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ERROR! Major MALFUNCTION!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by DrPhlox, Jun 21, 2006.

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  1. DrPhlox

    DrPhlox New Member

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    Unfortunately, there is not a "frowny" large enough for how I'm feeling right now.

    My car had a major malfunction today (a 2004 pkg #9 Silver; ONLY 22k miles!). While driving thru Palo Alto, the engine started to sound like a lawn mower and ALL (and I do mean _all_) of the warning lights came on (all across the dashboard and the MFD). The brakes went out, (I had to _really_ stomp on them to slow the car down), and I could go a whole _8_ miles an hour! (whee!). So, needless to say, I pulled over and called the Toyota dealer (in my case: Toyota 101 in RWC). They said that "they've never encountered this before" (where have I heard that before??), but to "bring it in immediately". Well, I *did* try, but at 8 mph, that car was like driving a brick on jello (really!). So, I pulled over and got a tow truck to take it (and me) in to the shop. Now, here I sit with a rental, waiting for news of what will happen.

    As far as I can tell, (and I don't know much, really!), the hybrid system TOTALLY failed on me. I might be pretty pessimistic at this point, but it seems like the only good thing going for me is that it's still under warranty (this is a test of the Toyota warranty...).

    One little question for the masses: Has anyone had this sort of problem [yet]? If so, how was Toyota in dealing with the problem/warranty?

    Thanks for any and all info!

    -= Dave =-
     
    #1 DrPhlox, Jun 21, 2006
  2. Kev1000000

    Kev1000000 New Member

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    did you happen to be on the freeway?
     
    #2 Kev1000000, Jun 21, 2006
  3. rufaro

    rufaro WeePoo, Gen II

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DrPhlox @ Jun 20 2006, 09:45 PM) [snapback]274509[/snapback]</div>
    OUCH!

    And how 'bout this: <div align="center">[​IMG]</div>
     
    #3 rufaro, Jun 21, 2006
  4. ghostofjk

    ghostofjk New Member

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    Unless something really unusual happened to the ICE (e.g., running out of oil), which is unlikely (unless something freaky happened like getting an oil change and someone forgetting to put the drain plug back in), it is probably a software problem.

    Let us know!
     
    #4 ghostofjk, Jun 21, 2006
  5. jamarimutt

    jamarimutt New Member

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    My car had a somewhat similar power failure a while ago. The red triangle came on, as well as the brake light, and although the ICE still worked, it only powered the car through the electric motor, as when you drive in reverse with a low battery. The problem fixed itself after restarting the car and a couple of weeks later I took it to the dealer for the ECM upgrade (I had received the recall letter a long time ago but had paid little attention to it).

    The original problem has not repeated itself, but now the car sometimes shifts into neutral, immediately after starting it, and some lights come on (see photo). When this happens the only solution is to remove my foot from the brake so the car moves slightly and shifts back to park.

    I still like the car, but enthusiasm has decreased a bit. ;)
     
    #5 jamarimutt, Jun 21, 2006
  6. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Sure you weren't out of gas? The ICE noise seems to go against the out of gas condition diagnosis, but who knows.

    Have you had all the SSCs performed (50J in particular)?
     
    #6 efusco, Jun 21, 2006
  7. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    Oh man, DrPhlox, that sounds bad.
    I have an '04 #9 with 20,900 miles and I'm definately staying the Hell away from Palo Alto!
     
    #7 TonyPSchaefer, Jun 21, 2006
  8. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    you absolutely sure the lawnmower noise was coming from the engine? was the car running on electric then after all the lights came on? or was the engine still trying?

    heard of problems with the VSC steering angle sensor that won't let you go more than a couple miles an hour, but that doesn't seem to cover everything else.

    well, i'll ask DH about it tonight and see what he can come up with.

    sorry your car is having trouble :(
     
    #8 galaxee, Jun 21, 2006
  9. Mirza

    Mirza New Member

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    #9 Mirza, Jun 21, 2006
  10. Jim1eye

    Jim1eye Shaklee Ind Distributor

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DrPhlox @ Jun 21 2006, 12:45 AM) [snapback]274509[/snapback]</div>

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Jun 21 2006, 09:02 AM) [snapback]274593[/snapback]</div>
    What amazes me is that you guys have '04s with 20,000 miles on them. Locutus is 8 months old and rapidly approaching that.

    Good Luck, Dave. Please keep us posted.
     
    #10 Jim1eye, Jun 21, 2006
  11. Tadashi

    Tadashi Member

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    ouch. Sounds like the hybrid version of the blue screen of death. :p Is there a system reset function? (hopefully it is not a button on the bottom of the car) So far the only problem I have had is my car will not respond after I turn it on (will not go into gear, turn off, etc). I think it has to do with the radar testing here.
     
    #11 Tadashi, Jun 21, 2006
  12. Three60guy

    Three60guy -->All around guy<-- (360 = round) get it?

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    Any updates for us?
     
    #12 Three60guy, Jun 21, 2006
  13. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    well, with that major of an issue, he won't even begin to speculate without the car in front of him to test it himself.

    example: what is "sounds like a lawnmower?" could be misfiring, could be a damper, could be a spring, exhaust ripped off by large chunk of debris on highway, etc.

    over the internet there's only so much you can do and this isn't something common where he can just say "oh it's problem X, here's what they'll do"

    once they get some diagnostic info from the car, post it and we'll have more to go on. for now, it's a very wide range of possibilities.
     
    #13 galaxee, Jun 21, 2006
  14. DrPhlox

    DrPhlox New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Jun 21 2006, 06:55 PM) [snapback]274950[/snapback]</div>
    Too bad I didn't have my camera with me! (I could have even _recorded_ it! And I usually *do* have the thing with me! Oh well, let's hope there's NOT a next time!).

    Anyway, I heard back from Toyota 101 today, and they tell me that my inverter went south, (this might explain a lot). I won't get it back until [at least] Friday (upon which I will get/post the codes here, too). They are ordering the part, put it in on Thursday and have to "road test it cold" on Friday AM. To top it off, there was some kind of recall (I haven't been keeping up w/all the news, unfortunately), so it's getting all of that done to it, as well.

    I'm hoping my little car comes back as happy as I got it... I'll let you know of all of the codes when I get them, (they *will* be on the maintenance bill, right?).

    -= Dave =-
     
    #14 DrPhlox, Jun 22, 2006
  15. DrPhlox

    DrPhlox New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DrPhlox @ Jun 22 2006, 12:33 AM) [snapback]275114[/snapback]</div>
    As an FYI, I found a link to a forum for "Prius Software Problems" wherein someone describes a similar situation to mine (although, I wasn't trying to get on the freeway):

    http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/WebX?14@@.ef64fbc/62

    -= Dave =-
     
    #15 DrPhlox, Jun 22, 2006
  16. ghostofjk

    ghostofjk New Member

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    I think yours is the 2nd or 3rd inverter failure reported here.
     
    #16 ghostofjk, Jun 22, 2006
  17. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    Idle question: did you ever wash or steamclean the drive compartment?
     
    #17 richard schumacher, Jun 22, 2006
  18. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DrPhlox @ Jun 22 2006, 01:53 AM) [snapback]275122[/snapback]</div>
    most of those are describing the SSC 50P recall- a software update, basically.

    there is a new recall out on a steering part that has caused no problems to date, but they're changing them out for safety. otherwise they may be talking about the SSC 50P i mentioned.

    the inverter...? sounds funky to DH, but if it's under warranty the cost isn't coming from your pocket... if it wasn't under warranty this would be another story... anyway let us know what happens.
     
    #18 galaxee, Jun 22, 2006
  19. Frank Hudon

    Frank Hudon Senior Member

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    there were some of the 2004 inverters that had coolant leaks into the electonics that shut the car down. Probably what this is. There was a service bulletin on it. Can't find the number now.
     
    #19 Frank Hudon, Jun 22, 2006
  20. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Frank Hudon @ Jun 22 2006, 02:28 PM) [snapback]275450[/snapback]</div>
    Aha! EG017-05. See 'em all in the files section of the yahoo toyota-prius-sat1 group, courtesy of MRV.
     
    #20 tochatihu, Jun 22, 2006
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