Please give me suggestions and help

Ok ... the exclamation-car is the most generic one, just means any of the trouble conditions the HV ECU is able to detect, while not specifically the battery (since the center, "main battery" icon isn't red) and not power steering (if the left, "PS" icon isn't red). So now it's just a matter of waiting for a Prius-capable scanner to read out whatever codes the HV ECU really is complaining about. There are literally dozens of possibilities, so it wouldn't make much sense to start taking stuff apart before having some codes to suggest where to start.

-Chap

 

Any progress on getting a Prius-aware scanner?

Bob Wilson

 

Hi Laura, sorry you're having all those problems but my question is? How's the car driving? What kind of gas mileage are you getting? I'm convinced you don't have a problem (especially if the answers to my questions are: Fine and 41+mpg). At this point, I wouldn't buy a code reader, I wouldn't do anything. You're care has been driven very little in its life. Its bound to have some gremlins running around in there. In my opinion, the best thing you can do for your car is drive it and do regular maintenance. I really think you need to give this some time to "clear" out before you go rushing into traction battery repair.

PS: I'm certain I will take a lot of heat for saying what I said so, I'm standing by for the barrage.

 

Here comes the heat.

Given that we now know the car's warning display is not highlighting the battery icon, I completely agree with usnavystgc here about not rushing into anything involving the battery at all.

I can't get behind the logic that "problem is not in battery ==> no need to read codes or fix problem." There is a whole car attached to that battery, with plenty of other things to go wrong, and somewhere we know something has. The exclamation-car icon is not lighting up just because of the moon. The problem might be very small and easy to fix, or it might be more daunting, but not finding out will not solve it, or even help you make important decisions like how much you want to invest.

Especially if you are in a remote area without reliable Prius mechanics around, a code scanner of your own is likely to be the best $40 accessory you will have bought for your car, because whenever a light comes on in your car you will not be dependent on someone else to tell you what sort of problem it represents or how serious it might be.

-Chap

 

I hear you Chap and there's absolutely nothing wrong with buying the code scanner.

Here's why I say what I said:
The car is only giving intermittent errors that don't even seem to affect drivability. With a car that sat around as much as that one did, that's totally expected. I'm betting if she simply drives it regularly, these indications will go away and not come back. I'm not saying don't fix the problem. I don't think there is a problem. My point is, lets give it some time to be consistent or go away. These cars like to be driven and when you don't drive them regularly, gremlins seem to appear.

As I look at the totality of the situation, (she just got the car from someone who rarely drove it, the lights appear intermittently and inconsistently, there are no drivability issues, she is new to the Prius, the Gen I is finicky and can give you various codes that go away and never come back) my first conclusion would be, it just needs to be driven.

If you look at the other side of the coin. You buy the code reader, you get a code but, you currently have no lights/codes. What do you do? Replace something? If you do replace that, how do you know you "that" fixed the problem? At the most she could get a code reader, read the code and file that in memory for future use.

That's how I see it.

 

I would venture to say that sitting in a cold climate for days would/could def be what caused your lights. In cold weather, your very small 12V battery will lose capacity. Additionally, when the car sits for days, it loses some of the capacity it has from internal loss/drain and keeping the memory of your computers settings. The fact that the lights clear out and the car drives fine further reinforces my theory. If it were me, I'd drive it as much as possible over the next few weeks and see what happens.

 

A VCI with Techstream software is available on Ebay at around $25. To use this device you will also need a laptop preferably an old one running 32 bit Windows XP, Vista, or 7. The software can be made to run on 64 bit Windows 7 or 8, but takes more setting up. This system is as close as you can get to the dealer equipment, and replaces a hand held scanner. This is a must if you wish to fault find a Prius.
A VOM is a volt meter or you can use a multimeter.

John (Britprius)

 

May I ask if you have done the simple things? Check your oil level, inverter fluid level, coolent level? With the car running, and in Park, remove the cap from the inverter coolant tank and check for turbulance. If there is no movement, you have a failed inverter pump. If everything checks out, turn the vehicle off, and check the battery connection in the trunk. Make sure the terminals are tight and securely fastened. If the Gen1 is the same as the Gen2, follow the ground wire to the body and make sure it is tight and there is no sign of degradation.

Another, often overlooked, place to investigate is the HV Battery Fan. It is located, on the GenII in about the same area as the 12 Volt. A buildup of dust and animal hair, or a blocked vent by the rear passenger seat, can cause the HV Fan to inadequately cool the HV Battery. It is a good idea to remove this fan, every few years, and clean it. If that is the problem, I am sure the frequency of the issue will increase, as the outside temperature increases... Also, Please let us know what you find.

 

I had bought mine several years ago but for now:

• Aliexpress.com : Buy 2014 Original Xhorse MINI VCI FOR TOYOTA Lexus TIS Techstream V9.10.038 Toyota Diagnostic Cable,free shipping from Reliable mini vci suppliers on ChiShengOBD | Alibaba Group

I have Windows XP running on a virtual machine on a Macintosh. I have not tested the others but know Windows XP works.

As for a VOM, I'm partial to Harbor Freight:

• Digital Multimeter - 7 Function, w/ Backlight

I would have suggested Radio Shack but they are going out business (are there sales yet???) Sears also has them as does WalMart.

Bob Wilson

 

I would like to reassure you that no one will abandon you after getting a miniVCI and VOM/multimeter. We will work with you to make sure these new tools, these new devices work and give you good data. We'll also go over the theory and background as much as you want. None of us were born 'knowing this stuff' and they sure didn't teach the miniVCI in 1964-68 when I was in high school.

We want you to be the master of your car and learn how to find out what is really going on. Those error lights are OK but ambiguous. Too often the owner's manual just says either:

• take it to a dealer, $$
  
• tow it to a dealer, $$$

What we're dealing with is not that hard and we'll help you go forward. But one thing would help, could you introduce yourself? For example:

I'm a 65 year old, married engineer living in Huntsville Alabama working on a NASA contract for computer network engineering who studied mechanical engineering because I like it! The oldest of five boys, my farm-raised, professional parents expected me to be the baby-sitter . . . a common practice in farm families. My late Dad was a physician and at one time, pathologist and chief medical officer of the State of Kansas who retired after 45 years with the National Guard and Reserves. My Mom is living in Southeast Kansas and has two degrees, accounting and nursing. For fun, she raises miniature horses and runs a 100 acre farm.​

The folks on this forum share our interest in helping Prius owners keep their cars on the road for a reasonable price with good reliability. So teaching folks how to do normal things like measuring what is going on becomes second nature. We're patient and persistent and hoping you'll find what we're doing interesting. If not, let's at least get your car running good enough again. <GRINS>

Bob Wilson

 

Eclipse1701d did hit on a good point. If you could locate the inverter coolant reservoir, unscrew the cap, turn the car on and check for turbulence or flow, that would help us rule out one possibility. This requires only a flashlight or a well lit area.

Report the results of that here.

 

Excellent!

Before arthritis, my wife and were at C1 level and loving it. I also pick at the banjo but I don't try it when real people are around. <GRINS> We also keep two dogs for my wife. Now a beagle and a chiwauwau (from hell.) Still, they keep my wife happy and that makes my life better too.

Do you have reasonable bandwidth to see Utube videos? We're more than willing to post references too good instructional videos on how things look. Alternatively, we'll be happy to post images showing how to use the tools.

Bob Wilson

 

Now that Laura is getting a code scanner, this thread is headed in the right direction.

While we wait for the poste, a question for the Prius experts:
I know why you all have a VCI and tech stream;

I wonder though about that being the first consumer choice recommendation of a code scanner for people like Laura.
Much simpler, and dare I say easier to use, is a BlueTooth dongle attached to the OBDII port and a smartphone app like Torque for Android