HELP!!! something is not right!!!

I have also just had a p0a08 error, & am having dc/dc charging problems, BUT my invertor pump IS packed up & am waiting it to go in for a recall, As i have just changed my transaxal, it drives ok apart from this error... I can just about drive with a few batteryies in the boot all jumped up... BUT not for long.... before I get parking brake paw error...

 

and auto shut offs, which I am sure are to do with inverter temp etc...

My abs vsc lights also come on...

Sure this is all down to power & recharging Dc

 

You really don't want to be doing that! The DC-DC converter only stops charging the battery when it's seriously overheating already. Do that for too long and you have a very good chance of permanently damaging the inverter. In fact, I wouldn't mind betting that this has already happened.

 

whoopsy daisy, I thought it was fail safed,.LOL! I am trying to at this moment book it in for its inveter pump recall, As I know its not working...

I have a spare inverter if need be, But never want to change it over, until I had the inverter pump done...

 

a 2005 classic prius?
is it your gen 1 or gen2 thats failing with this code?

 

No Sir its my 2005 model, (you see before I only had a classic) & now I have 2x... nhw11 & nhw20...

 

& I hope I am not stepping on posters toes by replying to this topic regarding my own car & its problems....

 

Yeah, it's a kind of a "yes and no" situation there. It is protected against over temperature, but the over-temperature setting is pretty high and it's not meant to be operating in those conditions for extended periods. Think of it something like this, it will (with a high probability) protect it in the first instance of overheating, but from then on the probability of failure steadily increases.

Hopefully it will be ok. Can you confirm that the 12V battery does indeed still charge correctly when the car is relatively cold (like for at least 15 min after the car is first started). If the answer is no then it is already damaged for 100% certain.

 

No I am sure it does not charge, because the voltage would be around 13.5v right, mine stays around 12v... But my invertor pump is not working, trying to get it in for a recall as we speak... they are meant to call me back over an hour ago..

 

Unfortunately that's not good news. You see the DC-DC converter doesn't automatically stop working just because the coolant pump has stopped. Rather it responds to the consequent over temperature, which can take a considerable amount of time, depending on the ambient temperature and driving conditions (but in just about every case will be more than 10 to 15 minutes).

When my HV coolant pump went out I had to wait two weeks to get it booked in for replacement. For that two weeks I was very careful to take it easy, and only do short trips (typically < 20 mins). During that whole time my 12V charging system held up (typically about 14 volts) despite the pump being out of action.

 

theres more info in my thread, but basically i have just changed gearbox, & had other codes before then..

when I put a fresh battery or a few plugged together it works drives as normal, only until it starts getting battery low modules start playing around etc, possible overheating because of bleeding coolant in invertor properly & pump not working in the 1st place... I have not tried to drive other then for testing issues, had bought an inverer will chuck it in if need be, but want to do the pump 1st, as was diagnosed not working even before tranny running with same invertor...

Its booked in on wednesday to have the invertor pump done..

 

Here is a BIG BIG update for people with p0a08 whilst working on thier cars... gearbox engine or inverter...

There are 2x grey plugs on the back of the synergy drive unit, 1 of those (the lower one) was in my case disconected, making the car not charge dc/dc aux battery...

The code it threw was the p0a08, & as soon as I connected this plug my battery voltage was up to 14v & recharging, everything was back to normal....

Its a very hard plug to see, if everything is back on the car, possibly easier if you have the wipers etc out of your way...

BUT just feel it, If its loose & moving around you know its not pluged into anything, & needs to be...

I thank all those that shed thier views, they all helped pointing me in the right direction...

 

Glad you got it all worked out......now if I could only figure out mine

 

Thanks!!! We should pass this along to juliolopezgonzales for his poor car.

 

If you disconnect the 12V battery and then reconnect it does the red triangle disappear? If so, do you have to drive the car for it to come back?

 

I did also post this update in his specific thread... For his eyes to see & his prius to be sprung back alive...

 

For this DTC, the triangle will come back when 12V bus voltage falls below a certain level, I think 11V. The 12V sags greatly under the weight of the power load when the DC converter is offline, so it would not be unusual for it to fall under 11V, then recover to >12V after a few minutes, making it hard to tease out the cause. In general, it just depends on the code. Some are instantaneous, others you might go for a few weeks in between 12V resets.

 

The grey plugs are on the behind of the inverter, & connect to a loom on that side of the prius... You cannot miss them, just look at the cars firewall & between the invertor...

also do the MFD check, click display while turning lights on & off 3 times, you will eventually see the battery voltage come up on the screen...

if those grey plugs are not right, the car will drain the 12v battery in secs not minuits.. I am on call on this thread, lets get you running man....