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can 12v issue relate to transaxle

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by asaf, Oct 25, 2016.

  1. asaf

    asaf New Member

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    First I would like to say Hello from Israel to the people in this great forum.
    I have Prius 2007. 150,000 miles.
    I have a huge problem I need your help in :

    I forgot the lights on in my prius for the night
    In the morning I have tried to jump start the car but I have connected the cable polarity wrong in revrese ( + to - ) and my car died.
    I towed the car to the dealership
    He told me that my front fuse box is dead and also that I need to replace my 12v battery.
    I decided to only replace the fuse box and told the dealer to jump start my car.
    When I took the car it all looked ok.
    It drove great as usuall for few days (drove around 80 miles).
    Then after fewdays, when i started the car I saw the big "!" with triangle sign. plus a yellow warning (that says my hybrid system has error).
    I tried to drive the car a bit although I saw the warning signs, but off course after few miles the car started to act like I am in "Nutral" . When I hit the gas I only heard the engine . It did not affect my wheels. so gradually the car speed reduced and I stoped.
    I pulled over. waited to be towed again. after 20 minutes of waiting the 12v was dead again (I left the lights inside the car on because it was night)
    I was towed to the dealership again
    There, he connected his equipment to the car. the computer have shown 4 errors:
    C1311 C1315 C1242
    & P0A92-261
    The dealer said he replced my 12v battery and that solved the 1st 3 problems but P0A92-261 had left.
    this problem is mg1 error. (I google it and found deatils in techinfo section in toyota website)

    The dealer told me that mg1 is part of the gear and that I need to replace all the gear (I guess he meant transaxle but said gear). cost : 6000usd. the car value is around 9000usd.
    I told him that I would like to try to drive it.
    so he put back my old 12v battery in the car, then he jumped start it and I started to drive the car:
    first half mile - all looked ok ( big news taking into account all the error codes)
    then after few minutes of driving, I got the same behavior like the car is in neutral gear and was not responding to my attempts to hit the gas puddle.

    Is it possible that the mg1 is not realy the problem and that real problem is the 12v ?
    (so when I will replace my 12v battery all will be ok).
    The dealer said that he has tried replacing the car's 12v battery (as written above) but the mg1 error code still apeared in the computer. but still I want to believe the error code will disapear.
    have anyone encoutered this kind of behavior ?
    Can I just replace the mg1 and not the all transaxle ?
    I am afraid the dealer just looks in the computer and says the all need to be replace although it is minor issue...



    Thanks a lot!

    Asaf

    PS
    the 12v cost is 200usd. it is not original so thats why id did not replace it.
    It is small money but still , I dont want to buy it for nothing..
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    welcome! i don't know if it's the transaxle for sure, but if it is, yes, you have to replace the whole thing. do you have access to salvage parts and a good mechanic?
     
  3. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Just change a new 12v and see if that's the solution to your problems

    SM-N900P ?
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    or swap with another car as a test.
     
  5. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    Possible, but not likely. With your history of running the 12 V flat and not recharging immediately, it is very likely that you have permanently damaged the 12 V battery. You need to open your mind to the possibility that you have two problems 1) a dead battery and 2) a failed MG1. In the process of your mechanic replacing the 12 V, it would have erased the original P0A92 code (as well as the others. The fact that only the P0A92 came back most likely means that it is a real problem. No amount of wishful thinking will make it go away without actually doing something physical to rectify the problem. I think you should have more faith in your mechanic, that he actually knows what he is doing. To pick up on what bisco said, the transaxle is usually very reliable, so if you were able to pick up a second-hand one from a wrecker/salvage/breaker yard, you should be able to do so at a much more reasonable cost than buying a new one. Just as long as your mechanic is happy to go that route. Otherwise you could try finding another mechanic who is knowledgeable on the Prius and is willing to do it.
    I do believe it is possible, but you will not get a Toyota dealer mechanic to do it, so the emphasis is on the "I" and that depends on your mechanical ability. I would not enter in to this proposition lightly. It will also depend on your ability to source the MG1, and you might just be better off getting the whole transaxle and replacing it, as it will be a much easier, safer and quicker solution.

    As JC said, first install the new 12 V battery and then see what you are left with.

    PS: If you do decide to go the second-hand Transaxle route, make sure the dismantler does not cut the orange cable at either end, but, disconnects it from the Inverter cleanly with all connectors intact. It is a major PIA if you have to retrofit the orange cable from the original Transaxle.
     
    #5 dolj, Oct 25, 2016
    Last edited: Oct 25, 2016
  6. asaf

    asaf New Member

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    I do have access to salavage part company. looking for good mechanic... thanks !
    i just talked to a salvage part company and they offer me a gear for 400USD. will need to check if this is the real part i need...

    Thanks all for the help!
    my next steps :
    replace the 12v battery
    pray and see maybe all problem are solved
    if not,
    verify i have the right part from the salvage company
    replace it
     
    #6 asaf, Oct 26, 2016
    Last edited: Oct 26, 2016
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    if you do go the salvage route, you may want to consider an engine as well. i hear the labor is almost the same, since they come out as one piece.
     
  8. asaf

    asaf New Member

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    My engine works ok. do you think I need to replace it as well ?

    Anyway, I found the part .price 700USD . Milage of 40,000 miles taken from a car that had accident (in the front-side).
    I tried to find place (which is not my dealer) that can install the gear but they say that I should do it in the dealer's place beacuse he has better equipment and computer.
    My dealer agreed to install a used part but it wants to find the part himself. which is weird.
    I will keep you updated...
    Thanks!
     
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  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    if the engine comes out with the transaxle, and they sell it together for a reasonable price, and the labor is the same, i would rather have an engine with 40,000 than 150,000 going forward, depending on how many more miles i wanted to keep it. but it's not a big deal either way.

    perhaps they are more comfortable installing used from a source they can trust.
     
  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Too, if the dealership is wanting to handle all the details of finding a suitable engine, making sure it's complete and so on, that seems a plus. As long as they will relay to you it's back story, the mileage it's had, accidents or whatever, will wait on your approval.
     
  11. asaf

    asaf New Member

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    thanks.. waiting for the answer of the dealer now regarding the part he will find...
    I think eventually I will fix my prius. the next step is to think wether i should ,after 150K miles, sell my car becuase more problem will occurs .or should i stay with it...
    I bought new battery half year ago...
    what do u think guys ?
     
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    a new hybrid battery?
     
  13. asaf

    asaf New Member

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  14. asaf

    asaf New Member

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    update:
    the dealer told me he found a used gear with 15K miles.
    he wants 1700USD for installing it (including work).
    I think I will take it..
    still not sure if i will try to sell the car after the fix...
     
    #14 asaf, Oct 30, 2016
    Last edited: Oct 31, 2016
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  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    please let us know how you make out, all the best!(y)
     
    asaf likes this.
  16. asaf

    asaf New Member

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    It took me some time to response :)
    So the dealer found a gear - 1 try : after 1 week the gear stopped working
    Then I waited around a month because all next used 4 gears arrived without the orange cable.
    So what they did is : They disassemble the used gear, took the part with the orange cable from my broken gear and assemble it to the used gear. :)
    Now, touch wood, After 10K miles , everything is still working :)
     
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  17. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    great news, let's hope it stays that way. sounds like the mechanics know their stuff.
     
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  18. asaf

    asaf New Member

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    yep :) that was learnt while I was waiting for my car for 30 days :)
     
    #18 asaf, Aug 27, 2017
    Last edited: Aug 27, 2017