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Need help please. I got P0A78 and P0A80 codes

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by the sanch, Apr 14, 2020.

  1. the sanch

    the sanch New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2020
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    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    It's a 2008. Bought used at the beginning of 2019. Currently has 115K miles. In summer of 2019 had a code for inverter water pump.. the level was a little low so I topped it off, checked to make sure pump was running (it was), then reset the codes.. didn't go off again until a few months later did the same thing.. my thought was that it's a little sensitive to coolant levels and Texas heat so haven't thought much of it since.

    Fast forward to last Thursday and I'm getting Red Triangle, yellow circle with parenthesis exclamation point, and check engine light. Since I've had inverter pump stuff happen before I do the same thing..make sure there's turbulence in the reservoir water and top it off. I go try to pull codes from Auto Zone and Advanced Auto but nope their readers don't pull any codes. Also had it go into limp home mode after driving it for a while. I'm afraid that since the dash lights were already lit up when driving that maybe the pump could've failed again and I wouldn't be notified since the lights were already on. Also the charging display started showing no signs of charge from generator to battery or vise versa. Only engine to generator and engine to wheels.

    I've since driven it and it will charge the hybrid battery and work normal for at least short drives. I haven't taken it on any long drives. Just to the store and back mainly.

    Finally got my OBDII scanner today and am pulling up these codes. I'm really hoping I didn't fry my inverter due to the pump slowly dying. I just got to thinking that maybe as I was driving the pump went out long enough to not run and the dash warning lights were already lit so it could've over heated the inverter and I'm getting so upset thinking about the cost for replacing the inverter and a hybrid battery. Oh man I don't even think it'd be worth throwing thousands of dollars into this and that's not really money that I have lying around.

    I appreciate y'alls input Screenshot_20200414-183601_Torque.jpeg 20200414_184529.jpeg

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #1 the sanch, Apr 14, 2020
  2. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2012
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    Location:
    Wellington, New Zealand
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. The P0A80 and P3018 and P3019 mean that at least 2 modules (maybe up to 4) in your HV (hybrid vehicle) battery have failed. A new HV battery is required. There are repair options depending on your disposition and patience for DIY repairs. A new set of modules will run you $1,600 (for an after-market solution from newpriusbatteries.com) or between $2,250 - $3,500 for OEM new, depending on what dealer you use. It pays to shop around with a range like that.

    Your P0A78 is a little bit more involved. There are 25 sub-codes associated with this DTC (diagnostic trouble code) so it will require you to dig down with your scanner. If your current scanner is not capable, you will need to find one that is. Once we have the sub-code we can give better advice. A couple of the sub-codes indicate the involvement of the HV battery as a "trouble area", so if it is one of those, I willing to wager it will go away when you decide what you will do with the car.

    If your car is in good condition and you have not had issues with any other big-ticket items, you might consider repair, then it will be good for another 10-15 years. If you like, just think of this job as you would when faced with needing to recondition or replace a standard automatic transmission.

    PS, there are a couple of good shops in Texas, 1) @Texas Hybrid Batteries (talk to Matt) and 2) Huston Hybrids. I know Texas is a big state, but depending on where you are, one of them might be an option. I know both would give you good advice and price on a new OEM battery or maybe one of their second-hand refurb options would be the right choice.
     
    #2 dolj, Apr 15, 2020
    Last edited: Apr 15, 2020
    M in KC, strawbrad, SFO and 1 other person like this.
  3. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2012
    7,628
    3,849
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    Location:
    Wellington, New Zealand
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I meant to add: if they still do rebuilds. I think Texas Hybrid Batteries stop doing refurb because the reliability they wanted just was not there in relation to the effort required to do a decent rebuild.
     
    #3 dolj, Apr 16, 2020
    Last edited: Apr 16, 2020
    Raytheeagle likes this.
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