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electrical troubles begin after oil leak repair

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Lyle Ryan, Aug 13, 2014.

  1. Lyle Ryan

    Lyle Ryan Junior Member

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    My local dealer (who seems very good) suggested they repair an oil leak at the timing chain cover before my 60K warranty expired. Kept the car 2 days waiting for parts. Then some very odd problems developed.

    First I noticed the AC wasn't working: fan runs but will not blow cold. Dealer said must be something else because they didn't touch the AC. Then after a half hour of driving the AC suddenly starts blowing cold.

    Maybe an hour of driving later, the dash beeps, alerts, and "low oil pressure" comes on the screen. Shut it off & have it towed to dealer.

    While checking the mileage at the dealer, the service adviser and I both see the dash beep, alert, and ABS and Trak alarms go off.

    Tech resets the computer but says he can't find any error codes. Systems and oil pressure all seem ok.

    I drive 10 min, and.... beep, alert, "low oil pressure".

    Like I say, the dealer seems great, and I'm assuming they'll get to the bottom of this, but does anyone here recognize symptoms like this?

    Thanks....Lyle
     
    #1 Lyle Ryan, Aug 13, 2014
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    nope, but they probably disturbed some wiring in the repair process. dealer says, 'must be something else, because they didn't touch the a/c' means, 'we shouldn't have touched the a/c, but i have no idea what the idiot tech might have done to your car, and i'm denying any responsibility unless i can find a quick easy fix'. all the best!(y)
     
    #2 bisco, Aug 13, 2014
  3. GrGramps

    GrGramps Active Member

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    Some people (dealers) have great difficulty admitting a mistake. They probably know that they did something wrong and will correct it. In the meantime, document everything in case you need to pursue this.
     
    #3 GrGramps, Aug 13, 2014
  4. Easy Rider 2

    Easy Rider 2 Senior Member

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    Don't discount "Murphy's Law" and simple coincidence.
    The odd things you have happening could be caused by a dying 12 V battery.
    If it hasn't been replaced before, it is probably about 5 years old.......and that's about 90 in battery years. :)

    While in the shop they may have done things like left the doors open, that caused the old battery to be discharged below it's ability to recover.
     
    #4 Easy Rider 2, Aug 13, 2014
    HaroldW likes this.
  5. energyandair

    energyandair Active Member

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    I also have a 2010 and I have been reading up on replacing the 12V battery
    There are lots of posts about strange symptoms such as yours occurring when the battery reaches the end of its life or is run right down
    This leads to the following thoughts.
    • If you have not yet replaced the battery, it may well be at the end of its life and replacing it might clear all of this up.
    • The car was sitting around at the dealers for a couple of days and and small electrical load left alive might have been enough to draw the battery right down
     
    #5 energyandair, Aug 13, 2014
  6. Lyle Ryan

    Lyle Ryan Junior Member

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    An update:

    This is starting to worry me a little. The car's been at the dealer for 12 days now. The head mechanic has been commuting in it, maybe 140 miles per day. He *did* see the problem happen (oil pressure alert, I think). But what I heard second-hand was that the car died on him at one point, and he had a hard time getting it back to the shop. Evidently it's a head-scratcher. I mentioned the 12v battery, and they seemed aware of that potential problem.

    I still have great faith in this dealer, and am happy for them to keep trying to get to the bottom of it. They're supplying a loaner, so I'm ok. But it's getting a little worrisome. 60K warranty is now exceeded.

    Any thoughts?

    Thanks....Lyle
     
    #6 Lyle Ryan, Aug 20, 2014
  7. Sierra Mark

    Sierra Mark Junior Member

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    Sounds like you need a new set of eyeballs diagnosing the problem. Despite your "faith in the dealer" I would contact Toyota directly and discuss your options.
     
    #7 Sierra Mark, Aug 20, 2014
  8. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

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    The lead mechanic is putting 140 miles/day on YOUR car? How much are they charging you to do this? Go find another dealer for a second opinion...
     
    #8 RRxing, Aug 20, 2014
  9. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    What? The mechanic is driving the car 140 miles a day? Thats ridiculous.

    The oil leak may have come from the crankshaft sensor. They may have replaced that. How much were you charged?
    And what exactly does the receipt say on it.

    This whole thing sounds idiotic. The oil pressure warning goes off when you run really low on oil. Like almost out. Can only do that once or twice and it will damage the engine. Usually by the time that nag goes off the engine has sustained piston ring damage.
    Its a very common complaint here by people who never check there oil. Usually those people are having there car serviced exclusively by the dealer.
    Frequently that spells disaster. At least from what we see here.

    Here's what we need:
    Every time the dash light or mfd alarm goes off the car logs a code. Your car has thrown many and were all or should be all logged into there system. We need those codes. Get the print out from the dealer asap. If the dealer says they have not documented the codes there idiots and you need to get your car out of there before they ruin it.

    Post the codes back here with there 3 digit subset:

    XXXX-XXX

    Good Luck.
     
    #9 edthefox5, Aug 20, 2014
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    has anyone checked the oil yet...
     
    #10 bisco, Aug 20, 2014
  11. Lyle Ryan

    Lyle Ryan Junior Member

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    Thanks to all for the comments, and please add more if you think of any.

    - the first time it happened, I grabbed the next safe pullover (~50ft), shut off the car, checked the oil (fine), and had it towed in.
    - I ok'd the mechanic driving it because I wanted him to find the intermittent problem; they gave me a loaner, so I'm fine with their 140mi/day
    - receipt says the leak was at the timing chain cover; gaskets replaced include head, oil pan, camshaft bearing, tensioner, water pump, etc; no sensor
    - I'm going by on Friday to talk to the Service Manager
    - calling Toyota sounds like the move after that.

    ....Lyle
     
    #11 Lyle Ryan, Aug 21, 2014
  12. Easy Rider 2

    Easy Rider 2 Senior Member

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    If they really are aware of the intermittent and seemingly unrelated and confusing symptoms that appear when the 12 V is going bad.......
    AND
    They have not yet changed the 12 V battery, they are just being stupid.
     
    #12 Easy Rider 2, Aug 21, 2014
  13. Lyle Ryan

    Lyle Ryan Junior Member

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    And the end of the story (hopefully)....

    They shotgunned the oil pressure sensor, and that went away. And found some connector involved with the AC that had coolant and then corrosion in it. Wierd, but then the symptoms were wierd. They had Toyota Field Service in helping diagnose.

    Everyone involved at this dealer (Hanlee's in Richmond, CA) seemed to me to be professional and competent.

    ...Lyle
     
    #13 Lyle Ryan, Aug 31, 2014
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  14. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    The receipt says they replaced all those gaskets? Thats alot of work you car would have been there for days.
     
    #14 edthefox5, Sep 1, 2014
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