I don't think I just hit something in the road....

Did you look over the vehicle in every nook and cranny for signs of trouble? Did the warning lights go away?

Those warning lights mean error codes have been stored to memory that will point to problem. Keeping a cheap OBD2 reader in your glove box so you can connect your car to a phone app to read codes and clear red triangle so you can make it home safely is wise.

 

The red triangle of death is on and what about the three Amber lights right next to it if you look at your dash with a flashlight or see it with the sun behind you there's an exclamation point A skid control VSC light and the ABS light they light up in the yellow amber color are they on also? Is your car louder than normal this is important? Somebody needs to look over the car carefully and see if anything in the front end has fallen off the car possibly did the tires all look straight up and down and not tilted in it the top or the bottom towards the body The tires look straight in the wheel wells The edges of the tires from the one edge to the other edge all assembly look uniform? Maybe somebody had your catalytic converter halfway out of the car and had to leave abruptly? Is there oil in the car this is very important on level ground pull the dipstick out in the early morning or when you get up to go to the car You don't even have to wipe off the dipstick just pull it out Is it near the full mark or way down on the tip of the end of the stick?

 

You should be afraid to drive because you could be seriously injured or worse.

If you have no mechanical knowhow, nor know anyone that does, your best bet is to have it towed to a good shop.

The codes may or may not point to what was damaged or pushed out of place. You need a competant mechanical inspection.

 

Check your CV Axles...If you had a ripped bolt you could have just had a knuckle seize up.

 

Think about this. The poster seems to know nothing about repair.

This is not the time to learn. They are looking for ... Unfortunately... A quick wave hands over the hood, say the proper words fix.

I applaud anyone wanting to learn mechanics but this is not the time or place. At least without skilled help. Risks here could be hardly any or significant. Did you read steering binding.

Having had my own experience with a major accident and the scars and tears that went along with it, I highly encourage the sage advice mentioned above. Have it towed to a mechanic...I do not take that lightly. I love to repair my own rigs, but I do have experience...and enough of it to know when to call the pros.

Of course spending weeks in hospitals and months in nursing homes has its advantages...wait...no it doesn't.
kris

 

But asking someone to give their car a good looking over before resigning themselves to spending the big bucks on having it towed to the mechanic is a better way of going about the situation.

As in it takes zero mechanical knowledge to realize you have a hole in the side of the engine or the coolant reservoir is empty or a fender liner is broken and flapping around in the wind or some other problem that us folks on Priuschat could give advice about fixing or detail how urgent the repair need is, or how to make a temporary repair so they can keep driving rather than getting towed for something that's no big deal.

I mean if you have to take a test to get a driver's license, we should also have a car ownership license that requires basic car knowledge, as well as reading your vehicles owner's manual so all the automotive car repair scammers get caught for scamming people rather than get away with it like they do now.

 

Yep, all that sounds easy to you. To many people unfortunately many of them women, even looking to see if the radiator was low is the same as asking if you can rebuild a carb.


If the poster had enough knowledge to do as you suggest, do you not think said poster may have mentioned they had done "x or y or z" but were totally baffled.

Maybe, just maybe, tease it out via Youtube, etc. But unless OP plans to start doing a lot of their own care and feeding of the car, along with buying all the tools the "cheapest" and SAFEST route is tow to garage.
kris

Of course it is up to the OP to take personal risk as well as possibly endangering others on the road.

 

The startup rattle sounds like a serious engine problem. If it drives your suspension and cv joints are probably ok. Most mechanics would put it on a lift and verify nothing is loose. Sometimes a plastic undercover comes off causing lots of noise for a minute but you have three bad lights- the triangle (generally something serious), the check engine (definitely an engine issue but severity is unknown) and a car with ! light (generally a serious hybrid issue which the manual says don’t drive!


However if it were me I would call around and find an independent shop with hybrid experience. Save a lot including a diagnostic fee in many cases.

 

I agree with the recommendation - find a shop that does hybrid work then get it towed there.

What OBD2 device did you buy?

If you want to learn about scantools and what they can do I'll give a "brief" rundown.

A scantool is a device that plugs into the OnBoard Diagnostics port (a standardized connector - version 2 - under the driver's side of the dashboard). The scantool allows someone to communicate with various Electronic Control Units on the car that are connected to the car's data network.

The scantool has hardware - the physical part the plugs into the OBD, and software - the code, program, or app. Most scantools do not have the hardware or software that is capable of communicating with all of the 14-16 ecu's on a Gen2 Prius.

The factory scantool - Techstream (TS) - is a program that is installed on a laptop and uses a Vehicle Communications Interface cable to connect the laptop to the car's OBD port. Legit TS is a subscription- X dollars for Y days of function. Pay for a 2 day subscription, and you have 48 hours once it's active -whether you actually use it or not. You also need to buy a VCI.

The web has many bootleg (pirated) versions for sale that are somehow hacked to bypass the activation license. Less $$ but can be fiddly to get working. They usually have a clone of a clone VCI.

Next is the stand alone scantool. This self contained device has a built in screen with a cable (or bluetooth VCI) to connect to the car. Buttons or touchscreen controls operation. I don't cover these as cost, capabilities, and size vary widely - often the descriptions on a site don't convey what it can or cannot do.

Last is the app and (Bluetooth) VCI. These turn a smartphone into a scantool. You have to select the app and device that can work with your phone (android or apple).

What can a scantool do? Techstream can:

1)Read and erase codes from all systems on the car, 2) Read freezeframe data (a "snapshot" of data from an ecu at the time when a code was set), 3) Read INF - sub codes (an additional detail code that gives more info about a fault). 4) View (& record) data - the inputs and outputs - from an ecu.

5) Perform bidirectional tests - command the ecu to turn certain outputs like pumps or fans on & off. 6)Perform special functions like: programming TPMS sensor ID codes to the car, bleed the ABS actuator, or program new key fobs to the car. 7) Access the "customize" menu to change some of the car's behaviors - such as how the door locks work with the remote fob (flash lights or not, beep or not, driver's door or all doors).

Many other scantools are very limited in what they can do. Most are "generic OBD2" - this is minimal functions (basic engine codes/ data and status of inspection monitor tests) as required by federal law for the Engine Control Module only. Such a tool can't talk to other ecu's.

Others might talk to some ecu's like ECM, ABS (brakes), TCM (transmission), and SRS (airbag).
Some might have codes and data. Some might have INF codes, &/or limited controls or functions. Or not.

Some are less $, others are more $$$. Some are outright purchased, others are subscription and will stop working after a year if you don't pay to renew it for another year.


It's a complicated and confusing mess. But there it is. Here is a thread that reviews several scantool apps and devices (it covers this style because they are fairly inexpensive and can be kept in the glovebox).

As for what you need? The Autel AP200 is a decent choice for codes and data on ALL systems on a Gen2. Can get INF codes, and has some special functions. No subscription for the first car brand.

Other tools can do more (or less) - if you get deep into diagnostics then bidirectional controls are handy, but not for most people.

Some would get Dr Prius just to monitor voltages of the HV battery (this needs a different VCI).

https://priuschat.com/index.php?posts/3290690

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Be aware that obd2 scan tools require knowledge to even understand the results and don’t fix anything.

Take it to a hybrid experienced shop. If you were advanced diy’er you would have some options but you are a normal person who needs somebody to check it out.

 

My sympathies... The first time I tried to buy an OBD2 I had the same problem... The 2nd time too. Here's a buyer's guide: Hybrid battery diagnostic and repair tool for Toyota and Lexus