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GEN3 2013 Prius Shutdown while driving

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by M.Aqrbawi, May 28, 2021.

  1. M.Aqrbawi

    M.Aqrbawi Junior Member

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    2011 Prius
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    ----USA----
    Hello Friends, Please Help Me...

    I own a 2013 Prius since 5 years, recently i am suffering from sudden Shuttdown which happened till now 3 times, i will list the details of each case below:

    1- almost 10 months ago while driving the car for less than 10 minutes everything shutdown and the dash turned all black except check engine light On. warning light working, no acceleration (no power), no brakes, couldnt move windows up, i could manage to stop the car safely, i tried to jump the car but it didnt work, i tried to check the error with OBD but no power to OBD terminal, checked all the small fuses all fine, after 4 hours it worked but we didnt know if we did something made it work, i will list the codes we could scan after the car worked below.

    2- after 4 months Car driven for very short distance and parked it and it was fine, when i came back to her she didnt want to unlock and tried to start it it didnt start and same symptoms for the previous case, i changed the 12 volts battery with new battery but same case, after two days the car started again suddenly and no one could determine how it worked.

    3- last week while driving less at than 5 miles speed it turned off again with same symptoms, i parked it and moved the cables under the fuse box under the hood then the car worked.

    i have visited many dealers for this case but no one could give me an answer or solution to fix the car.

    below the codes appear each time after this issue happens

    upload_2021-5-29_1-2-36.png
    upload_2021-5-29_1-3-30.png
     

    Attached Files:

  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    do you think it could be a loose connection in the cables you moved?
     
  3. M.Aqrbawi

    M.Aqrbawi Junior Member

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    I am not sure, but couple of dealers checked it and they said it seems fine

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Any signs of mice/rat infestation? Anything happen recently, say stereo/speaker upgrade, alarm install, basically someone monkeying with the wiring.
     
  5. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Often, looking in the Repair Manual (more info) to find what the trouble codes are telling you will make the situation clearer.

    I think I would focus first on that C2309. It indicates an issue with the power supply reaching the +B terminal of the transmission control ECU. Various codes can have certain fail-safe actions connected to them, and the one for C2309 is to turn off the integration relay—pretty much powering down the car. A number of the other codes could be secondary to ECUs seeing their power suddenly cut.

    C2309.png
     
    JohnPrius3005 likes this.
  6. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    With an 8 year old car, I would suspect the 12 volt battery is dying. Put a volt meter on it when you have not started the car for 12 hours. If it is under 12.4 at the battery it is time to replace the battery.

    www.amazon.com/ProTechTrader-Multimeter-Resistance-Transistor-Continuity/dp/B07FN91625

    If you hope your Prius lasts another 6 years, the best battery is at your Toyota dealer and it is warrantied for 84 months. If you want the cheapest battery

    www.amazon.com/ACDelco-ACDB24R-Advantage-Automotive-Battery/dp/B010GKJ8F6
     
  7. JohnPrius3005

    JohnPrius3005 Active Member

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    Hi M, Good luck with this. I was in Jordan for 8 months and I have some idea of the challenges you face there getting things fixed. Follow the advice of ChapmanF - he is a true Prius expert and quite possibly the smartest person on PriusChat!
     
  8. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    In at least two of the three instances described by the OP, the car was in READY and driving, at the time it shut down. When READY and the DC/DC converter is operating, the 12 volt system voltage is really being supplied by the converter and not by the battery, and is likely to be a good comfortable 13+.

    For the C2309 to be set (which will shut the car down by turning off the integration relay), it has to see three volts or less at the +B terminal of the transmission control ECU, for one second or longer. Needless to say, normal wiring and connectors are not going to show a ten-volt drop like that from the 13+ volts coming from the converter to the three being seen by the ECU. To me that suggests an issue to be traced, with the help of the wiring diagram.
     
    JohnPrius3005 likes this.
  9. M.Aqrbawi

    M.Aqrbawi Junior Member

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    Actually no signs for Rat and no recent upgrades or even car maintenance.
    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  10. M.Aqrbawi

    M.Aqrbawi Junior Member

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    The 12v battery was reading more 12.4v, and even so i replaced it with new battery but unfortunately didn't fix the issue.
    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  11. M.Aqrbawi

    M.Aqrbawi Junior Member

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    Thanks for your logical analysis and explanation, i wish i could have found a dealer who can discuss with me diagrams and logical analysis, anyway i am a begginer level so if you can guide me where to start searching and testing to simulate the issue

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  12. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Do you happen to know anybody who might be an electronics hobbyist, or is there a technical school near you where there might be an electronics program, or a hobbyist club that meets near you?

    The repair manual and wiring diagrams are available online (this wiki page describes access alternatives; I am not sure which ones cover Jordan). Once you have access to those, if you are able to find anybody with enough electronics experience to be able to look at that description and diagram and say "yes, it is clear how to check that, and I have tools to do so") then things should be easy. If not, the explanations can be rather lengthy, depending on the knowledge you're starting with.