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Surviving Triangle of Death, Camping & Condensation

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by prairiecomm, Sep 2, 2011.

  1. prairiecomm

    prairiecomm Junior Member

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    We camped last week in our 2008 prius in the high rockies, high enough that we decided to close all windows to keep warmer. Don't recommend that you do that.

    In the morning the front windshield and rear hatch had heavy interior condensation (no duh), and starting yielded the red triangular of death & no power. (Trying not to panic 100 miles from anywhere, and no cell phone service.)

    So we disconnected the 12v battery to reset everything. Ah, able to start/move car. But when turned off to put the battery/back end back together, same problem. Plus rear hatch wouldn't open. Figured that was from condensation on the hatch electronics.

    So re-disconnected, and this time, I didn't turn off the engine while my husband put the back end back together and repacked all our camping gear.

    Success.

    Note: We did have the check engine light go on over 10,000 feet regardless of 85 octane gas. Interestingly, the light goes on, not at the time, but the next morning.

    There is something going on there that we'll have to evenually remedy, since before the trip we were getting codes related to emissions. Replaced the evap trap cannister as result of several smoke tests. Last test before those fixes yielded P0441 Evap Purge Flow, P0455 Evap Gross Leak - and it passed the 2nd smoke test, but there's obviously still something going on.

    Now, several days after our return home (Iowa) the check engine light's back on. But nice to be home!
     
    #1 prairiecomm, Sep 2, 2011
  2. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    The check engine light should not be on, even at 10,000 feet. We took our 2006 to 12,000 feet with no trouble.

    Tom
     
    #2 qbee42, Sep 2, 2011
  3. prairiecomm

    prairiecomm Junior Member

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    Interesting. The first time, we still had a goodly amount of 87 octane in the tank. And the check engine light went on that afternoon. The second time it went on the next morning w/ 85 octane. So may be the other intermittant problem is the cause.
     
    #3 prairiecomm, Sep 2, 2011
  4. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

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    There is no reason or 85 octane at high altitude to cause a check engine light.
     
    #4 xs650, Sep 2, 2011
  5. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    My Prius is a "happy camper" (pardon the pun) between 12000ft and 8000ft where it lives mostly. And it has run on 85 since I got it (except a couple tanks at 91 to see if any difference).

    For next time, just keep the car in READY if you really want to camp inside of it. It burns about 1 gallon of gas in 10 hours from what people report.
     
    #5 2k1Toaster, Sep 2, 2011
  6. Rokeby

    Rokeby Member

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    For trying to figure out what may be going on, or at least to talk
    intelligently with your Prius Tech/Service Writer, Fuel and Evap System
    details and test procedures here:

    Fuel and EVAP System
     
    #6 Rokeby, Sep 2, 2011
    1 person likes this.
  7. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

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    did you leave the car fully on and the a/c in auto? if you manually set something you may have left the compressor off... if the car wasn't fully on then your results are expected.

    i've camped at really high altitudes in the car (my brother and i)... we didn't encounter any problems. i've slept in the car other times by myself. usually all high altitude spots since i don't like driving down mountains while tired.

    to further address what 2k1Toaster said: it burns a gallon every 10 to 12 hours with just radio use. with a/c use it's a little faster... depending on set temperature, outside temp.. etc... this can be low (a gallon every 8 hours) or high ( a gallon every 4 hours)... if it's cold enough where the engine never gets to shut off (i recall a few times when i was in 15 degree temps) it could be more like (assuming here) a gallon every 2 to 3 hours (i base that semi off of experience and also of a comparison of a 900 watt load through an inverter which kept the car on very often.)

    btw... any time a prius is left on... wether it's for radio use through the day or for auto a/c use during the night.... i highly recommend leaving the hood open. pop the hood the next morning without having it open and let me know how hot it is in there... it being cool seems to kick on the ICE less since the fans turn on less. (or base if off the cooling fans.. if you hear them often, it's warm)
     
    #7 V8Cobrakid, Sep 2, 2011
  8. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    Sounds like you have more than 1 problem. Check the voltage of the 12v battery. You can put the MFD in Maintenance Mode to do this. Condensation didn't cause the hatch to not open. Low voltage was the culprit.

    I'd hate to run the car when it is just sitting but if it is that uncomfortably cold it's worth burning a bit of gas. Just sitting I doubt coolant temp will reach 150F so keeping the ICE warm will be an issue. Block the grill to keep the little bit of heat in the engine compartment.
     
    #8 JimN, Sep 3, 2011
  9. Hal W

    Hal W New Member

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    I agree with JimN. Hal
     
    #9 Hal W, Sep 3, 2011
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