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Park malfunction car won't start, battery is fine, maybe ECU?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by timthecyclist25, Aug 14, 2013.

  1. timthecyclist25

    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2011
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    Location:
    Wetumpka, AL
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    So, I was messing with my audio system in my car, adjusting the amp and the remote wire came off, I wasn't thinking and when I went to put the remote wire back into the amp, it created a little spark which is when this problem started.

    I thought it was my battery at first b/c most people with the problem I'm currently having say to check the battery, which my battery is great. Then I realized that I wired my remote wire in the same brown wire that goes into the ECU, or what most people wired into for the fog light installation. My question is, could my ECU be ruined now? I reset the battery and one thing that is different is my A/C now says Celsius, which it didn't before and the fog lights don't come on in accessory mode.

    Also the problem is when I go to start the car, the
    parking button flashes and the display screens says [P] park malfunction and to set the parking brake. I have checked the ECU fuses and some other ones but their all good. Is there any other path I could go to avoid having to take my car to the blood sucking Toyota dealership? I even looked online just to see what a ECU cost and 200 bucks isn't so bad compared to what the dealership would charge me that much just to hook their machine up to it. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again.
     
  2. timthecyclist25

    Joined:
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    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    200 bucks was for a ebay used ECU just saying I have no idea what the dealership would charge.
     
  3. timthecyclist25

    Joined:
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    2007 Prius
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    Base
    correction, I had it sliced into the red wired by the brown wire I guess for an accessory wire which I'm just starting to think now that its the ECU, when the car is on it just beeps and the car wont turn off accessory wise I have to unhook the negative terminal on the battery to reset it so I can lock the car up or it just beeps a loud constant steady beep
     
  4. timthecyclist25

    Joined:
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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    well also tired a OBD II reader and the device isn't communicating with the car at all and while the car is in the on position. The car makes a loud constant beep noise so looks like i'm seriously screwed on this one. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks.
     
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    no idea on the ecu, but what are the battery readings? might be good to run them by the experts here. all the best!(y)
     
  6. timthecyclist25

    Joined:
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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
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    Base
    battery was at 12.9-12.8 and was good by advance auto parts. Which I was hoping it was the battery but I can't even get a reading on my OBD II reader so looks like it could be worst. I was looking at used ECU's on ebay and not too bad price wise but I'm wondering what all does it take to install one, like would the car have to be reprogrammed by the dealership? Would the original key still work? Looks like I might have the car towed to the dealership tomorrow.
     
  7. wstt

    wstt Member

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    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    Did you ever figure out what the problem was?
    Please respond as I've got a flashing P, the engine won't come on and I can't get it into gear. However, I can get it into neutral if needed.
     
  8. jdk2

    jdk2 Active Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    Did you check the 12v battery? It may be low and not have enough charge left to properly start the car.
     
  9. JimmyACE

    JimmyACE New Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Huntington Beach
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    The Toyota dealer in Huntington Beach just quoted me $921. to replace the EDU transmission control modual and not even sure that will fix it??? How did you fix this issue? mine always locks up on a hot day in So Cal...maybe caused by heat related circuit?