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'04 prius (212K miles) Red triangle, ABS, VSC & Check ENG lights on

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Juan Carlos Valle, Jul 10, 2019.

  1. Juan Carlos Valle

    Juan Carlos Valle Junior Member

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    Hi Guys,

    My 2004 Prius has 212K miles (second owner). I started my car 2 days ago, and I drove it for 5min without problem, I parked my car in front of my house (left car running) to get my dog, when I got back to the car, all lights were on: red triangle, check engine, ABS, VSC, (!) & stability control off. Then I drove my car to my parking spot, I knew something bad had happened to my car.

    Yesterday I spent all my day googling what the problem(s) may be.

    Checked gas cap (totally fine)
    Checked engine oil fluid level (added half qt)
    Checked inverter cooling pump, I guess it's working, it makes waves inside tank
    Checked and cleaned hybrid fan, it wasn't that dusty. I can't confirm if fan works
    Checked 12V battery (running 14.2v, not running [vehicle signal check mode] 11.5) still not sure if the problem is the 12v battery.

    I disconnected the battery to clear all dashboard lights (it worked); and also, the car started with no problem; 3 minutes later, engine went off, all lights on and I couldn't put car in reverse nor drive. I'm trying to avoid taking my car to the dealer, it's a 2004 car with 212K miles on it, I feel like if I take it to those sharks, they are going to eat me alive, I'm just trying to check few things first.

    QUESTION - if 12v battery is 12.0v or less I must replace it right away or it means should replace it soon?

    After I cleaned hybrid fan, once again I disconnected the battery to clear all dashboard lights (it worked); and also, the car started with no problem; 3 minutes later, engine went off, all lights on and I couldn't put car in reverse nor drive, THIS TIME I SMELLED SOME GAS AND ENGINE MISFIRING AND I DO RECALL HAVING LACK OF ACCELARATION, so at this point I'm going to change all spark plugs.

    ANOTHER QUESTION - if the problem I'm having is really a bad spark plug, you guys think I'll have all these problems starting the car and all warning lights on?

    Thank you all. I think I read all forums in here.

    ANY IDEAS?


    IMG_2464.jpg IMG_2465.jpg
     
  2. PriusBarber

    PriusBarber New Member

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    Mine has 226k and is an 07 and just did this same thing today. All the lights came on and I drove one more mile to a gas station. I unplugged 12v battery for about 5 minutes and all lights and codes went off. My car has been misfiring from time to time as well but I haven’t changed the plugs. Once I reset the battery I drove all day long for Uber in 95 degree heat with no issues other than occasional misfire. I was pulling into my neighborhood and had exact same thing happen that happened this morning. My 12v showed 12.4v and when I started car it dipped to 11.5 but went back up to over 14v. I’m puzzled. Hybrid battery seems to charge and discharge normal and gas mileage has been normal.
     
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    how are you measuring the 12v?
     
  4. PriusBarber

    PriusBarber New Member

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    I am using the screen to do the test by turning ignition on and flashing the lights to bring up the diagnostic screen
     
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    sounds like it is in fair shape, but something is probably borderline. next time the codes set, be prepared to read them with a prius aware scanner
     
  6. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Googling can't tell you what problem(s) your dash lights are reporting. Reading the trouble codes from the car can.

    Disconnecting the battery does cause the codes to be lost ... thereby putting your problem-solving on hold until they come back so you can read them.

    An 11.5 reading in Vehicle Signal Check (which I and some others have observed being a significant fraction of a volt lower than simultaneous readings at other points) would not strike me as a strong indication of any battery concern.
     
  7. PriusBarber

    PriusBarber New Member

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    I don’t have access to any special Prius scanner or the money to pay someone to read it. Is it possible that bad plugs could be causing these issues?
     
  8. Juan Carlos Valle

    Juan Carlos Valle Junior Member

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    I'm waiting for my Veepeak OBDCHECK BLE OBD2 to be delivered today, it costed me $31.99 + $9.98 (next day delivery). doing some research about other code readers I found a few cheaper than that, but the don't run on iOS. I saw some readers at Walmart for $17, but if I am not mistaken, it only reads code, they don't tell you any information about your hybrid battery, so I ended up waiting an extra day to get a full scan reading.
     
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  9. Juan Carlos Valle

    Juan Carlos Valle Junior Member

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    I'm waiting for my OBD2 reader to be delivered later today. Let you guy know what my codes are.

    thank you!
     
  10. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Well, you tagged on to a thread where the original poster reported the ABS and VSC lights on, which are the purview of the skid control computer. That computer has zero interest in the spark plugs, so if you really mean you have the same warning lights on, then no, there's no chance of plugs explaining all the warnings you have.

    Is it possible plugs could be behind the check engine light (leaving the other issues to be diagnosed some other day)? Sure ... it's like deciding to bet on 29 in roulette because it's possible the ball could stop there (only a roulette wheel has just 36 possibilities, and a Prius has a lot more possible trouble causes).

    If you don't have the money to find any way of getting the trouble codes read, you definitely don't have the money to try to fix the car by playing parts replacement roulette.
     
  11. Juan Carlos Valle

    Juan Carlos Valle Junior Member

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    Hi guys!

    Sorry but I don’t know if my dr. Prius test is good or bad. Can anyone help me here.
     

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  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i don't have dr prius, but you need to find where it shows cell voltages under load so you can see the delta's. are there instructions?
     
  13. Juan Carlos Valle

    Juan Carlos Valle Junior Member

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    I ran a test using Car Scanner app, the only code it shows is P0130. I'll look into it to see what that is.
     
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    looks like an o2 sensor
     
  15. PriusBarber

    PriusBarber New Member

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    UPDATE. I drove 60 miles tonight and it ran fine. On way home about 15 miles into the drive it started sputtering and then died with all the lights coming on. To make it home I reset the battery and it drove fine the rest of the way home. Will an o2 sensor cause that or could a bad catalytic converter do that?
     
  16. Juan Carlos Valle

    Juan Carlos Valle Junior Member

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    I ran the OBD2 reader, and it gave me error code (P1030) which means 'O2 Sensor Circuit Malfunction Bank 1 Sensor 1'

    I cleared my code; now my car starts with no warning lights on. Tomorrow i'll get few quotes on the job.
     
  17. PriusBarber

    PriusBarber New Member

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    Any update on getting the car fixed and if the o2 sensor was the issue?








     
  18. davecook89t

    davecook89t Senior Member

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    With a State of Charge of only 38%, I would think if you had any bad modules, you would have a larger voltage difference than .08V. For the time being, I would say your HV battery readings are fine.
     
  19. Juan Carlos Valle

    Juan Carlos Valle Junior Member

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    I really appreciate your comment, I don't know how to read any of that.

    Here is same test but this time, I was driving my car.

    Thank you!!!
     

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  20. Juan Carlos Valle

    Juan Carlos Valle Junior Member

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    Since yesterday I've been driving my car (not to far from home) without any issue. I noticed my MPG is low as 32MPG, it used to be 42 - 46MPG, so that's one of the issues when you have a O2 sensor problem.

    Cost: Kendall Toyota (Miami, FL) $658 (including part), $254 just part, but I found a shop that is charging me $100 labor and I've a buy the part, part online is between $50 - $150.
     
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