The dreaded Check Hybrid System

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Technical Discussion' started by SteveLee, Nov 29, 2017.

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  1. SteveLee

    SteveLee Active Member

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    I got it to the dealership this morning. Had to rent a wrecker since I couldn't drive it, though it would start and would move. But the error message said to put it back in park. The service department called back after about 6 hours and said they found the problem. The inverter. It had gone bad. It will be the middle of next week before they could have it completed. The cost to replace the inverter is $4k, My heart dropped. The car has 146k miles on it. And then he said it's covered under warranty. And they will take care of any other safety recalls while it's there. I'm loving Toyota again.
     
    #21 SteveLee, Nov 30, 2017
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  2. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Good result :).

    Glad it worked out(y).
     
    #22 Raytheeagle, Nov 30, 2017
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  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Witness Leader

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    They should reverse those two statements: they're going to kill someone, lol.
     
    #23 Mendel Leisk, Nov 30, 2017
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  4. Jayw13702

    Jayw13702 Active Member

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    Result, I know that Toyota Uk wouldn’t have offered the same


    2010 Gen 3
     
    #24 Jayw13702, Nov 30, 2017
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  5. SteveLee

    SteveLee Active Member

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    My wife and I started talking about it and we remembered hearing an extra whine/buzz/hum noise with this car that we hadn't heard from the Gen 2. I just put it off to the different generations but I wonder if it wasn't this inverter slowly going bad. I know I actively tried to ignore it, not wanting anything to be wrong with it. Dumb, I know. She also recalled the other day it wouldn't turn on when the start button was pushed until after several times. I guess she wanted to deny anything was wrong too.

    Anyway, thanks for the moral support guys.
     
    #25 SteveLee, Nov 30, 2017
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  6. MelonPrius

    MelonPrius Senior Member

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    Nice. I might be confusing different parts here, but is this the IPM that was given an extended warranty and a software update? If so, did you ever get the original software update?
     
    #26 MelonPrius, Nov 30, 2017
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  7. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    See earlier posts in this thread asking about the software flash.
     
    #27 Raytheeagle, Nov 30, 2017
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  8. MelonPrius

    MelonPrius Senior Member

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    I see. Thanks.
     
    #28 MelonPrius, Nov 30, 2017
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  9. CR94

    CR94 Senior Member

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    So the inverter IPM can fail, despite receiving the 2014 recall and reflash? Something new to worry about!
     
    #29 CR94, Nov 30, 2017
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  10. m.wynn

    m.wynn Senior Member

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    Yep, especially older Gen 3's which had plenty of time to accumulate high current fatigue to the IPM caps before the recall was even a thing. I squirm a little bit every time I smash the pedal to the floor...

    They did the right thing with the 15 year/unlimited miles warranty, though. My 2010 will be dead from a high salt diet before it's out of warranty.
     
    #30 m.wynn, Nov 30, 2017
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  11. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Definitely, yes... the software flash only limits the amount of current sent through the IPM during acceleration and regenerative braking IIRC. The power transistors in the IPM with the contacts prone to failure are still there until they fail and get replaced, or make it without incident.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #31 xliderider, Nov 30, 2017
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  12. CR94

    CR94 Senior Member

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    Hmmm... I try to minimize abrupt acceleration, partly for that very reason, but avoiding abrupt moderate braking does not seem feasible in real-life traffic.
     
    #32 CR94, Dec 1, 2017
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  13. m.wynn

    m.wynn Senior Member

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    Of the scores of IPM failure stories around here, it always seems to be acceleration that brings on the failure. That's not to say regen braking can't get it done, but it's definitely not the normal scenario.
     
    #33 m.wynn, Dec 1, 2017
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  14. SteveLee

    SteveLee Active Member

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    Yes, the flash was done on the car before I got it. Within the past maybe 6 months we began hearing a louder than normal humming sound while sitting idle if outside the car. I think this may have been an indication things were not good. The wife has something of a lead foot so if power acceleration is a contributing factor I'll blame her, lol.

    Found this little blurb that clears up why Toyota covered this even after 100k miles. "Although the Hybrid Inverter assembly is covered by Toyota's New Vehicle limited warranty for 8 years or 100,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers ownership experience. Toyota is now extending the warranty coverage for repairs related to the failure of the IPM to 15 years from the date of first use."
     
    #34 SteveLee, Dec 1, 2017
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  15. SteveLee

    SteveLee Active Member

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    It can. But it's also covered. "Although the Hybrid Inverter assembly is covered by Toyota's New Vehicle limited warranty for 8 years or 100,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers ownership experience. Toyota is now extending the warranty coverage for repairs related to the failure if the IPM to 15 years from the date of first use."
     
    #35 SteveLee, Dec 1, 2017
  16. SteveLee

    SteveLee Active Member

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    I can attest to my wife's lead foot.
     
    #36 SteveLee, Dec 1, 2017
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  17. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Is that why my wife sets off the security screener when we travel:sick:?
     
    #37 Raytheeagle, Dec 1, 2017
    Last edited: Dec 1, 2017
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  18. SteveLee

    SteveLee Active Member

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    In the way of an update, The repair was two days shorter than expected. Below is the Code and the list of items replaced. Driving it it appeared to be charging the HV Battery quicker and more completely, though I just drove it maybe 5 miles from the shop.
     

    Attached Files:

    #38 SteveLee, Dec 4, 2017
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  19. u0dn71

    u0dn71 Junior Member

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    Ray anything else needed to run the j2534?
     
    #39 u0dn71, Mar 30, 2018
  20. amos

    amos Active Member

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    Hello everyone.
    Im having same issue with my car as of this morning.
    Got that hybrid warning saying park aside.
    The triangle, hybrid system, skid control, brakes, cel .all were there this morning. I have about 120k on it and its 2013. It started just as i turned it on and not when driving it.
    Went to auto zone and got this P0A80. Replace hybrid battery pac.
    Ok lucky me the reset process was fine and now i dont have this issue.
    I understand that system needs 2 consecutive trips where voltage of battery packs shows lower than specs.
    Im wondering since we have a 10yr 150k warranty, can i get a new battery from toyota ? Right now car still driving great im getting 50mpg and even when that eror was there , no problem with charge while driving or regenerative charge. Symptom was : engine would still run and continue charging at P or at a stop. Right now that eror code is gone.
     
    #40 amos, Nov 5, 2018
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