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2002 Gen 1 Prius - P3009, P3006, P0420 and decelerating

Discussion in 'Generation 1 Prius Discussion' started by SeanC01, Jun 12, 2019.

  1. SeanC01

    SeanC01 New Member

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    2002 Prius
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    ----USA----
    Greetings!

    First time poster but have been following Prius Chat for a bit for my 2002 prius with 207k miles. I've had the red triangle off and on for 6 years, then in the past 9 months on permanently with check engine light on starting 6 months ago. Took it to Toyota dealer, they found P3000 and P3009, an ABS sensor code (likely related to wheelhub assembly that needed to be replaced recommended ECU and battery replacement. I wanted to wait.

    About 2 months ago noticed that after starting the car and attempt to accelerate forward, the battery doesn't kick in (car doesn't accelerate) until I push the gas a bit. On the consumption screen it would cycle between full and 1/4, full would accelerate fine and when at 1/4 would again require a lot of pedal pushing to accelerate. This was tolerable (albeit terrifying) then about 2 weeks ago was driving 65 mph and consumption screen suddenly stopped showing the flow of energy and car would not accelerate, only decelerated slowly. Would have to pull over, turn off the car, then if I restarted it I could accelerate. This happened 3 times during 2 different driving sessions prior to me taking it to a performance battery shop.

    They ran the codes and found:
    P3009 HV leak detected
    P3006 battery levels inconsistent (block 1 bad)
    P0420 catalyst efficiency (test failed .577 with a max spec of .499) recommending cat converter replacement

    They're recommending replacing the battery pack (they have an OEM Gen 1 Prius battery pack that was salvaged from a Prius recently and tested for integrity) for $1700 (parts and labor). They say after battery pack replaced they could determine if inverter or pumps are truly okay. However would also require cat converter replacement (from what I can tell this runs $1500-$1800 installed for Gen 1).

    My questions:
    - Is it worth replacing the pack with a Gen 1 OEM / replacing the pack in general vs. abandoning the car?
    - Is it possible that the P0420 may be oxygen sensor rather than full cat converter failure?
    - Would the cars deceleration pattern (suddenly stops then requires being turned off then on) be connected to a cat converter issue, or a hybrid system issue?

    Thank you folks! I'm appreciative of any thoughts!
     
  2. Sandy Meyers

    Sandy Meyers Member

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    I have a 2002 and stay far, far, far, far away from the dealers because things just get out of hand. I would go to an independent shop or authorized hybrid shop to get a realistic diagnosis. There are lots of salvage parts out there that could be obtained to cobble your vehicle back together once you know what’s really going on. In my opinion, dealers simply scare you into big repairs so much, that you’ll step up into a newer vehicle. It can all be so overwhelming. For the amount you quoted , for repairs you could be investing in a 2005-2008 model for a few more thousand dollars with about 50K miles give or take, which will give you so much more life in your car.
     
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  3. SeanC01

    SeanC01 New Member

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    2002 Prius
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    ----USA----
    Thanks for the response Sandy! I had taken the car to Performance Battery Pros in Charleston, SC, an independent outfit. They were very forthcoming about the codes and possible repairs. They even said it may be worth not repairing given the age of the car and possibility of other issues arising. I guess I'm torn because if the P0420 isn't truly a failed catalytic convertor but something else (or even related to the P3009 code) then replacing the battery for $1700 with an OEM seems reasonable. The likely $1800 for a catalytic converter (may end being cheaper) was really that cost that has me hesitant.

    That being said, it has definitely been crossing my mind to simply invest that money in a replacement vehicle. I appreciate the encouragement for reflection!
     
  4. czunit

    czunit Junior Member

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    By the way, I just fixed my P0420 problem after years of skirting emissions by replacing the spark plug coils. There are 4 of them, one recently started throwing backfire errors and I found a second one that was not throwing errors but when I replaced it no more P0420. Put it back in the car, P0420 comes back quickly.....

    So it might not be the cat, and these are consumables when you get into the 200k mile range.
     
  5. czunit

    czunit Junior Member

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    For the pack yes it's replace time. I did mine at 150k with a set of used Gen II cells for $1,000 swapped into my battery and it's been fine ever since (210k miles now). But trying to swap cells doesn't work, you fix one block and another one blows.
     
  6. David Botan

    David Botan Junior Member

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    My 2002 Prius was starting to throw a P3006 code off and on for a while (and i was getting low power like sean CO1 every now and then). Finally had a good mobile mechanic come out and swap out the one bad cell with a good one and put in a similar cell on the other side of the battery to even it out. That was about 7 months ago, no problem with it so far, if another block blows I'll let you know.
     
  7. ronlewis

    ronlewis Active Member

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    If you are capable of doing any work yourself, your costs would be a lot cheaper. It only takes a 2-4 hours and no special tools or expertise to swap batteries. Unless SC is anal about their vehicle inspections, you can replace at cat with an aftermarket unit for $200-$300. If you need a stock unit, I have one in my parts car I'll sell for $500. From my understanding, the 3009 isn't necessarily a leak in the HV battery, and doesn't refer to a cell leaking acid. You just have a wire grounded somewhere. The most likely spot is the wiring harness in the battery and, again, it requires no special anything to replace it for $130.
     
  8. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    This is true and not true at the same time. It is true that a P3009 is not necessarily in the HV battery. But if it is, it is highly likely (especially in a Gen 1) that the cause is electrolyte leaking from one or more modules. However, it is not a dead certainty, so yes, it could be a grounding problem in a harness. That is why we check all this in the diagnostic tree.

    If you were replying to David Botan, who has jumped on this thread, his code is P3006, which according to the first post is P3006 battery levels inconsistent (block 1 bad). I can't find this code myself.
     
    #8 dolj, Nov 23, 2019
    Last edited: Nov 23, 2019
  9. ronlewis

    ronlewis Active Member

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    Wouldn't a broken sensor wire on the battery harness cause a 3009? And those aren't necessarily caused by leakage, right? I was getting a 3009 and found a good video among the archives here that states the cause can either be in the battery, inverter, or transmission, and details a diagnosis process. To wit, IIRC, you first clear the code. Then, just turn the key on, but don't try to start. That limits the electrical current to the battery. Wait a couple of minutes. If the code doesn't reset (CEL/triangle), the ground isn't in the battery. Next, start the engine, but quickly shift to Neutral. That stops the electricity from going to the transmission. Again, wait a couple of minutes. If the code resets, the ground is in the inverter. If not, put the car in gear, so the electricity goes to the transmission and see if that's the source.

    It worked on mine. Soon as I started the car and put it in Neutral, the code set. When I shifted to Park to get out and look at it, the CEL/Triangle went out. Did it a couple more times with same result. Got out and looked at my inverter and found one of the connectors was lose. Pushed it closed and my light went out.

    Bad news: after about a week, my light came back, and like before, my reader isn't pulling any codes (I paid a shop with Techstream $20 to read the 3009 last time). Not sure if I have another 3009 or some other issue.
     
  10. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    No, not that I'm aware, that will set a different code, codes something like P0Axx, e. g. P0ABF, P0ACx, P0AFA, etc.

    A P3009/P0AA6 is always a ground fault leak. They are not necessarily in the HV battery, as the rudimentary test you describe also indicates.

    If it is in the HV battery, it almost certain that the cause is leaking electrolyte. It is unfortunate that the word leak is used here in two different contexts and that seems to be leading to the confusion.
     
    #10 dolj, Nov 23, 2019
    Last edited: Nov 23, 2019
  11. ronlewis

    ronlewis Active Member

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    Yeah, I was confused by it as well.
     
  12. Q*bertZ

    Q*bertZ Member

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    Take the HV battery apart and clean the terminals. Get those connections shinning. Your other problems may go away. Again, I would addres the HV battery first.
     
  13. ronlewis

    ronlewis Active Member

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    Update: Swapped in a harness from my spare battery and now it runs great! Buyer supposed to pick it up Friday.
     
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