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2007 Prius Inverter Problem

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Bruce Fealk, Jun 3, 2013.

  1. Bruce Fealk

    Bruce Fealk Junior Member

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    My problem started about two weeks ago. The red triangle came on with the brake warning indicator. After I stopped the car, it wouldn't start again and several more indicator lights came on.

    I took it to the dealer and they replaced the auxillary 12V battery.

    I picked up the car, I was driving on the freeway, the same red triangle light came on with the brake indicator light.

    When I stopped the car at my destination and tried to start it again, the same warning indicator lights came on. I had it towed to the dealer. The told me the diagnostics gave them a code P0AA6 and 526 and told me I needed a new inverter, a $3600 part. I found a used inverter and drove the car to a repair facility that works on hybrids. They installed the used inverter and I drove the car to a restaurant near home about 20 miles away from the repair facility.

    When I left the restaurant, the same red triangle came on again and when I got home and tried to restart the car, the same multiple warning indicators came on as originally when I took it to the dealer.
    IMG_3892.JPG IMG_3893.JPG IMG_3892.JPG

    Any input that could help diagnose this problem would be appreciated.
     
    #1 Bruce Fealk, Jun 3, 2013
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    what was the opinion of the place that works on hybrids before they did the install? how many miles on her?
     
    #2 bisco, Jun 3, 2013
  3. Bruce Fealk

    Bruce Fealk Junior Member

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    It has 114,000 miles. They tested it before giving me back the car after installing the used inverter. All the codes were clear.
     
    #3 Bruce Fealk, Jun 3, 2013
  4. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

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    You may have a failed Inverter Coolant pump or an air bubble in that coolant loop. Check for turbulence in the reservoir while in "Ready" mode.

    JeffD
     
    #4 jdenenberg, Jun 3, 2013
  5. Bruce Fealk

    Bruce Fealk Junior Member

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    The repair facility I don't believe re-diagnosed the problem. They are sending a tow truck today and providing a free loaner.
     
    #5 Bruce Fealk, Jun 3, 2013
  6. Bruce Fealk

    Bruce Fealk Junior Member

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    I did have the pump replaced under a recall in Feb 2011, but I was thinking the same thing. The repair facility did drain and refilk the inverter coolant pump.
     
    #6 Bruce Fealk, Jun 3, 2013
  7. nklb

    nklb Member

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    edit: oops, concern was already addressed
     
    #7 nklb, Jun 3, 2013
  8. morpheusx

    morpheusx Professor Chaos

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    worth a quick look but do you have your grill blocked or have any debris in the radiator, and maybe worth checking that the radiator fans work.
     
    #8 morpheusx, Jun 3, 2013
  9. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    I believe that you posted about this in another thread. Your car has a high voltage ground fault. It appears that the inverter is not the issue. The ground fault could be due to any component that is exposed to high voltage.

    The troubleshooting approach requires use of a megger (which is an ohmmeter that uses a high voltage) and disconnection of the various components, to determine where the ground fault is coming from.

    Here is an example of a ground fault which was determined to be from the transaxle:
    Luscious Garage | Blog | Gen 2 Prius (2004-2009) Transmission Failure, P0AA6, P0A92, P0A7A
     
    #9 Patrick Wong, Jun 3, 2013
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  10. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    To follow up on Patrick's post above, here is the DTC information for a 2010 with P0AA6 with subcode 526:


    P0AA6-526

    Hybrid Battery Voltage System Isolation Fault

    - Hybrid vehicle transaxle assembly
    - Generator cable
    - Motor cable
    - Inverter with converter assembly
    - Frame wire
    - No. 2 engine wire
    - Hybrid battery junction block assembly
    - Compressor with motor assembly
    - HV battery
    - Battery smart unit

    I would expect your 2007 would be similar. The dashes at the bottom lists the possibilities.
     
    #10 jdcollins5, Jun 3, 2013
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  11. Bruce Fealk

    Bruce Fealk Junior Member

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    Thanks. I sent that information along to the facility repairing my car.
     
    #11 Bruce Fealk, Jun 3, 2013
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  12. dragonspeak

    dragonspeak New Member

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    So the red triangle with the brake warning light means an isolation fault possibly in the transaxle! Maybe replacing the unit or changing the transaxle fluid?
     
    #12 dragonspeak, Mar 25, 2015
  13. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    No. The master warning red triangle simply means that a problem exists.
    A brake warning light means that the skid control ECU has a problem.
    The high voltage ground fault would be reported by the hybrid vehicle ECU and the hybrid vehicle warning icon would normally appear in the upper left corner of the MFD. However the nature of the problem would not become apparent unless the DTC were read.
     
    #13 Patrick Wong, Mar 26, 2015
  14. maverick1970

    maverick1970 Junior Member

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    Hello Bruce Fealk. Do you have an update for us?
     
    #14 maverick1970, Apr 13, 2015
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    unfortunately, bruce hasn't been seen since 2013. maybe pm him, he'll get an email notice.
     
    #15 bisco, Apr 13, 2015
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