car died on interstate - dealer says battery?

Have them check the airflow sensor. the 2 times my 04 stalled it was that.

Similar symptoms: 1st time, I was right next to the dealership, it completely died, then a few minutes later it allowed me to restart & limp into the dealership. The 2nd time, I had enough time to get off the freeway & wait to be towed... that time with a completely dead battery, the car was having issues starting enough to be put into neutral for the tow.

 

the first time I was able to get it started, but that was after a bit of time (5 minutes or so) & me threatning my car with a tow... the 2nd time - it would not start at all. I have no idea how the AAA guy was able to get it started enough to put it into neutral. He might have had to 'jump' it, but I am not sure.

What I remember is that it felt like the car just shut down & coasted to a stop.

good luck

 

My guess is that your problem is much more than the 12V auxiliary battery. However, has that battery been replaced yet?

The whine and deceleration sound like you have an intermittent problem with the hybrid vehicle ECU or the inverter. However, with the 12V battery dying, any fault codes (DTC) would have been lost. Therefore you'll probably have to continue driving the car until the symptoms repeat.

 

Doesn't Toyota include road service for the first year?

 

the car will run without a 12v battery in it. sure, a bad connection or bad battery would cause some issues but it will not cause the car to die.

once it's running you can take the 12v out.

without codes, there's no clue to what went wrong, unfortunately. no way to retrieve them after you've removed the 12v...

 

Replace the 12V battery now so that it will be there to preserve the codes if this problem ever recurs. If it happens again with a crappy or dead battery you'll be in the same position.

 

Triptakers,

Do this, for your peace of mind and for mine.

Remove the 12v battery, take it to a local auto parts store that can "load test" it.
If it passes, then okay.
If it doesn't, it probably has one or more dying cells which will cause the same problem again if you continue to use it.
The store should not charge you for the battery load test.
Again, this is a load test, not a voltage check.

Unless your ECU or inverter is intermittent, this is probably the cause of your problem.
Computers don't like brown-outs!

ZC1

 

Great advice, Pat!
Keep it up, thanks.

ZC1

 

I am skeptical that a battery load test will be effective in identifying a marginal battery. Especially if the 12V battery is original equipment, I suggest that you replace it now since your car is acting very flaky.

For fun, I also suggest that you travel at the same speed that you had been at when the driveability problem occurred; then shift to B. How does the deceleration and drivetrain whine compare to what you recall when you had the problem?

I am very concerned that you were unable to successfully power down the car after you stopped. The power source control ECU is supposed to interpret your pushing the POWER button and provide appropriate signals to the hybrid vehicle ECU. One possible solution to cut power, if the problem reoccurs, would be to remove the IG1 and IG2 relays from the relay/fuse box that is near the inverter. However, this probably is going beyond what should be expected of a normal Prius owner.

 

It may be totally off base, but I cannot help thinking "hmm, perhaps
that starter blockoff plate ate through your resolver harness and
made the ECU unable to track motor position anymore". The "loud
whine" is a clue that something electrically weird was going on
with one or both MGs while you decelerated, like suddenly the
car didn't have control of them and they were trying to push their
own generated voltage into each other and the inverter caps in
a haphazard way.
.
I'll be very interested in the results of a GENUINE point diagnosis
on this, hopefully you can get one instead of "replace transaxle"
or the like.
.
_H*

 

I think the resolver harness is a sealed unit since 2006, so the starter blockoff plate would have had to come loose.

ZC1

 

Flatbed?? Why not just raise the front wheels - is it the low ground clearance?

 

I second the question. My 2008 Canadian owners manual says to use a flatbed or wheel lift type truck, but NOT a sling type truck, which can cause damage to body.

Manual indicates towing eyelet at front is for emergency towing without a tow truck only. Must have a person in drivers seat and limit speed to 18 MPH.

I've had two AWD vehicles and always insisted on a flatbed. I currently have no plan to insist on a flatbed for the Prius, but will at least ensure the tow truck does it right, according to the manual.