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i could really use your help guys

Discussion in 'Prius c Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by RollingMaster, Apr 2, 2021.

  1. RollingMaster

    RollingMaster Junior Member

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    Ok so out of nowhere my 2012 C Four lit up like this yesterday afternoon. i drove it home maybe 2 miles taking it easy. then i drove down the street today to auto zone to check the codes and it showed "P0A80". we all know what this is but i wanted to ask, has anyone ever heard of this also possibly being my inverter pump going out? a few other ppl said to check the inverter pump, my coolant fluid DOES need a top off. also, the car only runs on the gasoline engine. the inverter won't kick in at all. is elec. motor burned out? what do you think? I didn't smell or hear anything weird from the engine bay. also, there's my 12v battery. could it be that? or maybe autozones scanner isn't very good? im kind of nervous right now because I use my car for work. for what is worth, the car never went into limp mode. it has 126,858 miles. should I replace the inverter pump? or is it really the battery pack? it still charges up; if i replace the battery, is $1900 a decent deal? 1 more question i had is, is it safe to drive like this? I've driven it a total of 3 miles since this issue popped up. pls any help would be greatly appreciated. i saw 3 other threads here about the battery pack before making my post, but there's weren't really too many answers on them so i thought I'd ask again. IMG_20210402_115039.jpeg IMG_20210401_150631.jpeg IMG_20210402_095920.jpeg Screenshot_2021-04-02-11-38-49-107.jpeg

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  2. RollingMaster

    RollingMaster Junior Member

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  3. davecook89t

    davecook89t Senior Member

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    It's possible you need a new HV battery, but there should be more codes that go along with the P0A80 to make that conclusion more certain. Autozone does not always have a hybrid compatible code reader. Before you spend big $ on a new hybrid battery, it might be worth your while to get one of the recommended code readers on this list. The P0A80 would not indicate a problem with the inverter pump. The code for that is P0A93, but since the Autozone reader is apparently unable to pull all the codes, a bad inverter pump cannot be ruled out. The quick test for that is to check for movement in the inverter coolant fluid reservoir with the car in IG-On mode (2 presses of the Power button, without your foot on the brake to get to IG-On). Certainly the first thing you should do before anything else is check the voltage of your 12V battery at the front jump points (under the hood). If you don't have a multi-meter to do that, you can get one from Autozone for $15 - $20 (it's a handy and essential piece of equipment to have, but possibly even Autozone could measure the voltage for you, if you don't want to buy a multi-meter at this time). Unless you are showing more than 12V at the front jump points, with the power off, you can't be too sure of anything a code reader is telling you.
     
  4. RollingMaster

    RollingMaster Junior Member

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    thank you so much for replying.

    so with my old inverter pump, there was no vibration at all in the fluid reservoir and the hose that connects to the bottom of the reservoir had no pressure in it. i replaced the inv. pump, and there's still no vibration or ripples in the fluid, and the hose still has no pressure. i checked all the fuses pertaining to the hybrid system including the one supplying power to the pump and all are good. I'll get my 12v battery tested next. but i really wanted to know, is it safe to drive the way it is now? elec. power won't kick in at all, only gas engine.

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  5. GabrielD

    GabrielD Member

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    People here say there could be other reason for P0a80 error code...
     
  6. dubit

    dubit Senior Member

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    Swing by a Toyota dealer and get the codes read before you go spending more money. It could be something else, but your profile says your from Phoenix. Your car is about 9 years old and well, hate to say it. But it's probably about time.... But again. Get the codes read first before throwing money.
     
  7. RollingMaster

    RollingMaster Junior Member

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    yeah, it has 126,858 miles. do you think it's safe to drive? when i start the engine, the gasoline side kicks in immediately, instead of waiting a few seconds, meaning it's probably not running on the inverter at all

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  8. priusCpilot

    priusCpilot Active Member

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    Heat is a big enemy. For the battery to last you have to control it as best you can. Can't park in the sun then temps go 120-130. Need to open windows for cross flow and park in shade. Always have the AC on and point down the fan direction down. I also run a scan gauge and run the battery cooling fan at maximum speed the whole time. Makes more noise but I don't care for a little noise it's worth it. My temps stay down pretty good and Dr. Prius app showed 85% battery capacity which is pretty good. Once I get a prolong charger and balancer, I should get back even more capacity. It could help fix your battery as well. You may need to change some modules as well which can fix the issue for a lower cost.
     
  9. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    "safe to drive" is a relative thing. It isn't going to blow up or anything, but with no electric traction it will be very slow- some would even say dangerously slow. Some people trust them enough to limp it to a dealer or other garage, others call for the tow. I wouldn't call either way wrong, just depends on too many other things.

    How's the battery cooling fan? That car (normally) pulls air from the cabin through a fan under the left rear seat which pushes the air through the battery for cooling. If the fan breaks or the tube gets clogged, the battery overheats.
     
  10. RollingMaster

    RollingMaster Junior Member

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    the fan is ok.....i think. i haven't been running the AC lately, it hasn't been too hot out. but the sponge thingy in the fan vent is pretty clean. haven't tried testing the 12V batt. yet. probably limp it to autozone to test it. luckily right down the street from me. im just really worried, man. it's comforting to know there's ppl here to lend some knowledge.

    about these diagnostic apps, what should I search for on amazon for the reciever component that plugs into my obd2 port? what's it called?

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  11. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    I'm not the guy to ask about diagnostic apps. I'm a fan of Toyota Techstream, that's windows software typically used on a laptop with a wired interface to the car. You can get older versions of it from eBay. Although it's older, it's still close enough to current for just about any DIY usage.

    I do know that most of the android apps are looking for hardware that uses the ELM327 chip, but that's honestly as far as I go.
     
  12. RollingMaster

    RollingMaster Junior Member

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    alright

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  13. Adventurer2112

    Adventurer2112 Junior Member

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    Hi
    I bought the Carista OBD2 reader $20. I use the Dr. Prius app to check my batteries. I use Carista app to check different systems on my C.
    I have but don’t understand how to use OBD Fusion. Good luck.
    Jack
     
  14. PriusCforUandme

    PriusCforUandme New Member

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    I just went through this a few months back. Probably your battery. I used greenbean and it was $1550 and has a lifetime warranty and is transferable to the next buyer. It's been good so far and they came the next day. My mechanic let the guy use his bay and was even impressed by him.

    I would get the codes scanned with more detailed codes first, but I bet it will be the battery.

    There is a way to reset these lights by disconnecting the fuse under the hood and then disconnecting the battery under the rear seat and then reconnecting everything if you need to. I had to twice while this happened to me while traveling about 75 miles away. Both times worked for about a week, then about a day, then I ordered the new battery and the car has been great since. $1550 sucks, but the lifetime warranty is legit.
     
  15. dubit

    dubit Senior Member

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    Until you've done it for the 7th time. lol

    While I'm glad you've had some luck so far with a used battery, there are numerous threads here from those who haven't been so lucky. I'm pretty sure I've read somewhere around here the "lifetime warranty", only allows for one swap in a certain time frame? I guess myself I'd rather drop another few hundred for a new battery from Toyota then get someone's used pack, with replacement modules inside.
     
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  16. Montgomery

    Montgomery Senior Member

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    Ditto Dubit! For over 5 years, I have read about our fellow members buying used or reconditioned batteries at good prices, only to experience failures that cost them more time and money (towing, getting car back up and running). Years ago, I bought a used/reconditioned 12v battery just to buy me some time until I could get a new high end battery. The used one went out on a Friday night, AAA was busy and I had to wait 3 hours for help. And due to AAA being busy, had to pay for a battery at a premium price as it was the only one they could provide. For me, it was a lesson learned. Since my first payment for my 2015 Prius, I have put aside 25 dollars a month so I could have the funds to purchase a new battery when I need to for this car...................Just my experience.!
     
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  17. Species5618w

    Species5618w Member

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    How much is a new battery? I thought these battery is going to last 20-30 years. Just ordered a Rav4 Prime, now I am scared.
     
  18. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    sorry to hear it. a rav4 prime battery will be more than the car is worth, but a c battery is only around 2 grande