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P Lock Malfunction - U0293, C2309, U0100 Errors... At a loss.

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Gse, Jul 29, 2023.

  1. Gse

    Gse New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2023
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    Location:
    US
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Hello,

    I've been reading this forum for the past 2 weeks non-stop to see if I could get to the bottom of this problem and finally caved and made an account. Long story short. My catalytic converter was stolen late last year (still on a waitlist to receiving mine.) for my 2011. The car has been in my driveway for the past 8 months. Occasionally I would have to move it to the street to let others access the driveway/garage. No issues doing this other than it sounding like a lawn mower when turning on... until, 2 weeks ago when it went into the P LOCK Malfunction mode- permanently disabling the vehicle. It does not go into READY.

    I've went through endless threads on this forum, others and Google to find the problem and have found no solution. I've done most of the things that others have recommended in past forums i.e.: Disconnecting the 12v battery, getting a new 12v battery, replacing fuses, erasing codes, endless combinations of turning it on holding it into neutral and trying to start. Nothing has helped. Below is the latest set of readings from my OBD reader. If anyone can help or least point me in the direction of the problem it would be greatly appreciated.


    OBD-IIOBD-II
    DTCs: 5
    ----------------------------
    U0293 [0xC293]
    Lost communication with hybrid powertrain control module
    Status: Confirmed
    ----------------------------
    P0300 [0x0300] Archive (inactive)
    Random/multiple cylinder(s) - misfire detected
    Random/Multiple Misfire Detected
    Status: Permanent
    ----------------------------
    P0301 [0x0301] Archive (inactive)
    Cylinder 1 - misfire detected
    Cylinder 1 Misfire Detected
    Status: Permanent
    ----------------------------
    P0303 [0x0303] Archive (inactive)
    Cylinder 3 - misfire detected
    Cylinder 3 Misfire Detected
    Status: Permanent
    ----------------------------
    P0037 [0x0037] Archive (inactive)
    Heated oxygen sensor (HO2S) 2, bank 1, heater control - circuit low
    Oxygen Sensor Heater Circuit Low Input (Bank 1, Sensor 2)
    Status: Permanent
    ============================
    Engine control unit #1Engine control unit #1
    DTCs: 1
    ----------------------------
    U0293 [0xC293]
    Lost communication with hybrid powertrain control module
    Status: Confirmed
    ============================
    ABS control unit #2ABS control unit #2
    DTCs: 1
    ----------------------------
    U0293 [0xC293]
    Lost communication with hybrid powertrain control module
    Status: Confirmed
    ============================
    SRS/Airbag #1
    No DTC found.
    ============================
    Gear selector switchGear selector switch
    DTCs: 1
    ----------------------------
    C2309 [0x6309]
    Status: Confirmed
    ============================
    Telematics
    No DTC found.
    ============================
    Steering (EMPS/EHPS/PPS)Steering (EMPS/EHPS/PPS)
    DTCs: 1
    ----------------------------
    U0293 [0xC293]
    Lost communication with hybrid powertrain control module
    Status: Confirmed
    ============================
    Dashboard/Instrument cluster #1Dashboard/Instrument cluster #1
    DTCs: 1
    ----------------------------
    U0100 [0xC100]
    Data bus, engine control module (ECM) A - no communication
    Status: Confirmed
    ============================
    BCM #1/Convenience systems
    No DTC found.
    ============================
    PM1 gateway
    No DTC found.
    ============================
    Electric window/Driver door
    No DTC found.
    ============================
    Electric window/Passenger door
    No DTC found.
    ============================
    Electric window/Rear right door
    No DTC found.
    ============================
    Electric window/Rear left door
    No DTC found.
    ============================
    Entry & start / Smart key
    No DTC found.
    ============================
    Power source controlPower source control
    DTCs: 1
    ----------------------------
    U0293 [0xC293]
    Lost communication with hybrid powertrain control module
    Status: Confirmed
    ============================
    Electric windows main switch/control
    No DTC found.
     
    #1 Gse, Jul 29, 2023
  2. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2020
    9,105
    1,577
    0
    Location:
    Durham NC
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    Yeah unfortunately I don't know all those codes they must be reading directly from the car screen MFD whatever you call it. It sounds to me like you've got a serious misfire problem like a blown head gasket with my catalytic converter off in my generation 3 I drove the car over a hundred miles not on the highway but on a state road which is 55 mph speed and other than a little bit more noisy than normal I'm not talking V8 open header vehicle either this is a 4 cylinder open headered vehicle if you will but it's wasn't anything to ride home about had no problems at all but I also had no engine problems so as soon as I bolted up the fake catalytic converter the sound is back to normal and the car is running fine being sitting for 8 months is certainly problematic I don't care if you're moving it once a month for somebody to get in the garage or whatever that's very little starting that's just for you to get it out in the street move whatever in the garage and pull it right back in and turn it off not even getting the temperature and nothing so that's just as bad for these cars as anything else me personally I would have probably driven the car a little bit every other day in my neighborhood I don't know what your situation is You're not going to get arrested by the law for a loud car not in these United States. Generally speaking so that's interesting so I guess you're 12 volt and all that's in pretty good shape I mean I think there's a way to manually undo the p lock but then is that going to allow you to start with all the misfire codes and you're saying when it would start before during this 8 months starting it every so often to move it for the garage it ran fine? I imagine backing down the driveway or whatever that's electric anyway and then going forward enough to get into the park spot next to the curb you might even not had the engine turn on of course then going back up the driveway it would have to If it's at any angle or what have you. So it's been running fine wonderful the cat's gone that's it and now you have all these misfire codes yeah that's very interesting.
     
    #2 Tombukt2, Jul 30, 2023
  3. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2012
    11,093
    4,515
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    Location:
    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    It's likely the wires that were ripped out that connected to the O2 sensor were not secured and taped up so they grounded to metal and fried the ECU. But used ECUs aren't that expensive...

    The other concern you'll have with this is NiMH battery chemistry is archaic technology that self-discharges and when the pack gets older each battery in the pack will discharge at a different rate creating a voltage imbalance. So you'll want to put a high voltage trickle charger on the hybrid pack to charge and balance it.

    Maxx Volt and Hybrid Automotive sells these systems. Or you can build your own for $100: Build Hybrid Battery Maintenance Gear For Under $100 | PriusChat
     
    #3 PriusCamper, Jul 30, 2023
  4. Gse

    Gse New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2023
    2
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    Location:
    US
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Hello. Thank you for the responses.

    I have to say that I did drive the car back home the day the Cat was stolen-- I had no option but to take the highway. And drove it once again to the mechanic and back. That time I did take the backroads and did not go over 30-35 mph. Since then it has been sitting on the driveway (slightly inclined btw) or on the street.

    Yesterday I did manage to remove the dangling O2 sensor cable (not sure why the Toyota mechanic didn't do that during inspection). Maybe it could've touched the metal car body somehow when I last moved onto the driveway. Is there any way to assess if the ECU is bad? A set of procedures to narrow down if that is indeed the problem? Or are the multiple codes enough to say it is?

    An eBay search turns up multiple ECUs. Is it the Transmission ECU?
     
    #4 Gse, Aug 2, 2023
  5. JKC

    JKC New Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2024
    1
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    0
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I have the same issue on a 2010 with same codes. What resolved the issue?
     
    #5 JKC, Jul 16, 2024 at 10:50 AM
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