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Gnarly problem had a simple solution

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by LKasdorf, Dec 7, 2018.

  1. LKasdorf

    LKasdorf Junior Member

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    Waterford, VA USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    My 2007 prius developed a massive failure a month or so ago. Red triangle, pretty much every dash light on, ECU code 0100 which is unable to talk to ECU (or something like that- a major failing).
    I discovered the EFI fuse was blown, and quickly blows when you replace it.

    As a result of something I read, I looked at the post-cat O2 sensor wiring. A while back, I had installed an extender to help the car pass an emissions test. This got it through emissions, but pushed the O2 sensor far enough out that the wires rubbed on the heat shield. After a couple years of vibration from driving, the insulation got worn away and one of the wires grounded out! This really pissed off the ECU!

    I temporarily "installed" a plastic bottle cap to isolate the end of the O2 sensor from the heat shield, changed the EFI fuse, and the damn thing fired right up! I cleared codes and it all appears good!

    So- I ordered a curved 90 degree bend O2 sensor extender to alleviate the wire grounding problem. I'm very happy to be getting this car back on the road. It only has 330k on it (original HV battery)- it is just a baby.
     
    #1 LKasdorf, Dec 7, 2018
    Last edited: Dec 7, 2018
  2. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    a working cat would be another way of passing those pesky emissions tests
     
  3. LKasdorf

    LKasdorf Junior Member

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    Yup. $$$$$$
     
  4. exstudent

    exstudent Senior Member

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    If you have offspring or nieces/nephews, you should be ashamed. You're contributing to the problem, that they and their offspring (should they reproduce) will be dealing with. Obviously you don't care.

    Have you bothered to look-up the cost of an aftermarket catalytic converter? If you can't afford a simple weld on, you're in bad shape financially.
    Amazon.com: catalytic converter prius 2007
    $45 weld-on
    $150 direct fit, bolt-on engine side, exhaust side clamp or weld
    $235 direct fit both sides​
     
  5. Danny13pruisc3

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    I bought an aftermarket one.. but i'm going to sell it and straight pipe it.. a couple of straight piped priuses aren't the problem..
    It's like peeing in the river and you're crying about the river being tainted lol

    Anyone know what that flange size is at the front of the cat?
     
  6. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

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    I don't have that info, but an observation......

    If I went to football game and told all the hometown fans how piss poor their team was, would I then ask them to help me with a flat tire after the game? I could ask all day long, but actually getting help may be a different story..
     
  7. mr_guy_mann

    mr_guy_mann Senior Member

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    Why not measure the one that you bought, BEFORE you sell it?

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  8. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Lucky for us that dude Immanuel Kant already worked out how to spot what the problem is.
     
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    You never cease to send me down interesting Google rabbit holes, lol.

    Immanuel Kant - Wikipedia
     
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  10. Danny13pruisc3

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    I did. I ended up installing it though out of convenience. It might as well be a straight pipe.. as soon as i started the car the fumes were just liek a straight pipe lol

    My buddy bought a prius and had the same problem.. I found out the problem here (in another thread) and disconnected his o/2 sensor under the carpet.. changed the fuse.. it didn't blow.. drove the car up on ramps.. YEP same thing.

    I was thinking maybe the heat shield can be bent away or trimmed in that area.

    This guy loves that damn car lol.. let me tell you some backstory. car cut off.. we towed it home..
    being new and clueless to priuses we thought it might be hybrid related that the car wouldnt' start..
    Found a car for sale cheap with a removed cat.. i think it was like $1200.. I told him to buy it and we can use it for a parts car to diagnose his car.. I tell him to check his fuses.. he doesn't.. eventually he gets tired of the no cat car sitting in his driveway.. and sells it to a friend..

    Then he assumes it's the hybrid battery so he orders greenbean.. at least he got the lifetime warranty. They change it and say "oh well it's your problem" (not in so many words)

    So then he tells me he has a mechanic friend who's going to fix it free.. specializes in diagsnostics or something..
    the car sits there a month.. he says the integrated relay module gets hot... So I source him another one..
    the mechanic changes it out.. still not running.. My buddy gets tired of it sitting at the mechanics house for a month
    and we get the car towed back to his house. I scan for codes again the u100 or whatever no comm from ECU..

    I search the problem here and get to another thread with this solution and bam i get him up and running again.

    The car sat for 6 months.. if he had just checked his fuses like i told him to he could have saved a lot of time and money..

    he also bought a new 12v battery even though i told him that wasn't it..

    Oh well.. when we bought the car for $1700 I told him that there is a fair chance it would need a hybrid battery in the future and keep that in mind.. and he was okay with that.. So a couple of times he mentioned he's got like $3500 into the car now with a little grumble..
    but he love the car.. and 3500 into it with a lifetime battery warranty isn't so bad..

    I think i'ts kind of messed up they tied other things into the EFI fuse.

    It kind of doesn't make sense ot put an expensive cat in this car... you run the risk of some jackass stealing it..

    it's also sad that people drank the coolaid and think the ICE is going to ruin the world when you realize that the industrial
    revolution happened and didn't change weather/climate.. and historically it's not doing anything new.. and the world would be a better place if it was warmer anyway. idiots are so arogant thinking we can kill mother nature.. our nuclear bombs didnt' even kill mother nature in those locations.. but mother nature sure has killed a lot of people. that's not to say that areas dont' have smog problems.. but let's not act like it's gasoline engines causing the problems.. with that being said i'd love to see the shift to CNG/Electric hybrids. I own a cng civic.. and owning priuses I can see how energy is wasted when vehicles aren't hybrid. I own pickup trucks too.. I use the most efficient vehicle for the job.. my small cars have hitches. I coast to lights and hypermile when I can. Some people love virtue signaling about "the environment" tho.. and they probably sit around with their vehicles running and drive like idiots..