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Check engine light

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by WIS2004, Feb 10, 2009.

  1. WIS2004

    WIS2004 New Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    I have a 2004 Prius that I purchased in 2007. It has 75,000 miles on it and in fairly good condition.

    Anyway, I was driving to meet with the pastor at my church an hour ago when the red triangle came on, along with a 'check engine' light. The front display said 'problem' then had an icon with a car with an exclamation point through it. I just had the oil changed last month, and they left the maintenence required light on. I turned that off. The red light turned off, but the check engine light was still on.

    I should also add I took it in for a carwash with an underbody rinse this morning.

    Suggestions?
     
    #1 WIS2004, Feb 10, 2009
  2. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    That icon is the hybrid vehicle warning icon. I suggest you visit your local Toyota dealer ASAP so that the diagnostic trouble codes can be read and a diagnosis provided. If the suggested repairs are not covered under warranty, you may wish to post the DTC and the proposed remedy for us to comment.
     
    #2 Patrick Wong, Feb 10, 2009
  3. WIS2004

    WIS2004 New Member

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    Okay. I took it in and they came up with 2 codes: P0A0F and P3191. One of these was covered in warranty, they updated with ECM Logic Bullitin EG047-04 Recall.

    The other apparently is minor carbon build up in the throttle/seafoam service that would run $240. Obviously I'd like to get this done, but with limited funds (and I mean limited), how soon should it be completed and can it be done for less than $240?
     
    #3 WIS2004, Feb 10, 2009
  4. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Well, if you want to save $230, you can visit your local discount auto parts store and buy a can of throttle body cleaner for ~$10 (rated safe for use with catalytic converters). Then remove the engine air cleaner housing top, use a flashlight to look down into the throttle body, and spray some of the cleaner onto the throttle body interior and throttle plate to clean off the black gunk.

    You can rotate the throttle plate by turning the spring-loaded shaft. Clean both sides of the throttle plate.

    Use the minimum necessary cleaner to remove the gunk. Also, use the plastic wand that comes with the cleaner so that you don't spray the cleaner where it is not needed, for example on the mass airflow sensor that protrudes into the throttle body.
     
    #4 Patrick Wong, Feb 10, 2009
    fred 90045 likes this.
  5. drusselll

    drusselll Junior Member

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    2009 Prius

    Be advised the plastic wand/tube has bad habit of working loose from the spray nozzle and launching down the intake. Then it’s time to get out the long reach hemostats to fetch it out. I have used a three foot heavy cotten string hard knotted to the tube to prevent this.
     
    #5 drusselll, Feb 13, 2009
    fred 90045 likes this.
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