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"Triangle of death", ABS, and check engine lights.

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Blackwing, May 19, 2017.

  1. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    As long as you've got Techstream on the way, you'll pretty much just feed your anxieties by continuing to speculate while it's still on the way. Watch a movie, go out for ice cream, you'll be able to read the codes soon enough, and there are lots of reasons those lights can come on.

    -Chap
     
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  2. Prius_Angie

    Prius_Angie Active Member

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    Consider checking your 12V battery pocket area for stagnant water build up. I have a friend that services both 12V and HV batteries. He mentioned that on several accounts that every once in a a while he finds +6 inches of water in a client's 12V battery pocket. It feeds slowly over time from micro tears emanating from the roof-trunk area. Its definitely bad news, but can be drained from a plug in that pocket.

    attached is a rusty picture of my current 2005 Prius 12V battery pocket bay.
    P_20170426_135854.jpg
     
  3. Blackwing

    Blackwing Member

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    Guys I have a major update. When I took the spare tire out, there was about 0.5-1.0 gallon of water in the trunk boot. I sucked up all the water with a long pool toy. (it's like a manual water gun). I fully syringed the water SEVEN times. Yeah, a lot of water. So now, two things:

    1.) I left the rear windows cracked overnight, It should be a dry as a desert back there. I would like to try unplugging the 12v battery and leaving it unplugged for about 10 minutes. Then after plugging it back in this is known to be an easy fix on YouTube removing the warning codes.

    2.) My mini-VCI cable should be shipping tomorrow and it is coming from the same state, locally. I would receive it very soon and fire up TechStream on my 32-bit Windows 7 VM.

    My question is, how would I quickly disconnect/unplug the 12v to reset diagnostic codes? It has been a long time since I've done it myself, and really need a quick refresher.
     
  4. Blackwing

    Blackwing Member

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    I dumped water along the top and sides of the rear hatch. Did not notice any immediate leaking, or any leaking at all. Attaching a photo of where cracking has been reported. IMG_6241.JPG
     
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    the rain gutters are the usual suspect, but some hatch points have also proved problematic.
     
  6. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    I'd recommend changing the order of (1) and (2). It's easier to read the codes before you clear them.

    Clearing codes is like turning up the radio so you don't hear a bearing going bad. The codes are gone, the problem isn't. Some kinds of problem will be re-detected right away and set codes again, so you don't lose much time, but others may take days or weeks of driving before you get your next chance to collect the information you flushed by clearing the codes.

    -Chap
     
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  7. Blackwing

    Blackwing Member

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    Hi Chap,

    Understood, logical response.

    In the most recent photo, do you notice any cracking? I have 100% silicone ready to go, however I can't find any cracking unless I am looking in the wrong spot.



    BTW, I found a "The Hybrid Shop" (Hybrid Electric Vehicle Maintenance and Diagnostic Services) only 45-50 minutes from me!!!!
    Hillsborough Hybrid Repair | Walko Automotive Service


    I think I can use their specialized services as a last resort. They should be insanely affordable and specialize in hybrids too.
     
  8. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Hard for me to tell; it's not a problem I've personally dealt with (knocks wood). It certainly doesn't look pristine there. I don't know if I could go from that to whether it's cracked, by the picture alone. Maybe someone who's dealt with it before?

    -Chap
     
  9. Blackwing

    Blackwing Member

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    A lot of that yellow stuff is just pollen. Well I have a teeth cleaning appointment and I need to ship a couple items for my eBay store. I'm gambling that my car will be ok given the fact that I drove it home from work on Friday night, for a whole 15.6 miles @ < 45 mph.


    The post office and dentist are in the same plaza, which is only 5.5 miles away. Wish me luck!

    Btw, the PCI cable shipped today. Well the label was created by the seller but has not reached the post office yet.
     
  10. Prius_Angie

    Prius_Angie Active Member

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    seems you have some advanced leaking and need to [sooner vice later] diagnose where its emanating from.

    - Rip out the rear upholstery interior from rear window backward. That will give you a better look at what is still wet, what is bone dry and what is now rusty but was wet long ago. Trails of wet or rust will give you a great history from whence your car came from. You are probably not going to like what you may find hidden underneath your linings (such as mold and uneaten pizza crusts) but you will sleep better.
    - If you have the time, I would go ahead and thoroughly clean & caulk those roof-trunk channels; consider using alcohol and cotton balls (or something of the such) to prep the surface for caulking. You will never see this caulk anyhow, as it is well hidden when trunk closed. It wont cost much $, only a bit of your time. It will help you better diagnose where these leaks are/are not coming from.

    think positive and dry thoughts...
     
    #30 Prius_Angie, May 22, 2017
    Last edited: May 23, 2017
  11. Blackwing

    Blackwing Member

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    Alright now I'm confused, it POURED here in Jersey for hours. I drove the car a total of 12 miles today with no apparent issues IN THE POURING RAIN (to run errands). Once I got back home I checked underneath the hatch and it was *bone-dry* still. I drove it exactly as you will see it in this picture, with no spare tire, no tray cover, and rear HV battery exposed. What gives with the water from before lol??

    I need that VCI cable so bad.
    IMG_6246.JPG
     
  12. Blackwing

    Blackwing Member

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    Okay now the warning lights are all GONE. WHAT?!! How am I supposed to diagnose it with the mini VCI cable when it gets here??

    IMG_6250.PNG
     
  13. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    From reading this complete thread and now all your lights are gone, I believe you have a failed inverter pump. Go drive it for a bit and if your lights return, it's most likely the case. When the red triangle is there, most likely your AC will also not blow cold air.

    The reason you don't see the warning lights now is because the car has cooled and it's operating at a normal temperature. Once it gets hot again from not having a properly working inverter coolant pump, your warning lights will come back.

    Your MINI VCI cable will be useful when the warning lights are there....
     
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  14. Blackwing

    Blackwing Member

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    Ay yiyi. Interesting though because according to that old e-mail I posted, this should have been done way back, several years ago as a recall? Is this another free recall?
     
  15. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    It seems these pumps fail every 100k miles or so, it's an electronic wearing part.

    If there was a recall on your tires, you would only get 1 set of tires, 2nd set would be on you.
     
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  16. Blackwing

    Blackwing Member

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    Wow, how irritating. Thank you for info JC. I'll update with any new lights and Techstream readings.
     
  17. Beachbummm

    Beachbummm Senior Member

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    QUOTE="Blackwing, post: 2543490, member: 154064"]If memory serves me correctly this is the 12v aux battery. I had replaced this myself in the summer of 2011. Six years ago. Looks like it's time to check the voltage and drop $100 on another Toyota OEM. We also had a lot of rain recently, so I'll check for any leaks, rust, excess water.


    View attachment 129834

    Update with findings.

    View attachment 129841 View attachment 129843 View attachment 129842 View attachment 129844 View attachment 129845 View attachment 129846 [/QUOTE]
    when you have the 12 volt battery out push out the rubber body plug under it so you don't have a swimming pool in the trunk.... get some sealant and reseal the body gaps in the hatchback and under the roof molding.. common problem on gen 2 prius'
     
    #37 Beachbummm, May 24, 2017
    Last edited: May 24, 2017
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  18. Blackwing

    Blackwing Member

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    JC, you know your stuff. I present to you, the TechStream findings.

    The only code is P0A93.

    No engine codes. No battery codes.

    Great stuff!! I'll order that part OEM on eBay for $63.44 free shipping. Now I am a Toyota tech for $17.00. Toyota stealership: "We'll diagnose it for $120.00." LOL





    IMG_6261.JPG IMG_6258.JPG IMG_6260.JPG IMG_6259.JPG
     
  19. Blackwing

    Blackwing Member

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    when you have the 12 volt battery out push out the rubber body plug under it so you don't have a swimming pool in the trunk.... get some sealant and reseal the body gaps in the hatchback and under the roof molding.. common problem on gen 2 prius'[/QUOTE]


    Are you talking about the plugs underneath the spare tire? And where are the body gaps and roof molding?
     
  20. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    You were told this way back in post #20
    Haha, reading DTCs does not make you ToyoTech. There is a bit more to it than that.
    He wasn't, but if you have water pooling there, it would be a good idea. There is also a bung in the battery compartment, as well as one on the other side. You should remove any where you currently have standing water pooling until you seal up the leaks.
    See this thread: "Water leak...into spare tire area etc | Page 3 | Post 49 | | PriusChat" for details.
     
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