2004 Prius Alternator ?

If you are able to drive the car, then it is READY. Look for a dashboard light which says READY. This will be located near the shift indicator and the fuel gauge.

The DC/DC converter is located within the inverter, which is the large component in the engine compartment near the driver's fender, with the shiny aluminum cover. It sounds like the DC/DC converter has failed which means the inverter must be replaced. I would encourage you to have that done immediately as the car will shutdown and you will be stranded when the 12V battery loses sufficient charge.

The inverter is covered by the 8 year/100K mile hybrid system warranty. How many miles on the odometer?

It would be good for you to charge up the 12V battery overnight, before you drive the car to the local Toyota dealer for assistance. Good luck.

 

Your said the battery terminals were nice and tight. Did you also check the ground cable where it bolts to the body?

 

While you are at a Toyota dealer having the inverter problem diagnosed and repaired, buy a copy of the 2004 Owner's Manual and read it. It's full of info you need to know.

 

i hope they do, all the best! let us know how you make out.

 

To add to this (when not stepping on the brake while pushing power), when in Accessory (aka ACC) mode, the light on the power button will be green. When in IG-ON mode, the light will be amber.

It's all mentioned in section 2-6 of my 06's owner's manual.

 

i think it's the ig-on that confuses many of us.

 

That's BS. The inverter is a hybrid component. If the 12V is not getting charged, it is a fault within the inverter that, according to them, can only be fixed with a new one. In fact, the language in the warranty is explicit: "Inverter with converter"

Please do understand that your dealer may need to be educated by you with regards to the hybrid warranty. Service advisors generally have no idea, and the techs or service manager might have an inkling but generally need to look it up.

If the inverter is replaced under warranty, you will not be charged $110. If it is something else, then that $110 might be money well spent, so that you have whatever the issue was resolved and have a driveable car?

 

Wow, this is scary coming from the Toyota service rep. How can he not know that the Prius doesn't have a normal generator/alternator to charge the battery?

Of course, my Toyota dealer has put the wrong kind of oil in my Prius that last 2 times I have taken it in, despite my telling them what to put in (they are batting 0 for 2)...

 

Hi dakao. If you want to check one simple thing for yourself then take a look at the inverter coolant reservoir (real easy to locate, pink fluid just above the inverter). With the car in "ready" mode, remove the cap and look straight down into it and you should see the coolant circulating. If not then your inverter coolant pump has failed (common problem) and that may have been the original cause of your problems.

 

Yep. Scary indeed. You can put him to page 2-13 of http://www.autoshop101.com/forms/Hybrid02.pdf.

 

Yep and several people have reported having overheating inverter problems starting soon afterwards due to the job not being done properly. So it's worthwhile checking as it's very easy to do (purely visual). I do it now at each service (oil change) along with other basic inspections like fluid levels and air filter condition.