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2013 Prius 3 Dies Every 200 Miles Or So

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by VernDaman, Apr 3, 2019.

  1. VernDaman

    VernDaman New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 3, 2019
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    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    2013 Prius 4: 197,000 mi.
    Have had all Toyota recommended maintenance performed at 180,000 including transmission, ERG, throttle body, tune up, etc... Have oil replaced every 6K.

    Sequence of Events:
    Car "bucked" slightly and error message: Check Hybrid System. Stop vehicle in a safe place.
    Then as I was pulling over a couple of hundred feet later (10 seconds in traffic) all lights on right side of display came on, triangle of death flashing on left side and car died.
    All lights work, AC works, radio works. Car won't move.
    SHIFT TO PARK POSITION and when I pulled over to park SHIFT TO PARK POSITION WHEN PARKED, which I already was parked.

    After several minutes and a call to a Toyota tech, tried restarting. After a couple of tries several minutes apart it appeared to be normal until I put into gear, gas engine started and tried to move then SHIFT TO PARK appeared again and all lights came on again, stopped again.

    A $325 tow and one week later, got car back from shop. No problem found that they could definitively tell me. They gave it a 2nd tune up, reset codes, cleaned throttle body again, cleaned manifold something or other and a bunch of little things to try and determine what was going on. They charged/balanced batteries and checked 12V battery.

    Drove great for 165 miles, exact same thing. $70 tow later (I was in town this time) and 4 more days in shop with them unable to determine what problem was/is... They drove for a couple of hours and ran car for 3.5 hours.

    I picked up yesterday, had to pick up wife in Orlando. Made it there and back 200 miles, and exact same thing, again.

    Tech came onsite to reset codes this morning and I drove car home, but 140/200 miles? It will quit again.

    Any hints from anyone? Toyota can't tell me anything helpful, $1500 + $395 in tow bills later
     
  2. Simtronic

    Simtronic Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2009
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    Location:
    Surrey, UK
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius PHV
    Model:
    Business Ed. Plus
    Did you get the reset codes? It might help a lot
     
    Grit likes this.
  3. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2017
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    Location:
    Wilkes Land
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Sounds like inverter overheat or issue with fuel delivery system.

    Use an app to monitor the inverter temp to see if temps are higher than average.

    Put in fuel system cleaner according to dosage in gas tank.

    But first, grab the CeL codes.
     
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  4. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Fuel filter clogged?
     
    Grit likes this.
  5. KennyGS

    KennyGS Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2014
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    Location:
    Keystone State
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    One thing I can tell you... stop going to that Toyota service department.

    I would be boiling-mad over their incapability to solve this issue at this point.
     
    scona, ASRDogman and Grit like this.
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    inverter fluid moving?
     
  7. cnc97

    cnc97 Senior Member

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    Location:
    Evansville, IN
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Sounds like the inverter, or inverter water pump.
     
  8. bettergolf

    bettergolf Active Member

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    Location:
    Sanford NC
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I've read a lot of comments where crazy things like this are caused by a bad 12v battery. I see where you say they "checked" it, but seeing as they cant find a problem and are letting you pay for them to "try stuff"....do you trust them? I'd get my battery checked somewhere else.
     
    Simtronic likes this.
  9. VernDaman

    VernDaman New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 3, 2019
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    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Not yet, but I am getting them when this is worked again next week. Another hybrid repair place said it showed low fuel pressure when it failed last, i.e. fuel pump. And it felt like a car that simply ran out of gas, then fumes when it died. But hybrids are not simple.
     
  10. VernDaman

    VernDaman New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 3, 2019
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    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I've got $1K in it at this time, they want about $700 to replace the pump.
    Is a 2014 Prius 4 in very good condition, new tires, all other service done, worth dumping another $700 in? But I can't sell w/o being honest about the problem either. It's in the computer.
     
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    Plug-in Base
    definitely worth it. look up the value on kbb. but i thought we were talking about a 2013?(n)
     
  12. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Wilkes Land
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Same here. The car got younger as time went by.

    One time a fella told me on here when he lowered his tire pressure from 42 psi to 33 he said no mpg difference so he said it was pointless for me to keep mine at 44 and let the shocks and strut to take the beating. Posts later he said it was his rav 4, which never stated. That’s when all the air was sucked out of the room.
     
    Raytheeagle, RMB and bisco like this.
  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    Plug-in Base
    if that's the case, why not lower them to 22?:p
     
    Simtronic likes this.