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Please help: p0a93 error code

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by eterry2, Sep 17, 2011.

  1. eterry2

    eterry2 New Member

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    I have 2008 gen II prius. I live in Houston where it has been over 100 degrees all summer long.

    I was on my way to get the car inspected (overdue, expired 8/2011).

    Many warning lights went off. I pulled over. Lights were VSC, check engine, Red Triangle warning light. And on the monitor screen, there was the hybrid system error light. The top part of the monitor screen was out, including the outside temp. a/c shut down.

    I had the error code read and it was P0a93 (inverter cooling system performance).

    I could not get it inspected with the check engine light still lit.

    I called toyota service that evening. Decided to take it in late friday afternoon since I wouldn't need the car over the weekend.

    On my way to Toyota, all the warning lights went off and the a/c was working again. I still went in to Toyota to discuss it with them. They wanted to charge $100ish to diagnose. They could not tell me if this would be covered under my extended warranty until after that. I thought I would keep an eye on it and wait. I also decided to call the dealer that repaired my car under my insurance comprehensive. Rodents had chewed up my windshield washing system, my o2 sensors and part of my a/c hoses. Maybe this was something from that incident that they failed to discover. If it was, my local Toyota would not refund the $100.

    So, I headed out of Toyota and decided to go get the car inspected since the engine light was no longer on. Well, I didn't get there and it was a repeat of the first time. Warning lights all came on and the a/c shut down and the outside temp was no longer aglow.

    So, what do you think? ANy suggestions? Thanks in advance.
     
  2. mustang67408

    mustang67408 KE7WLF

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    It needs the hybrid inverter water pump. Very common failure.
    Make sure to use SLLC Toyota coolant

    SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 ?
     
  3. eterry2

    eterry2 New Member

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    Is it safe to drive? Would it be under warranty? I am assuming that it would not be related to the rodents, correct?
     
  4. firepa63

    firepa63 Former Prius Owner

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    There is a recall on the inverter coolant pump, but I don't think it covers the 08. However, I think Toyota should cover the replacement cost. As for driving the car, if it's just a short distance and you have no warning lights, drive the car to the dealer. Otherwise get it towed. You should NOT drive the car with the warning lights on.
     
  5. seilerts

    seilerts Battery Curmudgeon

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    It is safe to drive for several miles from a COLD start. It is similar to having a broken water pump on an engine, the main difference being that the car will scale back the duty cycle on the inverter (i.e. no A/C) to prevent catastrophic failure. The problem that you have is that, once it codes, the 12V battery will be drained fast, and the car may die before reaching your destination.

    The inverter cooling pump has 5 year/60000 mile coverage on 08-09.
     
    Spartacus likes this.
  6. eterry2

    eterry2 New Member

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    thanks for your input. I assume the draining is cumulative then, and not starting over from a cold start. Since it's been a few days since it coded the first time, I had better get it towed to the dealer.
     
  7. seilerts

    seilerts Battery Curmudgeon

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    This is one that we are still trying to sort out. While driving, when it codes, the DC converter, which charges the 12V, goes offline, as does air conditioning. But when restarted after cooling off, A/C and DC converter are back, even though the red triangle may still be on the screen. So there is a temperature-dependence in whether or not the inverter will feed the DC and A/C.

    At any rate, if towing to the dealer is free and convenient, then by all means that is the safest thing to do. If it is expensive and a hassle, then put your 12V battery on a 2 amp charger for a few hours, then go straight from the house to the dealer first thing in the morning.
     
    Spartacus and dave77 like this.
  8. eterry2

    eterry2 New Member

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    crap. I don't have a charger, but may ask a neighbor. I'm teaching for the next month and have to be at school at 7ish, toyota opens at 7. So, I'm considering two things.

    1...drive to school and then take it in after it sits in the driveway all day (not far to work, maybe 10-15 miles)

    2...get a ride to school and back and then take it in at night. (service open until midnight)
     
  9. eterry2

    eterry2 New Member

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    I'm really disappointed in Toyota telling me zero about what it is likely to be. They will not discuss it with you and tell you anything other than we have to look at it for $100. I'm not asking for what it really is, only what it is likely to be, which you all could answer so quickly.
     
  10. eterry2

    eterry2 New Member

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    I have not driven it all weekend.
     
  11. eterry2

    eterry2 New Member

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    I'm going to go start it up and see if the a/c is on.
     
  12. JuanGimenezpy

    JuanGimenezpy New Member

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    Thanks for your reply; and was connected to the diagnosis on the computer,,, the error comes out is P0A93. So we changed it requesting computer. But the problem persists. It's always the same,,, looks like something the car is heated and begins to have the same problem of the air conditioner and then to the emergency vehicle to enter! Perhaps a person has had a similar problem and can help me solve this problem of the car!