Blinking fuel gauge, no HV battery reading, exterior temperature reads "E"

These are all symptoms of a weak 12V battery. When I replaced my 12V batt, it took a while for the displays to read correctly. How does it drive or does it? I would recommend driving it around for awhile. Mine took a good 5-10 minutes to "reset".

 

Yeah, this really sounds like its time to replace the +12 battery. If you have a voltmeter, read the battery voltage with the car off, if it's below 10.5 ish, time for a new one. If this is the origional OEM battery, it really needs to go, now.
I recommend the Optima battery for a replacement. It have a much better lifespan than the OEM battery.

Here read this thread...

http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-h...-12v-yellow-top-d51-battery-pencil-posts.html

 

The only thing I can think of is to either jump the new 12V battery or hook it up to a charger. It should have arrived with a full charge but, you never know. I would try this:

1) Disconnect the negative terminal of the 12V battery for about 1 minute
2) If possible, hook the battery to a charger for a couple of hours
3) Else reconnect neg. terminal and hook up jumper cables from a running vehicle with a known good battery
4) Turn your car on (and leave it on for at least 5 minutes) and see what happens. If the car turns on but gives you weird readings, see if it's driveable. If it is, drive it around for about 10 minutes (hwy and city)

This "should" fix your problem if there are no other issues. If this doesn't fix it, diagnosis is over my head/beyond my limits.

Let us know if this works or what you have to do to fix it.

 

That is so weird. Its basically saying there are no problems but yet it won't work. I'll bet even a Toyota tech will have problems with this one. I would get ahold of Seilerts and see what he says.

 

Heh.

Start checking fuses. If something got wet, given recent electrical work, then it may have blown a fuse. Check specifically ECU-B, DOME, and GAUGE.

 

Awesome! Troubleshooting electrical on these cars is such a crap shoot. Did you notice any indications of bare wires someplace that might have caused a short?

 

AM2 feeds a relay which powers the inverter pump. You are quite justified to return to the place that did the work and complain that it is not water tight. Until then, stay away from the car wash!

 

Awesome call Seilerts. Its great to have you share your knowledge.

 

Guess it's my turn with this problem: 2005 prius with 245,000 miles. 1 month ago engine began shaking badly at idle and CEL illuminated. Ran codes and said multiple cylinder misfire and the 3 way coolant valve needing replacement. drove it to dealer for diagnosis and they told me same thing including "$1700 and no guarantees it would resolve issue." figured I'd start with the misfire first - $200 in parts - to make sure no head/block problems.

Replaced plugs and coils for all cylinders and decided to change the PCV valve ($5) while I was in there just in case. Car ran like a top - no shaking at all. erased DTCs and waited for the 3 way coolant valve DTC to show again and I would take that in to get fixed (too messy and required coolant air bleeding). Never came on. Let Pep boys change the engine oil. 2 weeks runs fine.

Next my son was driving it at night and said one headlight went out or got very dim. Not risking a ticket he said he drove it home and when he got in the driveway he could turn off engine but not console (GPS, radio, etc...). When he tried to turn it back on all he got was the "triangle !" light, fuel gauge bars all blinking, and all transmission gear square lights on and blinking in harmony. Engine will not start. Center console electronics would still not turn off. Slight smell of electrical burn coming from engine compartment/fuse box area.

Did the priuschat research, checked fuses and alas! the AM2 15A fuse was out. Replaced it however no change in the car's demeanor. Same symptoms. Car will not start so cannot check for error codes. Fuse did not blow a second time - it is still good.

Tomorrow I will try to jump it and see if it may be a 12v battery issue rest type action is required.

Sooooooo,

1) truly an inverter coolant pump issue?
2) somehow created a short in the wires when replacing plugs/coils?
3) other?

Strange, car ran perfect for 3 weeks after plug/coil fix, fuse did not blow again after replacement, console won't turn off, engine won't start.

Son said car has minimum 2-3 bars of gas.

Stumped!/Help!/Thanks!

 

You've glommed onto a thread in the Gen 1 Prius forum, but it sounds like you have a Gen 2.

If I remember right, AM2 is the fuse that ends up protecting the car when a Gen 2's inverter cooling pump goes south. Somebody with more Gen 2 experience might confirm that. Possibly if you started a new thread in the Gen 2 forum (or searched there for posts about AM2) that would happen faster.

 

thanks. will post over there.