Warning Lights, Triangle ! and VSC. Transmission Problems?

Getting my tranny replaced today... should be done in a few day. Had to take it to the dealer as they where the only shop that would do ....

 

How can I also check these codes that your talking about?

 

Get a scanner connected to your prius, the first choice is toyota mastertech, or Toyota techstream.

enter the HV menu, then read DTC's
also read pending codes.


other scanners may work for some but not all of the vehicles data, especially brakes and some hybrid dtc's ( data trouble codes)
you will find these at a garage who owns the tool, they are expensive and not always a good investment for the typical car owner

 

2008 Prius 113,000 miles...red triangle! dealer pulled the dreadful P0AA6, info 526 codes. but no other info codes 611, 612 etc etc.., I entered codes into Google, thats how I ended up here! lots of great input by all!
after having the car at the dealer for 3 days of troubleshooting. There were not able to pinpoint where the fault is, they cleared the codes, test drove for 50 miles with no red triangle. It was explained to me that when it happens again (something I didnt want to hear) i was to drive the car, if able to, then shut off for at least a full minute then turn back on. this should store the 600's codes. sound about right? also note outside temp was around 102 degress

 

Hey, I have an angel helping me work on my 2003 who is a mechanic but new to hybrids< but his friend took classes so together , we checked the cells of the battery pack and all were fine. He thinks the inverter pump may be pumping at too low of rate because he bleed the system after we replaced the fluid and there was barely a trickle out of one of the bleeders when both are open.
The symptoms include the red ! triangle, check engine light and it sometimes fails to go in reverse, but it also looses power. I had it towed home and am afraid if the inverter pump was bad it may have fried either the transaxle or the ecu due to the symptoms because I did drive it about 20 miles to my original destination rather than being stranded. When it struggled up hills and I had pulled over it would gain enough speed to get me up and was better on the flat but would act up again until I stopped with the motor running each time.
my questions are: 1) does it seem like a weak inverter pump could cause these issues with the loss of power and reverse working intermittently
2) can this fry the transaxle or does anyone know if replacement has helped these 2 issues.
3) are there other ways to test the inverter pump because it is humming and pumping turbulence into the reservoir
4) are there ways to test the transaxle
5) are there ways to trouble shoot the ECU
I really appreciate anyone with knowledge who will take time to respond with specifics

 

Oh when I turn off the car there is a sort of hum or whir sound that never was there before

 

I recommend finding what the codes are, then do some research on the codes. I believe my inverter pump was covered under a recall, (2008)
But start with the codes first.

 

Those sound like classic symptoms of a failed transaxle to me but like Matt K said, you need to have the codes read. Get them read and report back the results.

 

codes 3125 and 3600 thanks! is that recall for a 2008 prius or in that year for the 2003?

 

1) The Gen I Prius did not have an inverter pump recall to my knowledge (but I've been wrong before)
2) P3125 is a general code that has "info" subcodes. You really need to have it read by a "Prius aware" scanner and get the info subcode.

Here is some info about p3125:
http://techno-fandom.org/~hobbit/cars/TIS/ileaf/02toyrm/02toypdf/02rmsour/2002/02priusr/di/hvcsy/cip3125.pdf

You really need the subcode to go further (unless you have tons of money to throw parts at it).

 

extreme lack of money, other code I wrote wrong it is p3006 i believe will try further coding thanks

 

Since have been to dealer simply to have them read codes and give me subcodes. P3000 sub 123; p30009 sub 388 are all that came up for them. They said they'd replace hybrid ecu first for 1400$ to see if that works then next would be the transaxle or inverter both cost over3000$ to replace. I'm still loosing inverter coolant but haven't pinpointed source.
?Is it possible to just reprogramed ecu for it to work properly,( tow guy said they did this for
his daughters car.)?
?Am I wrong to assume more tests could be done to truly find out what needs fixed or replaced with out just replacing parts until it is solved?

 

Try this procedure:

The first step is to clear the P3009 trouble code by unhooking the 12V battery for a moment or using a code reader. Now turn the key on/ but NOT start/ready mode, wait 30 seconds and if the code comes back, the leak is in the battery case. If the code does not return, turn key to start to "ready mode" and immediately shift to neutral and stay this mode for 30 seconds. If the code returns, the leak is in the power cables or inverter. If the code did not set, shift to drive and if the code appears now (can take up to a minute or so), the leak is in the transaxle. ​

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Read more: http://priuschat.com/threads/easiest-way-to-confirm-p3009-error-source.128855/#ixzz2fj1Cso3U ​

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There is absolutely no way I would let the dealer troubleshoot by throwing parts at it, at my expense. NO WAY!!!!!​

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Imwoody's right again. Lower the temp of the Inverter & trans the better you are.
Fluid heat and excessive current draw (Load: Going up steep hills at speed with loaded compartment is super duty for this car) is what kills the motor windings.

I run Redline D6 trans fluid (100% Pure Base Esther stock fluid) and replace the Inverter fluid every 30,000 miles.
I replace the D6 every 30,000 miles. D6 is high performance fluid and requires high performance OCI in a Prius. It has no additive pack. It will result in no mechanical wear but will show slight increase in TAN due to no pack on board.

You will notice improved pump agitation (flow) with new Inverter coolant. I also add half a bottle of Redline Water Wetter to the Inverter coolant tank to mitigate aluminum corrosion in addition to new SLLC. Huge cross section of aluminum in the Inverter heat sink.

Immediate temp reduction of the Inverter based on IR thermometer readings.

 

J ammon, you really need to have this car evaluated by a Gen 1 specialist, if following usnavystgc's protocol doesn't help narrow things down. Any shop that is listed by Independent Hybrid/EV Repair &amp; Service Shop Locator can help you. It is very rare that you would need to buy a brand-new computer from a dealer, regardless of make/model. Used computers are available from car-part.com ($100) or ebay, as are inverter assemblies ($500). A transaxle, you are better off letting a shop source that, due to the risk of installing a replacement that might also be bad, and having to pay twice the labor cost.

 

This is exactly what happened to my Prius. What was the problem and how did you get it fixed? I know this is an old thread, but I hope someone replies.

 

If you are near southern Indiana, bring it to me at AutoBeYours.
we offer good used transmissions for 650 plus 595 for installation,

 

Hyena, you are in the Bay Area, so get in touch with Luscious Garage and see what they offer.

 

For some reason i can't see the pictures you posted can you email these? Car is 08 with 119k. The code came on first time while i was accelerating hard into traffic. I reset it by unplugging the battery. Drove 3 minutes and came on again. It even came on while in park after a reset, sometimes it takes a few minutes or few miles. No noise, inverter pump working too. I took it back to the used car dealer i bought it from an hour away. It ran great, 49 mpg 13.9v. I couldn't activate Cruise control, not sure if that is helpful? He checked the HV with another battery, AC, and standby Battery. I don't have the 3 digit code yet, P0AA6 w/ 1310. I have to take it to a dealer Monday for the 3 digit code, used dealer had lots of batteries and harnesses. He showed me corrosion and leakage from gen 1s. So he seemed knowledgeable but doesn't have TIS code reader..

 

I have a 2008 Prius with 143,000 miles. Car was running fine, but about 2 weeks ago all the lights came on. It still drove, but when I got home and turned it off, it would not turn on. A loud fan from the back right would come on and it would only shift to neutral from park. Had it towed to the Toyota dealer and after running the diagnostics, he told me the transaxle was bad and needed to be replaced. Over $6,000.00! Is it worth having a used transaxle installed by a non-dealer faciluty?