Inverter Troubles

I recently purchased a 2006 prius with 115k miles. A few days after purchase several lights on dash yellow brake light, vsc, red triangle, battery lights on display were also on. I took it to my local Toyota dealer. They said it may be my 12v battery going bad they cleared the codes and said if they come back on they would change the 12v battery. After reading posts on this forum I just ordered a optima yellow top and changed the battery. Two days later same lights are on again. I returned to Touota the had the car for 2 days and told me bad inverter est of 4600 to fix. They said they were 100% sure it was bad inverter, Codes were POA08A-264 and POA09-591. I purchased a used inverter for salvage yard on ebay seller rating 99.8% and also so coolant from Toyota. Install was easy thanks to PRIUSchat. After 3 days RED TRIANGLE and check engine light. Code was POA7A I do not have the other 3 digits because my little scanner didnt tell me them but it said Generator inverter performance. I cleared the code. The next morning while starting the car the red triangle, check engine light, vsc light, and yellow brake light are on. Codes that I could see were C1310, and POA7A. A strange thing was I was so upset with the lights that I failed to notice the engine had not started and I headed out to work. I noticed the engine wasn't running after about 1/4 of a mile of driving. I pulled over shut it down and then it started right up and drove normal. Please help me figure this out. I will try to get the last 3 of the POA7A and will post. Question is do I have another bad inverter or a bad transmission or ECU. Many thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge. I have circulation in the invert coolant tank there is no air in the system. I have 12.4 volts at AUX battery. When in ready I have 13.8V at battery.

 

Thank you for the information. The seller I purchased the used inverter from is sending me another inverter at no cost with no need to return the inverter I just purchased from him. I will recheck my battery voltage and charge if needed. Toyota told me they checked all the wiring and connections and that they were all good.

I have 12.85v on battery with car off.

I am just wondering why the lights only appear when starting the prius up. Then the lights will do out. The lights never come on while driving only on start up.

 

Yes they stay on untill i restart the car about 2 times. After they go off I have stopped and restarted the car 50 times in a row no lights.

 

Well went out this am to go to work. The light is on again. I am still waiting for the other inverter to arrive. I watched the voltage on my 12v battery and when I pushed the start button it dropped to 11.1V. I will pull that battery out when i get home and charge it over night. Perhaps I got a bad 12V or something is drawing m battery down when it sits over night. I double checked to make sure a light wasn't staying on in the car with the door closed. The triangle and check engine light only come on when the car has been sitting overnight and started.

 

Yes it went to 13.8V in ready. Red triangle and check engine light. Same code POa7a. Iv ordered a minivci cable but it wont be here for 2 weeks. I just can figure out why it only happens after the car sits over night. I would think if the inverter is bad or intermittently bad it would throw codes and turn on light at different times. After I drive the car and restart it the light goes out no more codes. Like i said yesterday I drove the car around and shut it down restarted it 50 times and no lights. Then this morning BAM. If you watch the news and see a Prius rolling down the road it flames....

Another update: I went out and turned my headlights on left them on for 1 hr checked the voltage of aux Bat and it was 11.9 car was on but not in ready mode but my foot on brake car started fine no codes. Bat voltage dropped to 11.4 when i pressed start button with foot on brake then went to 14.5v in ready. So seems the system detected low aux battery and supplied more voltage to charge it. I do not think my problems are related to aux battery voltage. I will go ahead and get the instructions to check the ecu wiring.

 

To give you guys an update. I checked the current draw of the battery as Mendel suggested and got almost the same draw values. I went out this am and tested the aux battery voltage at 12.8 with the rear gate open nothing on. The Prius started right up and NO lights. I will keep my figures crossed. Thanks for all your suggestions and for sharing your knowledge.

 

Well drove the car to hardies and was waiting at the drive up window. Then check engine light comes on engine a few seconds later red triangle then engine dies then a bunch of lights. Engine would restart and die. I got it going and made it back to the house. Scanner and to my surprise I have a new code PO121. Perhaps this is related to the car not starting in the morning a the lights coming on?????

 

Thank you Patrick. I checked the wiring and didn't see an thing that looked suspect so I pulled off the throttle body it was very dirty. I cleaned it and put everything back together so far so good. I have not had the p0a7a for 3 days now. I will keep at it until it's fixed. I am planning on a long trip next week if no codes over the weekend.

 

Ok well guess what I haven't had any lights on since I cleaned the throttle body. Thanks all for your input. I will be Making a 700 mile trip leaving tomorrow. All seems to be well I still have the first used inverter in the car. Once again thanks and I will post a follow up after my trip.

 

Almost 900 miles later no warning lights. Cheers.