Hybrid drive trouble light, check engine light, red triangle all on

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by woodstork, May 15, 2013.

  1. woodstork

    woodstork Junior Member

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    Hoping someone can give me some clues before I have to call and have it towed to the dealer. I was driving along at about 50 mph when the car beeped and the dash lit up. I got the little circle with an exclamation, the red triangle, the check engine and the the hybrid drive warning light. I let off the gas and slowed down and pulled off the road, put the car in park. The gas engine was not running, and did not kick on for the nearly 10 minutes it took me to find all the info in the owner's manual. I turned the car off and back on several times with no change. I decided to nurse it on home, the gas engine came on as I began to move but kicked off again after about a minute. I drove home slowly on the battery, but now need to know what I might be looking at before I have to call a tow truck to haul it to the dealer. The gas engine will come on when the car is first started but stops after 40-60 seconds. Full tank of gas. Any ideas of help would be greatly appreciated!
     
    #1 woodstork, May 15, 2013
  2. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    Without any codes, we can only make guesses. Wherever you take it, please give us the DTCs (Diagnostic Trouble Codes).

    From the bolded sections, you seem unfamiliar w/the the operation of the car. If you are stopped, there's no reason for the engine to run unless the HV battery is low (to charge it) or to provide requested cabin heat or to warm up the engine and cat. As for 2nd bolded section, it's not abnormal for the engine to shut off if below 41 mph.

    As for the the 3rd, section, that is also not abnormal. Read 5 stages PDF at Scangauge: best threads for mileage improvement | PriusChat. Once the engine and cat are sufficiently hot, it can shutdown.

    If you put the car in the READY mode, can you look at the inverter coolant tank? Do you see turbulence? If no, the inverter pump has failed. There was LSC A0N - HV (Inverter) Water Pump; Dealer Letter and Technical Instructions | PriusChat and later Information on Steering and Hybrid Coolant Pump Recalls C0T and C0U | PriusChat.
     
    #2 cwerdna, May 15, 2013
  3. woodstork

    woodstork Junior Member

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    Thanks, cwerdna. I believe that the gas engine should have been running at least part of that time since I had the air conditioner turned on and the fan on high. The HV battery display shows the battery at about half charge. Typically, the engine runs pretty frequently with the AC on, especially when the HV battery has less than a full charge and the car is underway. I should have included that information. I will check the inverter coolant tank in the daylight tomorrow. Thanks again.
     
    #3 woodstork, May 15, 2013
  4. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    The AC compressor is electric and doesn't require the ICE to be running for the AC to run.

    Re: the bolded part, yes, if the HV battery gets too low, the ICE will run. And yes, having the AC on depletes the HV battery much quicker. Typical idle current draw is 1 to 1.3 amps w/fan (at 220+ volts) off or on low and AC off. Turning AC on makes it go WAY up. I've seen it past 10 amps w/the AC blasting.

    You can easily check for turbulence in the inverter coolant tank w/the car in READY mode. It's the one closest to the firewall and right next to the inverter (large silver box that says HYRBID SYNERGY DRIVE on it). No turbulence == dead inverter pump.
     
    #4 cwerdna, May 15, 2013
  5. woodstork

    woodstork Junior Member

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    Thanks again! Just waiting for a little daylight, now.
     
    #5 woodstork, May 16, 2013
  6. NickBaker9

    NickBaker9 Junior Member

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    What was wrong with your car? I had the EXACT same thing happen to mine...
     
    #6 NickBaker9, Apr 30, 2014
  7. ericbecky

    ericbecky Hybrid Battery Hero

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    What year and how many miles on you Prius?

    Has it sat unused recently for a long period of time?

    Do you have a way to retrieve the error codes?

    How old is the 12v battery? Is it in good condition?

    This can be a sign of a failing hybrid battery.
    Hopefully that's not your situation.

    Do you have a trusted independent mechanic who works on hybrids?
     
    #7 ericbecky, Apr 30, 2014
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    could be overheating.
     
    #8 bisco, Apr 30, 2014
  9. ericbecky

    ericbecky Hybrid Battery Hero

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    As listed in the other posts, look for turbulence in the coolant tank.
    If battery is failing/overheating you may hear the cooling fan in the hatch on high.
     
    #9 ericbecky, Apr 30, 2014
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