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"hybrid system malfunction, visit dealer"- 2016

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by priusrust, Jan 15, 2022.

  1. priusrust

    priusrust Member

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    I have a 2016 with very low miles (23k). This morning during a bitter cold snap (2 degrees F) went for trip to store, came out , and 'hybrid system malfunction- visit dealer' (or something very similar) showed up on dashboard. Car seemed to run fine. warning remains. Unfortunately my 'FIXD' code reader is with my other prius (2004) and not accessible. Guess my plan is to do as warning says and take to dealer- ($$$gulp) but any ideas on cause? could it be the 2 degree F weather? I have a vague feeling when i entered car from store, may have messed up the 'step on brake to start sequence' (or something out of order), but not sure . Any opinions most welcome- thanks!
     
  2. 2010moneypit?

    2010moneypit? Active Member

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    Car could have sat to long and depleted the HV battery. Prii like to be driven low image kills the HV battery.
     
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  3. Brian1954

    Brian1954 Active Member

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    I would get the trouble codes read before taking it to the dealership. Try local auto part stores.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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  4. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    That message covers a large number of different actual trouble codes that the system can report. Some are big-ticket items and many are no big deal and easy to resolve. It probably has nothing to do with you getting any sequence out of order, and there's no real reason to get too worked up about it until the actual codes have been read. Then we'll know something.
     
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  5. priusrust

    priusrust Member

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    Thanks for all the feedback...just went out a gain for a spin (now 8 degrees F) and poof! hybrid warning light gone and all is well. My guess is the extreme cold (?) I called Toyota service and they suggested waiting a couple days when it will warm up to see what happens before bringing it in (no need now) so my guess is they've seen cold related quirks like this before (?) So hoping this is the end of it. (right?) One unrelated comment: wish they still made 2nd gen prius. Besides being a dependable tank, it has that 'old fashioned' not -over -engineered simplicity I love.
     
  6. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    I'm in favor of having something on hand for reading trouble codes, so you can do that whenever they come up, without having to rely on the kindness (or paid services) of strangers.

    I don't belong to the "just assume it's a quirk" school of thought. Pretty much any time my car gives me a warning, I will read the codes to see what it is warning me about. Once I know that, I will decide how urgently to treat that particular issue.
     
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  7. priusrust

    priusrust Member

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    I attend the same school (don't assume it's a quirk!)! Normally do have code reader on hand, it is just in my 2004 prius and not current accessible. (my thinking was 2004 more likely than 2016 to throw a code) The issue now is the warning is gone. All seems fine. The fact the warning disappeared ads to my thinking likelihood was cold temps. Flawed thinking? I'm open to that ...and welcome corrections.
     
  8. davecook89t

    davecook89t Senior Member

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    I had a similar experience almost 8 months ago described here with our 2017, but no issues since. My confidence in the car has almost grown back to what it was before this happened, but like you, I still have more confidence in our Gen 2, despite its ongoing issues (intermittent failure of Combo meter, constant Check Engine light now for P0430).
     
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  9. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Really, any time there is a warning light, and then it goes away before you could get the codes, the limit of what you can safely conclude is that something was reported and you missed the chance to find out what (unless it has been saved as a history code). You might get another chance if it comes back, and usually if I miss one chance I will try to be a bit extra alert and ready for it if I get another.

    The detection conditions for some codes are such that a good amount of time might pass before you get that next chance.
     
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  10. priusrust

    priusrust Member

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    Thanks. Yeh, the overengineering is repellent to me. IMO much (not all) of the safety gadgetry backfires in that it become an unsafe distraction. My 2004 has been through issues- most recently front wheels disengaging from steering wheel while driving. (if I can compartmentalize that, I can do such with anything!) recall steering shaft bad improper install. (torquing issue?) but engine purrs like a kitten, uses approx 1/2 cup of oil between changes (if that). Back to 2016.....pretty sure it is cold. This was first night out of garage, and sudden precipitous temp drop. [really trying to convince myself]
     
  11. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Umm, what turned out to be the cause of that? Was that connected to improper workmanship doing the column shaft recall?
     
  12. priusrust

    priusrust Member

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    if that's the case...code that went off by design.....it sure wasn't on for long! (15 minutes) My guess is the toyota service person telling me it likely the cold causing the alert, likely not worth much I know (likely backed up on Sat. and did not want another vehicle to deal with)?
     
  13. priusrust

    priusrust Member

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    haha...that does tend to get people attention. I posted it elsewhere, but to summarize: only 130k on my 2004, taking a corner and the steering wheel suddenly detached from wheels and spun freely like a roulette wheel- while driving! Took it to non toyota mechanic (in hindsight a mistake) he reattached steering shaft that had become disconnected. He informed me 2 toyota recalls related and both were done on my car. Checked NHTSA web site and saw 'my case' .....improper install of recalled shaft replacement. Called toyota, they said it could be little fender bender I had. Got a detailed letter from the 'toyota certified' repair manager that toyota was flat out wrong, fender bender had zero to do with steering failure. Took letter to small claims court. (all i wanted was a cheap plastic bumper that got damaged -it was principle at this point- if it happened 5 minutes later, would have been on hwy and rolled over -good chance dead due to the obvious improper install) Toyota rep made the point in court -recall repair was done way back at 60K miles....and that "a rock could have done it". (no joke) Judge admittedly new nothing about vehicles ans sided with defendant. Was tempted to visit toyota show room and mingle with customers relating that toyota feels steering wheel detachment while driving with 130 k miles is 'normal wear and tear' (their words) My fam bought 3 cars from them! their negligence almost killed me and all I asked for was a bumper. I envisioned my framed portrait in their showroom titled "ideal fantasy customer of the millenium" .......My envisioning was off a tad. ::checking pulse::
     
  14. priusrust

    priusrust Member

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    so far so good....hybrid maintenance visit dealer warning' has vanished since showing for 10 minutes at the onset of driving in 5 degree weather. if it shows again, I'll check codes, etc
     
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  15. davecook89t

    davecook89t Senior Member

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    Cold weather certainly wasn't the cause of my "Hybrid System Malfunction" error (it happened in Florida in late April), but as was pointed out, that error message can arise from a lot of different conditions, so it's not likely your car was experiencing the same issue as mine.
     
  16. BmMan

    BmMan Junior Member

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    Bonjour
    Je voudrais dire que j'ai eu le même problème par - 10°c . Le moteur thermique n'a pas voulu démarrer. Et j'ai eu le même message qu'il fallait se garer le + vite possible et aller chez le concessionnaire . Après avoir éteint le moteur 2 fois, il a bien voulu redémarrer avec un message d'erreur que j'ai réussi à faire partir avec un lecteur OBD 2 .
     
  17. 17primebloke

    17primebloke New Member

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    THIS FORUM WAS THE FIRST THING THAT POPPED UP WHEN I SEARCHED HYBRID FAILURE VISIT DEALER. THANK YOU
    I just had this happen on my 2017, I was in a very mode area looking at a piece of property. Went to start the car and the dash lit up like a Christmas tree hybrid system failure brake failure emergency, blah blah failure visit dealer visit dealer.
    Fortunately, the car still turned on so I drove it to town and pop the hood never had an issue. One owner 65,000 miles.

    Looked under the hood and scratched my head and noticed the negative terminal on the main battery didn’t look like it was set it on the battery itself correctly

    So I touched it, and it was wiggly and loose

    I have a of tools never carry any in the Prius. Drove to an auto parts store asked to borrow at 10 mm socket tried to tighten the battery without any luck noticed under the terminal there was a felt donut to prevent corrosion, preventing the terminal from sitting down all the way.

    Removed the felt donut tighten terminal correctly. All codes cleared when I started. The vehicle drove 1000 miles no issues.

    Vehicle is always been dealer serviced no idea where the felt corrosion preventer came from. Perhaps it’s factory haven’t checked.
    Love the car it’s been excellent. First time I’ve ever had an issue your results may vary
     
    #17 17primebloke, Feb 5, 2023
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 5, 2023
  18. CooCooCaChoo

    CooCooCaChoo Active Member

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    The felt donut is fine to have. The problem was the nuts and bolts on the terminal clamp weren't torqued to spec and they loosened over time.
     
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  19. thomassster

    thomassster Member

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    well, I just ran into this just now. I've been driving it a couple of times within 8-mile trips with no issue. I was at home, and about to drive off again and was hit with this same error, but it did not let me start my car. My software engineering side of me decided to try out restart trick. So I did not had time to try and diagnose looking up DTCs. I was in a hurry, rushing to get the car drivable. I noticed my negative terminal was loose just like a previous poster mentioned with their car. I tightened it back down and everything was working. I went through my errand picking up my kid from school. I tried to look up any noticeable error codes, and nothing stood out. I'll chime in back here if I noticed any other parts unusual, but for now, I'll assume it could have been a loose negative terminal. The weather seemed to have gotten much warmer, but could be mixed with that and time which it got loosened.
     
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