She's dead, Jim!

miwaku · 10-09-2006, 10:13 AM

Got into "Smudge" yesterday morning, started her up, and got the Master Warning triangle, the Check Display warning (meaning "look at the MFD"), and my fuel gauge started flashing, first one bar for 6-7 seconds, then all ten (I'd just filled up).

She seemed to work just fine when moving her back & forth a little to see if there was a transaxle problem, but no matter how many restarts, same behavior. Checked all the fuses, etc, no luck. At one point when putting her in D I got an error along the lines of "Place engine in Park; battery will not charge in Neutral" or some such, even though the transmission display indicated I was in D. This error didn't come up every time, though.

Took her around the block and the battery kept draining to one bar, with no ICE kicking in! Finally, she just rolled to a stop. Battery stayed at one bar, ICE wouldn't recharge or drive the car. ABS and Road Condition lights came on, as well, and the Ready light flashed a couple of times, then went out!

I pushed her to the curb and just this morning called Toyota Service (this always happens on a Sunday).

They're coming to take her in, and I'll let everyone know the Diagnosis. Here's a pic (sorry for the night view):

ribbs · 10-09-2006, 11:23 AM

I put my money on a fuel supply problem of some sort - fuel pump, maybe.

**TonyPSchaefer** · 10-09-2006, 11:24 AM

Good that you have a picture and a good documentation of the situation. I remember when I had an issue with Priapus, I made sure to document every detail, every step, and every response. In the end, I didn't need all that detail, but I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

I'm not technical or mechanical in those matters so I won't make any speculation as to what the problem might be. Be sure to keep us posted though.

Frank Hudon · 10-09-2006, 11:25 AM

this should be interesting, as it could be one of many things. Do keep us posted on the cause and if you can get the codes that caused it. tia

Michgal007 · 10-09-2006, 11:32 AM

I once had the "Place engine in Park; battery will not charge in Neutral" sign, and it happened to be that the driver's door was not properly closed!

AAWADKE · 10-09-2006, 12:59 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Michgal007 @ Oct 9 2006, 10:32 AM) [snapback]330031[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I once had the "Place engine in Park; battery will not charge in Neutral" sign, and it happened to be that the driver's door was not properly closed!
[/b]

I had the same message 3 days back .....even in my case driver door was not properly closed...

hdrygas · 10-09-2006, 09:39 PM

Get the DTC when they scan the car!

miwaku · 10-10-2006, 05:47 PM

Ok, the Dx is apparently that the #10 wire coming from the junction box to the ICE's ECU was loose. Because of this, the ICE would not come on, and the battery slowly ran down.

Took them a few hours to run it down, but it seems to be ok now.

Yes, the door WAS open when I got that error. Good catch!

Thanks, everyone!

**efusco** · 10-10-2006, 07:57 PM

Glad it was such a simple solution and such minor problem. I'm sure it was nerve wracking waiting for the fix.

hobbit · 10-10-2006, 08:23 PM

That's just one injector down, that shouldn't have caused the
engine to not run at all... just like crap, throwing "misfire # 1"
and "too lean" codes.
.
What were your codes??
.
Where exactly was the wire loose, and are we actually talking about
the one labeled "#1O" [i think that's "oh", not "zero"] or something
else?
.
_H*

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10-09-2006, 10:13 AM	#1
miwaku Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 70 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Got into "Smudge" yesterday morning, started her up, and got the Master Warning triangle, the Check Display warning (meaning "look at the MFD"), and my fuel gauge started flashing, first one bar for 6-7 seconds, then all ten (I'd just filled up). She seemed to work just fine when moving her back & forth a little to see if there was a transaxle problem, but no matter how many restarts, same behavior. Checked all the fuses, etc, no luck. At one point when putting her in D I got an error along the lines of "Place engine in Park; battery will not charge in Neutral" or some such, even though the transmission display indicated I was in D. This error didn't come up every time, though. Took her around the block and the battery kept draining to one bar, with no ICE kicking in! Finally, she just rolled to a stop. Battery stayed at one bar, ICE wouldn't recharge or drive the car. ABS and Road Condition lights came on, as well, and the Ready light flashed a couple of times, then went out! I pushed her to the curb and just this morning called Toyota Service (this always happens on a Sunday). They're coming to take her in, and I'll let everyone know the Diagnosis. Here's a pic (sorry for the night view): __________________ Change what & how I drive, not who I am. Rack 'm up.

10-09-2006, 11:23 AM	#2
ribbs Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Malibu, Ca. Posts: 46 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I put my money on a fuel supply problem of some sort - fuel pump, maybe.

10-09-2006, 11:24 AM	#3
TonyPSchaefer Ruler of Omicron Persei 8 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Far-North Chicagoland Posts: 8,439 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 4 Times in 2 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 16	Good that you have a picture and a good documentation of the situation. I remember when I had an issue with Priapus, I made sure to document every detail, every step, and every response. In the end, I didn't need all that detail, but I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it. I'm not technical or mechanical in those matters so I won't make any speculation as to what the problem might be. Be sure to keep us posted though.

10-09-2006, 11:25 AM	#4
Frank Hudon Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 4,144 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	this should be interesting, as it could be one of many things. Do keep us posted on the cause and if you can get the codes that caused it. tia

10-09-2006, 11:32 AM	#5
Michgal007 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan. Posts: 810 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I once had the "Place engine in Park; battery will not charge in Neutral" sign, and it happened to be that the driver's door was not properly closed!

10-09-2006, 09:39 PM	#7
hdrygas Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Olympia Wa Posts: 3,650 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Get the DTC when they scan the car!

10-10-2006, 05:47 PM	#8
miwaku Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 70 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Ok, the Dx is apparently that the #10 wire coming from the junction box to the ICE's ECU was loose. Because of this, the ICE would not come on, and the battery slowly ran down. Took them a few hours to run it down, but it seems to be ok now. Yes, the door WAS open when I got that error. Good catch! Thanks, everyone!

10-10-2006, 07:57 PM	#9
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 14,247 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 1 Time in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 24	Glad it was such a simple solution and such minor problem. I'm sure it was nerve wracking waiting for the fix.

10-10-2006, 08:23 PM	#10
hobbit Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bahstahn Posts: 2,989 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	That's just one injector down, that shouldn't have caused the engine to not run at all... just like crap, throwing "misfire # 1" and "too lean" codes. . What were your codes?? . Where exactly was the wire loose, and are we actually talking about the one labeled "#1O" [i think that's "oh", not "zero"] or something else? . _H*