the display and all of this kind of stuff it's real common this is all pretty normal stuff actually Best thing is to do is not to panic .
     
  14. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

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    Fans do not turn on when things are overheating. If it's overheating, something is wrong. Fans turn on when the coolant reaches a predetermined temperature set point during normal operation or turn on automatically when specific equipment is running. There are probably dozens of Gen 2 Prii currently running around with failed inverter cooling water pumps, but the owner never knows because they only do short local trips. They often fail intermittently. Sometimes they fail more 'spectacularly" and you get an acrid odor as the bottom of the pump 'melts' and blows the AM2 fuse, which kills the car. If it doesn't blow the AM2, once the pump fails to the point where it starts affecting the AC, the owner takes it to an AC shop and spends $$$$ while the AC shop troubleshoots and replaces parts that don't need it, because they don't understand how a Gen 2 works. Don't waste a bunch of time, just replace the pump, they're a wear item similar to a timing chain.
     
  15. misterdean

    misterdean Member

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    this is why i always post here before i do anything. i may not know whats up but i know you guys do.
     
  16. misterdean

    misterdean Member

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    so, my engine light went away. so did the red car light on my dash. i turned on my car today and everything was back to normal. the average mpg and miles driven on my dash started tracking again. previously, it wasn't tracking anything, and miles driven was stuck at 71 miles. when i hit the reset button, it would not reset. today i hit the reset button, and it did reset. i find it strange the engine light came on, throwing up cat code, inverter pump code, red car light on my dash, dash stopped tracking and responding to touch, all at the same time, and then all clear up at the same time. i bought the pump, but now i'm wondering if my pump actually needs to be replaced. my combo meter needs to be replaced and has been off. even that came back on when everything else went back to normal. not sure what think. was my car having a bad day? has anybody seen anything like this before?
     
  17. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Yes many times If you're having problems with your dash or your CM monitor which is your heads up display shining on the mirror that you're looking at seeing your transmission speed and your gas gauge If this is failing and you're playing around with the battery negative terminal and all this and that to reset it and playing all the games on YouTube that's a problem as that gets worse and more frequent other things can start to have communication problems too I'm wondering if you have the code for the CM monitor lost communication when it gets real bad that's what will happen and you may not be able to get it to come back on again your answer here is the Texas hybrids part as they know what they're doing and they'll get it right for $170 or whatever it is exchange and it's a one-time fix or it isn't depending upon your choice when things like this start happening then communication problems can happen across the can bus I guess it is and all kinds of funny business can be displayed because things aren't talking to each other so you might want to open up the line of communications and that might start with the CM monitor if it is in fact a problem or you have no display.
     
  18. misterdean

    misterdean Member

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    been keeping an eye on my pump. it's definitely vibrating, making noise, and the coolant is swirling. gonna assume it's good. while looking at the fluid i noticed i should probably add more. i hear there are different types of coolant and want to make sure i put the right stuff. what kind of coolant should i be using?
     
  19. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    Toyota SLLC (Super Long Life Coolant).
     
  20. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Asian red .