2001 Prius Problems (Error Codes Included)

Hi there, I'm hoping I can get a little more insight to what's going wrong with my 2001. The the triangle exclamation mark, the check engine, and the car exclamation mark lights are all on and the following trouble codes came up: P3191, P3000, P3101, P3006

From what I've read so far it sounds like the main traction battery needs to be replaced (especially because of the P3006 code), but could there be other problems that need to be fixed? The local guy thought that the computer, traction battery, and engine coil packs all may need to be replaced/updated and sent me to the dealer where the car is to be looked at Monday. By "computer" does he mean the ECM or ECU, and is that likely?

Also, as far as I know neither the TSB EG 011-03 or the SSC-40G work has been done, despite having been to the dealer a number of times after they came out. Is there any chance either of these are relevant to the problem?

I'd also just like to say thanks in advance for the couple of people that seem to respond to almost every single post. Very cool of you guys, thanks for taking the time!

 

Thanks so much, you guys, for all the info and suggestions.

The car hasn't had the SSC-40 G battery reseal, so I will definitely bring that up to the dealer. Also, in 2006 I had an episode where the car had a moment of displaying the warning lights and no acceleration. After about 10 minutes I started the car up again and it was fine. I took it in to the dealer where they told me I needed a new accelerator, which I decided not to have done. Should they have done the TSB EG011-03 update then? My car is no longer under warranty, but if the update should have been completed then under warranty, I'll probably bring that up too.

 

Unfortunately, I didn't get the codes from the episode in 2006. I have had incidents of pressing the pedal and getting a sluggish response, but no other incidences of no response. Is there a chance there's a record at the dealer of the codes (if any) that came up in 2006?

 

Just got the call from the dealer; they're telling me I need to replace the auxillary battery, spark plugs, valve covers, and serpantine belt. Which all sounds good since I was expecting the problem to be with the traction battery. I'm still worried about the P3006 code since I thought it was specifically in reference to the cells in the traction battery. Is it likely that I'll have all this other stuff done and still need a new traction battery?

 

Thanks Bob, you were initially right about checking the aux battery! Fingers crossed that it'll be back in commission on Friday when I pick it up! Thanks again, I really appreciate all the input from everyone.

 

So, after picking up the car with the new aux battery, spark plugs, serpantine belt, clean throttle plate, the warning lights came back on after two short trips. The dealer told me to bring it back in and if it was the same problem (same trouble codes), they would fix it free of charge (hard to believe). The codes that came up were P3000, P3006, and C1522. So, two are the same as before with this new C1522 code, which seems to be "motor circuit malfunction." Any ideas? They think there's an issue with the traction battery (which seems like what they should have been concerned with initially), but at this point I am convinced that they have no idea what they're doing. And I'm annoyed that I've already paid for work that may or may not have needed to be done. Because I'm in kind of a small town, I don't really have much of an option of taking it somewhere else, but I am seriously considering trying to drive it 100 miles to Portland where I might be able to get some decent service.

 

I guess that is true, the P3191 and P3101 are no longer coming up.

I haven't noticed any problems at all with the steering system, so maybe I will ignore that code. Thanks.

Unfortunately the car is no longer under warranty (it's got maybe 140,000 miles), which is part of the reason I'd like to be able to take it to a competent independent mechanic in Portland. I'm hoping to try one of the batteries that uses the Gen2 cell technology, but fits into the Gen1. Probably not a good idea to try driving it 100 miles with a questionable traction battery, is it?

 

I guess what I was thinking was something like this: 01-03 Toyota Prius Upgraded HV Hybrid Battery Pack:eBay Motors (item 130350495996 end time Dec-17-09 06:37:43 PST)

The main problem is finding someone in my area willing to install it.

 

P3006 is battery levels unusually different. I'll ask about the voltage, I didn't realize the dealer would check all of them.

 

Alright, one more update from the dealer. They say the ECU needs to be replaced along with the main battery. It seems to me that, unless C1522 indicates something problematic with the ECU, P3000 and P3006 only really call for the main battery replacement. Is there something I'm missing? Could there be any basis to having the ECU replaced?