1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Prius died on freeway. 3 lug nuts missing, is this the cause?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Branndon, Jun 28, 2013.

  1. Priusyipee

    Priusyipee Active Member

    Joined:
    Nov 9, 2012
    350
    269
    3
    Location:
    Upstate New York
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    The CM is an intermittent problem. I was having "outages" for about 2 years before Toyota announced this "enhanced" warranty last September. I lived with it due to the cost of having it done but once I found out that Toyota would cover the repair for free and provide a loaner car, I had the car repaired:)
    I do not believe that a code is thrown. Once you have the battery replaced and, see what happens. However, Toyota WILL replace the CM if the customer states that there has been a problem. Good to know since you only have 2.5 months left to get this done!
     
  2. Branndon

    Branndon Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2010
    81
    3
    0
    Location:
    Orange County, CA
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Awesome! And I have a family member who works at a Toyota dealership, so I feel comfortable taking it in there.
     
  3. SteveLee

    SteveLee Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2012
    645
    180
    0
    Location:
    North Carolina
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    I
    To save a little money you might want to buy the battery and install it yourself. And you might want to check for alternatives to the OEM battery from Toyota. Searching here in Priuschat will give you lots of information.
     
  4. Branndon

    Branndon Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2010
    81
    3
    0
    Location:
    Orange County, CA
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I usually do all my own work, and will do the battery, oil, and lug nuts myself, but I'll take it to the dealership for the warrantied item.
     
  5. css28

    css28 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2012
    1,566
    442
    3
    Location:
    Suburban Detroit
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    As a temporary workaround, borrow a lug nut from a couple of the other wheels and make sure that the remaining four on each wheel are tight.
     
    PLSPUSH likes this.
  6. Branndon

    Branndon Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2010
    81
    3
    0
    Location:
    Orange County, CA
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Good thinking css28. I am going in another vehicle in the morning to buy lug nuts though.

    I got a new battery, but the posts are tiny, and my current battery has the standard post size. I'm going back in the morning to get the right battery, or post adapters. I'll be getting oil change supplies and lug nuts too.
     
  7. css28

    css28 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2012
    1,566
    442
    3
    Location:
    Suburban Detroit
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Interesting. So a previous owner put standard connectors on the car.
    Make sure that the replacement battery matches dimensionally and will fit. It'll probably cost a little less (with the standard posts) but you should make sure that it's an AGM (absorbed glass mat) type, as that's what the car's designed for.
     
  8. Branndon

    Branndon Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2010
    81
    3
    0
    Location:
    Orange County, CA
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Update: I got a new battery, optima, but it had the wrong sized posts. I got a non optima battery in now. I replaced the oil, and have new lugnuts.

    The problem is still here. Same as before. I have a new video showing that it will let me limp in hybrid mode, but if the gas engine tries to crank over, it dies. I'm thinking clogged fuel filter, or the other fuel part that was mentioned in this thread.

    How can I find the fuel filter, or fuel injector thing that I might be able to see if it's clogged or dirty?

    Video still uploading, but will be live here in an hour or less.

     
  9. Branndon

    Branndon Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2010
    81
    3
    0
    Location:
    Orange County, CA
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Video is live. Also, the OBD II code reader stated "no DTC!" so apparently there weren't any codes. I don't know for certain if it was a hybrid compatible scanner though.
     
  10. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    18,200
    6,471
    0
    Location:
    Green Valley, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I suggest that it is time for you to seek professional assistance since you've replaced the 12V battery and the car still has a problem.

    The fuel filter is located within the fuel tank. I don't hear MG1 trying to spin the engine in your video. It seems the problem is beyond a fuel injector issue.
     
  11. Branndon

    Branndon Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2010
    81
    3
    0
    Location:
    Orange County, CA
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Thanks Patrick. I was hoping you would have found my thread, and thanks for the help you've offered. I am thinking of having it towed to a Toyota dealership today.

    I'll wait a little longer to see if anyone else has an option to possibly get the engine working again, as taking it to a dealership will mean I have to rent a car for work, and that's a bit of a stretch financially to do right now.
     
  12. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2005
    3,850
    1,843
    1
    Location:
    Trumbull, CT
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius
    Model:
    LE AWD-e
    The fuel filter is in the gas tank and is not available for inspection or replacement. Measure the fuel pressure in the gas line feed to the injectors to determine the availability of fuel.

    JeffD
     
  13. Priusyipee

    Priusyipee Active Member

    Joined:
    Nov 9, 2012
    350
    269
    3
    Location:
    Upstate New York
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I agree, at this point you definitely need to get it in to Toyota. Some things are just out of reach and can not be done at home in a timely manner. Keep us posted as to what they find.
     
  14. Branndon

    Branndon Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2010
    81
    3
    0
    Location:
    Orange County, CA
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    It's in the shop right now. I'll report back with the problem.
     
  15. Branndon

    Branndon Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2010
    81
    3
    0
    Location:
    Orange County, CA
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I just got a call from my father in law at the dealership. They say it's the converter inverter, a $4,000 part. They are pushing to see if they can find a way to get it warrantied.... any thoughts guys? It's an 04, so I'm right at the warranty period.
     
  16. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    18,200
    6,471
    0
    Location:
    Green Valley, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Do you mean the catalytic converter? If yes, I do not see why that would prevent the engine from starting. I could see that a clogged catalytic converter might restrict exhaust gas flow and therefore engine power output, but the engine should at least start.

    If you mean the inverter has failed (which contains a DC/DC converter) then I agree that your best bet is to have a used unit from a salvage yard installed, if your car is not covered under warranty.
     
  17. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2005
    3,850
    1,843
    1
    Location:
    Trumbull, CT
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius
    Model:
    LE AWD-e
  18. Branndon

    Branndon Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2010
    81
    3
    0
    Location:
    Orange County, CA
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Inverter, that's it. He was going back and fourth playing middle man. They are seeing if they have a used one, or can get a new one under warranty, I'll know more tomorrow.
     
  19. 2009Prius

    2009Prius A Wimpy DIYer

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2009
    2,705
    510
    63
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Here are the pages from the warranty booklet for my 2009 Prius. It is ambiguous and confusing at the best. For the CARB states it just says "15 years or 150,000 miles, whichever occurs first" and nothing about the parts list. On the other hand for PA and WA it has a detailed parts list, including "Inverter with converter (footnote: Covered under the Hybrid System Warranty for eight years or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first.)". So the questions are:
    Is the parts list for the CARB states the same as that for PA and WA?
    If yes, then for the CARB states is the inverter covered for only 8 yrs/100K miles as in PA and WA, or for 15 yrs/150K miles?

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  20. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    18,200
    6,471
    0
    Location:
    Green Valley, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    What does your booklet say with regards to the hybrid system warranty?