Not possible... but my tranny is slipping...

*Mod Note: Duplicate threads merged.
Ok guys, first let me establish my bone-fides. I grew up on a junk-yard and have loved cars since before the cast iron powerglide. I have been an ASE Master Auto Tech (started 1977 when no one knew what they were). Now I am a Mechanical Engineer. So I know what my 2001 Prius is doing isn't possible. However, I'm comming home on the highway at 55 with no problems and running great at 144000mi, and suddenly on a small downhill with no bumps or anything, all ($%^&) breaks loose. All the lights on the dash and the display light up. Engine runs rough, I pull over immediately, engine continues to run, but at higher rpm at idle. I restart and again all lights, but engine continues to run.. I try to get to a parking area on the other side of the highway, with a jerky motion as I floorboard it just to get it to move. Get parked. After several restarts, finally get most of the lights out and the engine will idle and charge the traction batt. Thinking I can 'back up' on the traction batt to a better position for the roll-back to pick me up I try it. Again jerk, slip, jerk, slip, etc.... While I'm waiting, I slip on my high pot gloves (keepem in the trunk) and take out the service key from the trac batt and disconnect the 12v neg for a complete reboot. Wait 5 -10 min or so. Re hook up. Restart. No lights,what so ever. Now will shift to R , N, D, but just as soon as you touch the acc pedal in any gear, all lights and engine dies..... No codes! (yea, shouldn't have pulled the juice while waiting on the tow truck till I tried codes... oh well.. ) Once in a while, engine will run when you touch the gas pedal, but will not pull the car in R or D, just revs up and slips. Unless I sheared a shaft, and that should make noise. No noise. Yea, probably main inverter, but it checks out. Maybe gas pedal, does it have a transmission computer? When idling, by pushing down on the pedal the rpm go from about 900 to about 1200 in park. Never did that before. Otherwise, I've tried all I know and all I can find on this and other websites. Even all dealer knows. Dealer wants to start parts changing, I said unless he has a way to test parts, no change. Just wanted to add to an already too long post... 12V batt is new Optima changed about 4 mo ago, Trac batt checks out OK, Inverter/convert check ok, 'Ready' light comes on ign, engine comp check out ok, had HV comp replaced at about 60k miles. Engine runs great, my daily driver, avg 48mpg, driver not stupid, (generally)... and that is all... Anybody help?

 

Thanks for the idea brother, but I haven't had any axle work done and checked that first as I thought I may have busted a shaft in the tranny and it caused the diff to let the broken shaft spin.... And again, no noise....

 

Coolant in inverter flowing well. Fans come on when ign turned on. Inverter/converter checked by 2 dealers and both said it was ok. Called Toyota Customer Svc. (HA!) and they could not believe it was happening.
After being transfered at least 10 times, I got the message and hung up. Each area I was transfered to, the inverter group, the MG1 group, the MG2 group, had no answers. Heck I think I even talked to their accounting group! Anyway, of course I have no way of proving that it is good, (home today to play hookie with paperwork.... ) I pulled the top off of it a few minutes ago and no burnt anything, no smell, etc. I tried it again and same results. The high pots are back there because I often work on locomotive systems and need them for my job sometimes... lot's of places to get dead on thoes diesel / electric's. I have a lot of info on the 2001 Prius, including all shop manuals. I haven't had the time to sit and figure this out. I had hoped someone out there had something simular happen and was able to do a "Master Reboot" or something and fix it. Thanks, Merc05h

 

Tom,
Your the closest to hitting what I surmized and the Dealer Service Writer (after many false starts $$$$$) said, right on the head. However, for many of my hard earned American Dollars, they checked the Inverter/Converter (twice....boo-hoo....$$$$) and told me I needed a new transaxle. ($8500 a conservative est. by my local dealers) I don't believe it could just go like that. Particularly with no noise. I wanted proof and they told me there was no way to just 'check' the transaxle. They just ship them back to Toyota and Toyota ships them back. They don't work on them. Being that it has 144000 miles, though runs and drives like a new one (when it pulls that is...) I hate to put that kind of money in one. Again, I was hoping someone had the same problem and had a solution that didn't include a new $8500 transaxle. (of course if it comes down to it, I'll try to get a reman or a unit out of a wrecked gen 1) -- Merc05h

 

Fellas,
I really appriciate your help, but I know I'm long winded by nature and I'm trying to keep the posts short. I really appriciate all your input, and perhaps there is not an 'easy' or even 'marginally hard' way to fix this problem. However, I hope you don't take me as short or dismissive of your ideas. I'm not a 'know it all' when it comes to Prius's or car's in general. My car knowledge is dated about 20 years and though I have a good knowledge of diesel/electrics. I don't know Hybrid cars. So please don't take my 'been there, tried that' answers as being a smart a**. Just trying to be brief and factual. I saw a 'Master Reboot' post somewhere, I can't find again that started out as 'lock and unlock the driver door with your key, turn on the ign twice, put in neutral, turn on the ign twice, etc... ending up in park and holding the ign on for 30 sec and this supposedly 'rebooted' all the computers. Anyone else seen this? Where? -- Merc05h

 

Re: I know it can't... But my tranny is slipping...

The one and only time I'll feed a troll.

Thank you Sir, that was very helpfull, but it's already been tried and did not help the car. Perhaps you could take your very Manly comments somewhere they would be appriciated. Merc stands for Mercinary and 05h (Green Beret MOS) is what I did in the Military. Don't think you would be man enough to say that to my face. But I hope you try... Watch out for sharp objects.
Thanks again, Merc05h

 

Re: I know it can't... But my tranny is slipping...

Nope, an 0302 Marine would have more honor than you display. Wank.

 

Thank you for your help Sir. Please continue. --Bob Jones (Merc05h)

 

Re: I know it can't... But my tranny is slipping...

Hope this helps. Thanks, Bob Jones (Merc05h)

 

Re: I know it can't... But my tranny is slipping...

The small fee gives you access to Toyota's Repair Manuals. When I bought the car, I gave $125 for the wireing diagram book and $160 ea, for 2 repair manuals. Already tried that. Bought the 24 hour deal before I found out I already had what I'd just bought. Lesson learned... Thanks, Bob Jones (Merc05h)

 

If that were what was wrong, I wouldn't be able to push it in my garage would I? -- Bob Jones

 

Very good! I'd hoped I wasn't the only one. I'll be sure to check that out! -- Bob Jones (Merc05h)