PO3190, non-specialist mechanic can't figure it out

Hello!

2008 w/ 128k miles

I was driving, red triangle of death came up & the gas pedal felt unresponsive so I pulled over. Oil was low, so I added a quart which brought it to full, and while the check engine light was still on, the triangle was off so I went on my way. Car still felt off though and when I came to a stop, the car was kind of shuddering forward.

Took it to my mechanic, he found that the inner shaft seal in the transmission had broken. I was completely out of transmission fluid. Repaired it for $500 (apparently it's a bitch to get to), gave me an oil change (I had put in a slightly thicker oil, all they had at the closest gas station when I stopped originally), and sent me on my way.

An hour of driving later, triangle comes on, as well as the "Hybrid System Malfunction" light. Car smells funny/hot, gas pedal unresponsive (like the ICE stopped but the electric stayed on), was difficult to accelerate, and then after 30 seconds the display/engine cut out and I cost to a stop.

Car still starts, but figure I didn't want it dying on the highway and I was safe where I was. Got a tow. Drove it the 2 minutes to my mechanic the next day.

Says it's throwing a P3910 but says that has a host of possibilities and he can't recreate the engine failure to try and diagnosis it.

Any advice? I suppose I should take it to a specialist.


Recent repairs:
- 12v aux battery
- Front axle (Apparently the seal had broken, the fluid had gone, dirt got in and eroded it. Car was shaking violently when I drove over 50pmh. $1k fix.)

Unaddressed problems:
Very occasionally the display doesn't want to come on when I start (can't see how fast I'm going/fuel level). Not enough of an issue for me to really be bothered with.

 

128k+
That was our first thought, he looked into it and concluded it was fine.

 

I drove for an about an hour home after that first light.
I noticed when I took it to him the next day that there was drippage under my car (I thought it was an oil problem originally given it seemed odd I had run low so soon after a change <1k miles). He said it was a mess under there, apparently it was quite the leak.

Couldn't tell you what he used.

 

I don't see why not. Parents bought the car in CA, I'm living in MA now. Both have the stricter emission laws.
(I assume we're talking about the battery warranty?)

If you're talking about some sort of extended warranty from the dealership my father should have bought, I don't believe so.

 

Oh wow, thanks for the advice. Few quick questions since I don't know how these things work:

Does that cover just parts or labor as well?
Do I have to go to a dealership to take advantage of that or can my independent mechanic take care of me?
Should that have applied to my transmission inner shaft seal ($650) or axle replacement ($1k) as well?

PS. I noticed your location is Boston as well. Do you know any good/honest mechanics in the area? I've been using E&S and been happy. But I don't really know enough to tell the difference, and I'm not sure how well he knows Priuses.

 

No problem, appreciate the advice!
For the dealership: should I anticipate any problems with the fact the car was purchased from a dealership in CA (not Boston)?