Prius no start -- two dealers can't fix

[tochatihu]

whm, you mentioned a genisys scanner which I don't know if it provides access to the proprietary hybrid system codes. My desire remains to get a Toyota shop with THHT to give you the nice long code-list.

This running and dying thing could mean lots of things. I do not dismiss problems on the 12 volt side because they seem to express themselves most anywhere. BUT I want you to make sure that all the ignitor and injector connections are just as they should be. It does not take much connector unseating to create a problem situation that is very difficult to track down, without a THHT available.

[whmracer99]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tochatihu @ Sep 6 2007, 05:41 AM) [snapback]507838[/snapback]</div>

whm, you mentioned a genisys scanner which I don't know if it provides access to the proprietary hybrid system codes. My desire remains to get a Toyota shop with THHT to give you the nice long code-list.

This running and dying thing could mean lots of things. I do not dismiss problems on the 12 volt side because they seem to express themselves most anywhere. BUT I want you to make sure that all the ignitor and injector connections are just as they should be. It does not take much connector unseating to create a problem situation that is very difficult to track down, without a THHT available.
[/b]

Just a quick update -- It looks like it's really dead.

There was a 12v issue -- my jump box was weak -- that was creating some of the screen flickering and other anomolies BUT I did go out the next morning with a freshly charged jump box and, again, the gas engine started up immediately. But now when trying to move the car in forward or reverse there is a loud pounding/rattling coming from the transaxle and no movement even thought the gas engine rpm's are increasing. The warning lights kicked on almost immediately and I only ran the car a short time as the noises coming from the front of the car sounded someone bouncing a bowling ball inside of the transaxle.

I will double check the wiring connectors in the morning but I am probably waving the white flag at this point and will send the car back through the auction process to try and recoup some of the money/time invested in this sucker. My guess is that the transaxle has had it and, if time allowed, I would go ahead and spend the time and effort to pinpoint the issue and then continue to try and fix it. Unfortunately, I've got no time to "play" any longer and I'm really concerned that diagnosing this correctly represents more time than I've got available.

I want to thank everyone for their inputs -- I do appreciate the time everyone took to try and help.

thanx.

[Elaine]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(whmracer99 @ Aug 31 2007, 07:17 AM) [snapback]504813[/snapback]</div>

I have not been able to find an issue quite like mine -- I'm hoping someone can provide some direction on next steps for my '02 Prius.

I am a rebuilder in Atlanta and have an '02 Prius that we purchased with light front end damage. We repaired/replace the damaged cosmetic pieces with Toyota factory parts from a salvage vehicle.

The car only starts when the 12 volt battery has been disconnected for a period of time. The car runs and seems to operate fine for 5 to 10 minutes and then the "red triangle of death" shows up and the main battery warning light is lit. After that the car fails to start (only a slight click is heard when the key is turned to the "start" position).

Two Toyota dealers have had the car and both have wiffed at fixing it. The short list of what they recommended and has been done on the car is replace the main power cables to the traction battery, charged the traction battery (twice), replaced the main power relays, and replaced the invertor (replaced with a used part). We also replaced the throttle body as the throttle motor housing was cracked, and the oil control valve for the camshaft due to cut wires.

Net-net is that the car still functions the same as it did when the dealers got it.

Toyota now says that they will refuse to do any further diagnostics on the car until both the invertor and transaxle are replaced with new parts. Their stance is that both those need to be replaced at the same time or the part left in the vehicle will damage the new part. The funny thing is that they can't guaranty that will fix the problem nor have I seen anything in any of the on-line posts that confirm the invertor and transaxle have to be replaced as a unit.

I do see some corrosion on the traction battery cell connections but the dealer swears they have checked it and there's no issue with the main battery (even after both dealers told me initially it wasn't holding charge).

I like these cars and have had several that worked great but this one is driving me a little crazy so I'm hoping for some help here from the experts (as opposed to the dealer who I would characterize as less than "expert").

I can supply existing codes, etc., if you need more info but I would really appreciate some guidance on next steps OR if there is someone in my area that is good with these cars I would consider having it looked at by a real expert.

Thanks for your help.
[/b]

You were told that the inverter and the transaxle has to be replaced at the same time. I was told that I had to change the inverter and electric water pump at the same tiime for my 2003 prius. The codes that showed up for me were P3125 and P3130

[whmracer99]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Elaine @ Sep 11 2007, 07:58 AM) [snapback]510520[/snapback]</div>

You were told that the inverter and the transaxle has to be replaced at the same time. I was told that I had to change the inverter and electric water pump at the same tiime for my 2003 prius. The codes that showed up for me were P3125 and P3130
[/b]

I'm guessing that the issue was the transaxle all along and the dealers couldn't (or didn't have the info available) to diagnose it correctly. They did have the regional tech rep look at it as well (twice) and he is the one that came up with the "you have to replace the invertor and transaxle as a unit" diagnosis.

Bottom line is that these are great cars when they work as advertised but the dealers/technical reps can be clueless if something out of the ordinairy goes wrong --- and that may be the way Toyota wants it.

[tochatihu]

Understood, you are planning to auction it as is without further exploration.

There may be circumstances when inverter and the transaxle must become new together, but I don't know them. I wish your diagnosers could present something that would help us (all) to understand what's going on.

If you would not mind, what is the odometer and month of manufacture (driver door frame) on this 2002 please?