1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Virtually all the dash lights on (and beeping) after using a 1000w inverter last night, please help.

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Franco7x, Jul 13, 2024 at 3:11 AM.

  1. Franco7x

    Franco7x Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2019
    3
    0
    0
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Hello, we’re in Houston with no power still for several days. At first I went to academy and purchased a 300w inverter to run off the 12v battery, that worked great but very limited to a fan and a tv, so I made the mistake of upgrading to a 1000w (2000w peak) jupiter harbor freight inverter in order to save our upright freezer full of food.
    Firstly the freezer began working but stopped after 30 minutes. So I unplugged that extension cord and went back to just the fan and tv. The next morning though I check on my Prius and noticed the gas gauge barely moved compared to the previous 3 nights. And I have constant beeping, the brake, ABS, traction control, and about 4 other lights I have never seen before are on. I also noticed that the brake pedal is hard to push. Before switching to the 1000w inverter everything worked perfectly. So I am assuming that an electronic/electrical situation happened. I removed the inverter from the 12v battery, leaving it disconnected for about 10 mins to see if things would go back to normal, but no.
    Can anyone help point me as to what to check for first in the fuse block?
    It’s a ‘12 Prius V with the Tech package.
    Thanks you.
     
    #1 Franco7x, Jul 13, 2024 at 3:11 AM
  2. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    23,917
    15,546
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    If you do not have a scan tool that can get all of those trouble codes for you, this method will work at least for the brake, ABS, and traction control codes, and maybe some of the others. Then you can post the codes here and we will know more.

    Blink (a/k/a Flash) Codes – How to. | PriusChat
     
    #2 ChapmanF, Jul 13, 2024 at 11:03 AM
  3. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2020
    9,038
    1,567
    0
    Location:
    Durham NC
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    Yes sir this camping thing can be problematic lots of things being plugged in and unplugged and certainly interesting reading about all this been reading about this in a Chevy Volt also really wild stuff.
     
    #3 Tombukt2, Jul 13, 2024 at 11:11 AM
  4. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    7,939
    4,698
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    First thing I would check is the 12v battery voltage. The engine may have stopped and you discharged the 12v battery.

    Second might be a reverse polarity jump after things failed. This is guaranteed to blow the engine fuse box 125a fusible link. This is a difficult to replace fusible link but can be visibly verified (use a flashlight) or by checking voltage downstream of it. Other fuses also blow in this scenario.

    * 125a fuse visible from top.jpeg

    Finally you could have blown the 125a fusible link or the 140a fuse at the positive battery connector from the 2,000 watt peak inverter load (140 amps or more). The positive battery 140a fuse is less likely if you still have warning lights without concurrently using an engine compartment jump.
    IMG_5636.jpeg
    *Fuse box diagram with jump point.jpeg

    Worse case you might have blown the inverter. This is not as likely as the first, second or third possibility.

    Finally, don’t compound your problems by pulling many fuses at a time. Check one and replace it in the correct slot. Don’t forget the interior driver’s side fuse box.
     
    #4 rjparker, Jul 13, 2024 at 11:41 AM
    Last edited: Jul 13, 2024 at 12:02 PM
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)