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2010 Prius didn’t pass inspection/smog because of P0A80 - replace hybrid battery pack

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by GreenTea&SaltWater, Jul 1, 2021.

  1. GreenTea&SaltWater

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    Nearly 2 years ago now I had an issue, within 100 miles of buying this used car the hybrid battery stopped working and I got a message on the dash, along with a bunch of lights that said “Check Hybrid Battery”. After an intensive amount of troubleshooting and work, I replaced the 3 worst cells and that issue has not come back since. But the code never went away. Even when I checked it recently it says Permanent. The guy that did the inspection said I need to drive it at a certain speed for a certain amount of miles, “drivetrain” or something? In order to make it go away. Or replace the battery pack completely.
    My registration is due tomorrow. I’m homeless sleeping in my car. Out of money. If I can’t get my vehicle registered I also can’t so Uber, and I get my vehicle towed. I’ll have to sleep on the street. I need some help how can I delete this code permanently?
     
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  2. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Looks like it requires Techstream:

    CONFIRMATION DRIVING PATTERN
    1. Connect the Techstream to the DLC3.
    2. Turn the power switch on (IG) and turn the Techstream on.
    3. Clear the DTCs (even if no DTCs are stored, perform the clear DTC procedure).
    4. Turn the power switch off.
    5. Turn the power switch on (READY) and turn the Techstream on.
    6. Perform a universal trip.
    7. With the select lever in N, leave the vehicle until SOC drops to 30%.
    HINT:
    Although DTC P3000 (INF 388) may be stored if the SOC drops to 20% or lower, this is not a malfunction.
    8. Enter the following menus: Powertrain / Hybrid Control / Trouble Codes.
    9. Check that permanent DTCs are cleared

    Trip Procedure
     

    Attached Files:

    #2 rjparker, Jul 1, 2021
    Last edited: Jul 1, 2021
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  3. GreenTea&SaltWater

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    Hey thanks for the response. Is SOC state of charge? And how do I check the percentage level? By observing the bars on the dashboard or within TechStream?
     
  4. Johnny Cakes

    Johnny Cakes Senior Member

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    He probably said "drive cycle" which is basically going through various scenarios.

    A Permanent DTC will be erased one of two ways:
     After three consecutive confirmed fault-free monitoring cycles. The MIL is extinguished and the Permanent DTC is cleared at the start of the fourth fault-free monitoring cycle.
     After one confirmed fault-free monitoring cycle following a scan tool “clear DTC” request.

    A driving cycle must include the following:
     The OBD monitor must run and determine that that fault is no longer present.
     Cumulative time since engine start (or propulsion system active for hybrid vehicles) is greater than 10 minutes.
     Cumulative vehicle operation above 40 km/h (25 MPH) occurs for greater than 5 minutes.
     Continuous operation at idle (i.e., accelerator pedal released by driver and vehicle speed less than 1 km/h or 1 MPH) for greater than 30 seconds.

    If the repair was done two years ago, you've surely been through a complete drive cycle assuming you drive your car.

    Just so you sleep easy tonight, towing for expired registration is only permitted if it has been expired for more than six months, according to section 22651 (o) (1) (A) of the California Vehicle Code. Also, if the vehicle is occupied, it a police officer is required -- the roaming tow people DPW people can't snatch it.

    I've heard Los Angeles is tough on stealth camping.
     
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  5. Johnny Cakes

    Johnny Cakes Senior Member

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    You *have* TechStream?

    I don't know much, but even if cleared with TechStream isn't the code going to re-surface again if the underlying problem is not fixed? And if the underlying problem is fixed, why didn't the permanent code clear itself in the two years of driving.
     
  6. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    State of charge via techstream. The procedure is to ensure someone does not simply clear codes by scanner or 12v disconnect and pass.
     
  7. GreenTea&SaltWater

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    Thank you this makes me feel much better. I do have a cracked version of TechStream and I so happen to have a laptop with it in it. Is it possible the code didn’t reset due to not having reset it with the drivetrain method that the user above mentioned?
     
  8. GreenTea&SaltWater

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    What is DLC3 to connect to? And how to perform a universal trip
     
  9. Elektroingenieur

    Elektroingenieur Senior Member

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    DLC3 (Data Link Connector 3) is Toyota’s name for the connector that is also used for OBD II on cars built for the U.S. market.
    The Repair Manual (more info) describes the universal trip:

    1. Put the engine in inspection mode.
    2. Idle the engine for 30 seconds or more.
    3. Drive the vehicle at 25 mph (40 km/h) or more for a total of 5 minutes or more.

    HINT:
    It is possible to complete the drive pattern even if the vehicle decelerates to less than 25 mph (40 km/h) during the driving cycle provided that the vehicle is driven at 25 mph (40 km/h) or more for a total of 5 minutes.
    4. Allow 10 minutes or more to elapse from the time the engine is started.

    The Repair Manual also gives the steps to enter inspection mode (maintenance mode):

    Perform the following steps from (1) through (4) in 60 seconds.

    (1) Turn the power switch on (IG).
    (2) Fully depress the accelerator pedal twice with park (P) selected.
    (3) Fully depress the accelerator pedal twice with neutral (N) selected.
    (4) Fully depress the accelerator pedal twice with park (P) selected.
    (5) Check that "MAINTENANCE MODE" is displayed on the multi-information display.
    (6) Start the engine by turning the power switch on (READY) while depressing the brake pedal.

    Inspection mode is deactivated when the car is turned off.
    A permanent diagnostic trouble code (DTC) will remain until the car’s computers determine that the detection conditions that triggered the DTC are no longer present. This behavior is required by emissions regulations, to keep people from clearing the DTCs and then taking the car for a Smog Check test before the computers have had a chance to determine that a problem still exists.

    If the HV battery was in poor condition two years ago and hasn’t been replaced, it’s likely that DTC P0A80 is present now because its detection condition is still being satisfied. It might not be possible to clear it without replacing more modules or the entire HV battery.
     
  10. Thebakerman

    Thebakerman Member

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    That permanent code will never go away. It never did in my 2010 Prius over four years. Even after techstream all the fun stuff. It's permanently burned in the CPU. That being said as long as there's been enough Cycles and miles they cannot deny you smog certification. If they are, its illegal. It clearly states that's under smog cert dmv under DTC codes..... I believe it's 250 miles and 20 Cycles or something like that. Meaning if you tried to reset everything and take it in to the DMV they will not pass you unless you're over a certain cycle or my account.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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  11. Thebakerman

    Thebakerman Member

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    Quick Google search told me that oh, something I already knew but wanted to share Screenshot_20210703-125308_Chrome.jpeg

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  12. GreenTea&SaltWater

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    So who can I complain to that my car should pass smog because I’ve run it 2000 miles over many cycles since?
     
  13. GreenTea&SaltWater

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    When I switch over from park to neutral, I have to depress on the brake pedal. Does that interfere with the process of entering inspection mode? Cause it’s not letting me. Depress accelerator twice, press on brake and then switch to neutral. Depress accelerator two more times. Nothing

    edit: I got it. Had to be not in ready mode
     
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  14. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Don't believe everything a figment of the internet believes because they have not seen it with their own eyes.
     
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  15. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    A permanent code will go away, as soon as its responsible monitor routine completes and obtains a normal result. You just can't hurry it away by doing a code clear, unplugging the battery, etc.

    Some of the monitor routines have finicky conditions for when they run, so if you fixed a problem some time ago but the permanent code is still there, the All Readiness utility probably will tell you its monitor routine hasn't completed yet.

    That happened to me over in this thread and I was stuck with that permanent code for a year, because my pandemic driving never happened to include all the moves that trigger that monitor to run. And for that one, the procedure in my 2010 Repair Manual happened to be missing some of the needed steps, so I couldn't get the monitor to run even when I was trying to. It took Elektroingenieur finding the missing steps in a later Repair Manual edition, but sure enough, the code did go away as soon as the right conditions for running the monitor were met.

    The info in the screenshot isn't wrong, as far as it goes (you can't reset it by disconnecting the battery, or using a scan tool), but it just cuts off before saying what does happen, that the ECM resets the code as soon as the monitor completes with a normal result.
     
  16. GreenTea&SaltWater

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    Don’t you think though that after 12000 miles the permanent would’ve gone away? Or do I have to enter it into maintenance mode first and perform the steps mentioned above by another user
     
  17. Johnny Cakes

    Johnny Cakes Senior Member

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    Google says this is correct. How you prove 15 warm-up cycles and 200 miles, I have no idea. Also, I'm assuming that this only applies when you don't have a current OBD code:

    Are there circumstances under which a PDTC will not cause a vehicle to fail a Smog Check inspection?
    Yes. PDTCs will be ignored if the vehicle has completed at least 15 warm-up cycles and been driven at least 200 miles since its OBD information was last cleared.

    Why will PDTCs be ignored when the vehicle has completed 15 warm-up cycles and been driven 200 miles since the codes were cleared?
    The time to complete 15 warm-up cycles and drive 200 miles is reasonable for vehicles to complete the self-diagnostic tests. In fact, most vehicles will complete the self-diagnostic tests well before this maximum limit is reached. The 15/200 limit is being established to prevent undue inconvenience to motorists who are trying to comply with the Smog Check Program requirements but are having trouble getting specific monitors to run to completion and ready for testing.
     
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  18. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    If the 12,000 miles of driving happened to include all of the right conditions for the corresponding monitor to run, then it would have gone away. If not, then no.

    There isn't any fixed "oh, n,000 miles is enough". It happens when the monitor runs and determines a normal result.

    As I mentioned above, I was stuck with one permanent code for over a year, because the pandemic driving I was doing never checked all the boxes for that monitor. I had a different permanent code that got set during that time and went away sooner, because its monitor was able to run. The first code went away as soon as I was vaccinated and made a longer road trip that happened to include all the right stuff.

    My case was further complicated by the 2010 repair manual showing the wrong right stuff, so even when I tried to do a confirmation drive on purpose, it never worked. It took Elektroingenieur finding the right right stuff in a later edition of the manual.

    Maybe the specific part about an escape clause after enough cycles and miles is correct.

    The part about the permanent code never going away or being burned into the CPU is definitely not correct. Permanent codes go away when their corresponding monitors complete with a normal result.
     
    #18 ChapmanF, Jul 6, 2021
    Last edited: Jul 6, 2021
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  19. GreenTea&SaltWater

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    I just did all of this in exact order. Cleared the DTCs, put it in maintenance mode. Drove it 25mph for 5min. Let it discharge below 30% at the end. Checked again, code is still there
     
  20. GreenTea&SaltWater

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    Yeah I’ve driven 12000 miles, long road trips 150miles weekly. Uber driver too so I’ve hit pretty much every driving cycle there is I think so. Just performed the test Parker recommended. Code is still there