2008 Prius - Possible Computer Problem

dedes08prius · 09-11-2009, 01:31 AM

My wife was driving our car yesterday on the streets near our home. The car just died and she was able to coast to a stop. It would start but when you put it in gear it was just die. The red triangle can on and the Hybird symbol came on in the MFD. It has 26,000 miles on it and to date has been just great. We had it taken to the Toyota Dealership that we bought it. They called late yesterday afternoon and asked me some questions on the fuel I used and when I had filled it up. I use the 87 octane and it only has 270 miles on this tank. They said it looked like a computer problem. This is our second Toyota. Our first one was remarkably trouble free. I looked in my Bentley manual and shows the ECM and the Hybrid Vehicle module just to the right of the cabin air filter. I replaced that myself yesterday morning. It is very easy to do and this is the second time I have done it.

richard schumacher · 09-11-2009, 04:06 AM

Please let us know the resolution.

Any chance that some of the nearby wiring harnesses got manhandled during the filter change?

Genoz World · 09-11-2009, 10:05 AM

yes, i would like to know too.

jayman · 09-11-2009, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dedes08prius

I looked in my Bentley manual and shows the ECM and the Hybrid Vehicle module just to the right of the cabin air filter. I replaced that myself yesterday morning. It is very easy to do and this is the second time I have done it.

Why are you replacing such expensive components yourself? No warranty??

Politburo · 09-11-2009, 11:13 AM

I think OP meant the cabin air filter.

jayman · 09-11-2009, 11:53 AM

Gotcha

dedes08prius · 09-13-2009, 09:31 PM

I got the Prius back yesteday. The Service Writer called Thursday around 6 PM and said they had found the problem. He asked me how often we drove the car. I told him daily. He asked because he said the problem was a spider web in the Mass Air Sys. They said they initially checked it but this was much deeper than normal and they missed it. The car is running real good. They also said they charged the 12v Accessory battery. To me this sounds like selling me beachfront properity in Iowa. Oh, in response regarding the installation of the in-cabin airfilter. I did install it and have thought I may have knocked off a connector to one of the computers in that area. I really don't think I did because this is the 2nd time I changed it.

CharlesJ · 09-14-2009, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dedes08prius

... He asked because he said the problem was a spider web in the Mass Air Sys. ....

Now the question where this is. In the air intake system by the sensors? If so, how can the spider build there with all that air rushing in?

jayman · 09-14-2009, 01:39 PM

It would be fairly easy for a spider to get into the intake system. The little buggers are sneaky and can get into very tight spaces

So, one more good reason to regularly inspect and clean your MAF: spider webs!

dedes08prius · 09-14-2009, 08:21 PM

Thanks for all your help.

09-11-2009, 01:31 AM	#1
dedes08prius Wifey's Prius Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Lakewood, California Posts: 9 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: Package: #2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	2008 Prius - Possible Computer Problem My wife was driving our car yesterday on the streets near our home. The car just died and she was able to coast to a stop. It would start but when you put it in gear it was just die. The red triangle can on and the Hybird symbol came on in the MFD. It has 26,000 miles on it and to date has been just great. We had it taken to the Toyota Dealership that we bought it. They called late yesterday afternoon and asked me some questions on the fuel I used and when I had filled it up. I use the 87 octane and it only has 270 miles on this tank. They said it looked like a computer problem. This is our second Toyota. Our first one was remarkably trouble free. I looked in my Bentley manual and shows the ECM and the Hybrid Vehicle module just to the right of the cabin air filter. I replaced that myself yesterday morning. It is very easy to do and this is the second time I have done it.

09-11-2009, 04:06 AM	#2
richard schumacher Destination: Eschaton Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: United States Posts: 5,507 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: #6 Thanks: 99 Thanked 93 Times in 66 Posts Friends: 0	Re: 2008 Prius - Possible Computer Problem Please let us know the resolution. Any chance that some of the nearby wiring harnesses got manhandled during the filter change? Last edited by richard schumacher; 09-11-2009 at 04:41 PM.

09-11-2009, 10:05 AM	#3
Genoz World ZEN-style living Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: La Canada Posts: 584 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: N/A Package: #6 Thanks: 1 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts Friends: 17	Re: 2008 Prius - Possible Computer Problem yes, i would like to know too.

09-11-2009, 11:13 AM	#5
Politburo Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 192 My Car: 2009 Prius Model: Package: #4 Thanks: 3 Thanked 36 Times in 22 Posts Friends: 0	Re: 2008 Prius - Possible Computer Problem I think OP meant the cabin air filter.

09-11-2009, 11:53 AM	#6
jayman Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Winnipeg Manitoba Posts: 11,560 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: B Thanks: 35 Thanked 184 Times in 167 Posts Friends: 12	Re: 2008 Prius - Possible Computer Problem Gotcha

09-13-2009, 09:31 PM	#7
dedes08prius Wifey's Prius Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Lakewood, California Posts: 9 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: Package: #2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: 2008 Prius - Possible Computer Problem I got the Prius back yesteday. The Service Writer called Thursday around 6 PM and said they had found the problem. He asked me how often we drove the car. I told him daily. He asked because he said the problem was a spider web in the Mass Air Sys. They said they initially checked it but this was much deeper than normal and they missed it. The car is running real good. They also said they charged the 12v Accessory battery. To me this sounds like selling me beachfront properity in Iowa. Oh, in response regarding the installation of the in-cabin airfilter. I did install it and have thought I may have knocked off a connector to one of the computers in that area. I really don't think I did because this is the 2nd time I changed it.

09-14-2009, 01:39 PM	#9
jayman Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Winnipeg Manitoba Posts: 11,560 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: B Thanks: 35 Thanked 184 Times in 167 Posts Friends: 12	Re: 2008 Prius - Possible Computer Problem It would be fairly easy for a spider to get into the intake system. The little buggers are sneaky and can get into very tight spaces So, one more good reason to regularly inspect and clean your MAF: spider webs!

09-14-2009, 08:21 PM	#10
dedes08prius Wifey's Prius Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Lakewood, California Posts: 9 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: Package: #2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: 2008 Prius - Possible Computer Problem Thanks for all your help.

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