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Combination meter bad and battery bad with 240,000 miles, is it worth fixing?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by SofaKing, Mar 23, 2024.

  1. SofaKing

    SofaKing New Member

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    I recently fell into a 2006 2nd gen prius with 240,000 miles on it. The combination meter is definately bad, as the dash lights go out and need to be reset with a series of button combinations. That is not the problem. problem is that while driving it will seem as if it pops out of gear and revs real high with limited acceleration. Everything gets normal if i pull over and restart the car but will do this more frequently now. I know that there are hybrid battery issues and I'm thinking that this may have something to do with that. I am a first time Prius owner so some obvious things may not be so obvious to me as a Prius newbie. Any ideas if this car is worth the trouble or should i sell it for parts....
     
    #1 SofaKing, Mar 23, 2024
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    if you are a serious diy'er with all the tools and toyota tech stream diagnostics, it could be a great car.
     
    #2 bisco, Mar 23, 2024
  3. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    With a bad CM (combination meter) for will not be seeing any warning lights that I'm very sure you have. It would be a good idea to use a capable tool (see this thread for a review of not-too-costly scan tools and their capabilities) to see what codes you have.

    There is always the method to blink out some of the codes (engine, ABS, VSC, and TPMS) found in this thread.

    You will have a better idea of what your costs might be when you know for sure what is not working right.

    The combination meter can be fixed or swapped for a remanufactured one here: Texas Battery Hybrids | CM repair service. At checkout, the price WILL include a $75 refundable core deposit. The meter price is $150 but the upfront cost is $225. The $75 is refunded when you return your old CM as a core. All combination meters come with a lifetime warranty and a core return is required for warranty activation.
     
    #3 dolj, Mar 23, 2024
    Last edited: Mar 24, 2024
  4. MCCOHENS

    MCCOHENS Member

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    If you want to dive into a scary rabbit hole and learn the car's systems good luck. The tranny issue sounds very bad though, I would seriously consider getting rid of it. Especially if it didn't cost you anything.
     
    #4 MCCOHENS, Mar 24, 2024
  5. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    The thing is, it might not be a "tranny issue". That's why the codes should be read. Once we know what's wrong, a decision based on that can be made.
     
    #5 dolj, Mar 24, 2024
    Brian1954 likes this.
  6. SofaKing

    SofaKing New Member

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    Here are the codes i received. p0300, p0301, p0302 p1121 p1116 p0a78
     
    #6 SofaKing, Mar 24, 2024
  7. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    The first five codes denote problems that are not too serious and not too much to deal with.

    The P0A78 (Drive Motor "A" Inverter Performance) however might be a show stopper. There are 25 sub-codes associated with that trouble code. Knowing what sub-code you have will speed up the diagnosis. The sub-code can usually be found in the freeze frame data (FFD).

    Out of interest, with what scanner (brand/model) did you pull those codes.
     
    #7 dolj, Mar 25, 2024
  8. SofaKing

    SofaKing New Member

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    The P0A78 is an OBD-II fault code that indicates a problem with the inverter assembly in a Toyota Prius. The High Voltage control module sets this code when it detects an issue with the inverter. Some Prius models from 2010–2015, and 2012–2017 Prius V models, may have this code.
    The inverter portion of the Inverter/Converter Assembly converts the battery's direct current (DC) voltage to three phase alternating current (AC) to power the hybrid motor and transaxle assembly. The P0A78 code can be caused by the intake air filter for cooling fan for the high voltage battery.
    I will have to go look at what obd2 meter i am using.
     
    #8 SofaKing, Mar 25, 2024
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