Synergy Drive Problem

[Petterr_Pan]

PLEASE HELP!


I have a 04, Prius. 140K. Very recently, my car's left axle seal started to leak fluid. (very minor) I took it to a garage and work was done. During the repair, some of the fluid in the Synergy Drive leaked out.. the mechenic used a little pump and pump about a quart of Dextron III/IV fluid into the drain plug.

After the repair, I started to notice while at crusing speed, if I let go the gas padel, I can feel what can only be described as a "torque convertor" problem.. I can feel a slight jolt that feels like the something would happend with a transmission and a torque convertor.. since, Synergy Drive dose not "shift", I really do know where to look. I had the dealer drained and fill the fluid (ws) twice. (back to back) and I was charged almost $300.. which is a rip off I guess.. because it is really like changing engine oil or differential fluid.. drain and fill.. Any how, problem still exist. Any idea?? Maybe a clogged fuel filter?? (which is in the tank i believe).. bad spark plugs?? ( 140k on it alreay ) ) or could it be ICE?? PLEASE HELP!

[efusco]

I don't think we're going to be much help from here. What procedures has the Prius tech gone through to try to diagnose the problem. Why was the transaxle fluid changed twice (and no, it's not as simple as engine oil or differential fluid). How did the fluid look? Did he take apart the transaxle to see if there were any issues. I know of one case of a broken transaxle on an '02 Prius and it had metal shavings in the case upon inspection.

Are you throwing any codes? Are you noticing an impact on FE?

I think there are a ton of things to check (like the plugs and fuel filter you mentioned). Have you had all required maintainence (100k mile PSD fluid changed and Super long life fluid changed?). Any chance this is something with the wheel bearings if you had the fluid leak from the axle to start with...a bad bearing could give you a jerky or draggy feeling as you slow or coast.

This really needs a thorough evaluation by an experienced mechanic. You have to be one of only a very few people with a 2G Prius with that many miles (if not the only one) and it seems to me that Toyota would be very eager to look into this carefully in an effort to head off similar problems before they start to crop up in other folks' cars as they accumulate high mileage. To that end be sure to call the Toyota Customer Care folks and get a case number so this can be referenced in the future, if needed, until the problem is resolved.

[galaxee]

uhhhh... who put the dexron in there? they better break out the checkbook. that stuff destroys ws designed transmissions. full transmission replacement required in pretty much all cases.

[galaxee]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Sep 24 2006, 01:43 PM) [snapback]324319[/snapback]</div>

Why was the transaxle fluid changed twice (and no, it's not as simple as engine oil or differential fluid).[/b]

assuming in a desperate attempt to clean out all that dexron. unfortunately as soon as you start that thing up with dexron in it, it's too late. it might end up just staying as that little jerk but peterr pan, be aware that you might be in line for a replacement. it's the fault of whoever stuck that dexron in there.

Did he take apart the transaxle to see if there were any issues. [/b]

doc... hate to be all negative and all, but this is a car with 140k on the clock. clearly no warranty. not many shops are going to be willing to yank that, pull it apart, put it back together and put it back in the car on good faith that the customer's going to pay that kind of bill for an inspection of components.

I think there are a ton of things to check (like the plugs and fuel filter you mentioned)[/b]

fuel filter is inside the bladder, c'mon you know that

plugs are a thing to check though, for sure.

Toyota would be very eager to look into this carefully in an effort to head off similar problems before they start to crop up in other folks' cars as they accumulate high mileage. [/b]

well... except dexron is involved. they already know what happens when you give these cars dexron. i hate to say it but they're really not going to care much since they specify ws. that's not a hybrid-specific thing either, many of their cars take ws only.

[Frank Hudon]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Sep 24 2006, 02:05 PM) [snapback]324385[/snapback]</div>

uhhhh... who put the dexron in there? they better break out the checkbook. that stuff destroys ws designed transmissions. full transmission replacement required in pretty much all cases.
[/b]

in a normal automatic tranny with clutch plates and disks and hydraulic control valves, piston rings and autolockup converters yes dex will cause problems but a psd is no more than a standard tranny with two electric motors thrown into the mix. I'd be more worried about the electrical flash over on dex with the MG's in the 500 volt range. I'm wondering if they didn't damage the CV joints when they pulled the axle shaft to change the seal. Or as Evan said bad wheel bearing. Get a good Prius mechanic and have them do the testing to find out what the problem is. All the guessing on PC with out actually driving the car is like shooting chickens in a barn at midnite on a moonless night.

[galaxee]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Frank Hudon @ Sep 24 2006, 06:01 PM) [snapback]324412[/snapback]</div>

All the guessing on PC with out actually driving the car is like shooting chickens in a barn at midnite on a moonless night. [/b]

isn't that the truth!

[auricchio]

So what does ws stand for? It isn't in the acronyms article.

[hobbit]

What shop was it, and what qualifications for working on hybrid
drivelines did they claim to have? Name names, please.
.
Can someone provide more details or a pointer on exactly *why*
Dexron is bad for the prius transaxle? Symptoms/results?
.
_H*

[Tempus]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rick Auricchio @ Sep 25 2006, 05:17 PM) [snapback]324918[/snapback]</div>

So what does ws stand for? [/b]

World Standard