Codes P3000 and P3009 on 2002 Prius

There are subcodes for both 3000 and 3009 but I am not sure we could do much with that additional info.

There is basically nothing that an owner can do to help out the HV battery other than making sure that its ventailation system is functioning OK. Pull out the orange service plug and re-insert it? They probably already did that.

If I told you not to worry, would it matter? That your car appears to function OK is good news. Let's hope it continues to do so.

 

Hi Beth,

Next time the warning lights appear, head directly to your Toyota dealer and leave the car READY. Have the service advisor see that the warning lights are on and have the tech retrieve the DTC before the car is turned off.

Then, you'll probably get a new traction battery (or at least a new traction battery ECU) under the hybrid system warranty.

 

DTC P3009 means that the battery ECU has detected a high voltage leak to ground. Normally both the positive and negative sides of the traction battery are isolated from ground.

The leak could be caused by any component in the following path: traction battery, traction battery ECU, battery cables connecting the traction battery to the inverter, inverter, or transaxle.

The traction battery might be the cause of P3009 if a battery module has an electrolyte leak that touches the battery case. This allows battery voltage to flow along the electrolyte and leak to the battery case, which is connected to the body and hence the electrical ground.

 

Now that the DTC have been confirmed, I would expect the Prius tech to do something to actually resolve the problem. Suggest that you ask when this will happen.

For example, there are procedures that will allow the tech to determine where the high voltage leak is coming from (the P3009 issue.) Once it is known what part is causing the leak, then you will know what has to be replaced.

 

Hi Beth,

The Toyota repair manual explains how to diagnose the failed component when P3009 is logged. Here's an example of what an independent Prius specialist did to troubleshoot the problem: Prius: 1st gen - Replacing Transaxle

Can you find another dealer in your area who has competent Prius repair techs on staff?

 

"Can you find another dealer in your area who has competent Prius repair techs on staff?"

Yes. please make every effort to do this.

 

Hummm, 750 miles to Huntsville AL, 1,500 miles round trip. I could take a few minutes to look at your car. <GRINS>

Or you could stop off in North Carolina and visit galaxee and DH.

Bob Wilson

 

Did you have the HV battery resealed under the special service campaign way back? I think it was SSC 40G. If so there should be a sticker saying so on the driver door frame. If not, you shoul dstill be able to get this for free.

These codes can mean a voltage leak in te battery or elsewhere in the wiring. They can be more ominous. Or, just maybe they could be set because if a weak 12 volt battery. Prius is a little tricky in that regard.

Could find a different Toyota shop to load test the battery? This one does not sound top tier based on your description. I am not trying to dissuade you from taking the trip, but it would be great to know more about the situation.

Doesn't anyone in the northeast on PriusChat hae a Graham Davies miniscanner? Beth needs to have her high and low module voltages measured.

 

I too had the ominous orange triange with the ! in the center. This appeared out of the blue one hot day a few weeks ago. I tried to get it in for diagnosis, but of course it went off, and since the car was still driveable, I didn't bother to bring it in. Several days later, the orange triangle appeared again and the check engine light came on. I brought it in to the Toyota dealer I have used since I bought the car in 2001. Those pesky P3000 and P3009 codes were diagnosed and I was informed I needed a new Hybrid battery. My dealer provided 50% assistance (through Toyota assistance) and split the cost with me. This still was a big financial commitment, but I am not quite ready to buy another vehicle right now. Since I have had the car back (5 days now), I have noticed a significant improvement in the gas mileage (7-8 mpg) even with using the A/C everyday. My 17-year old son also noticed the difference in the gas mileage. (He borrows my car when he needs to get better get mileage than his 18 mpg truck gets!)
BTW, I also needed a power steering sensor replacement last year and this same dealer covered the replacement (through Toyota assistance) in full ( I was out of warranty). I have had most of my service done at this dealership so I guess having a lengthy relationship with them helped.

 

Please track your mileage for the next year. Patrick Wong did after his traction battery replacement and I've also used the Dept. of Energy fleet study data and both indicate there is a mileage improvement that decays over a 3-4 month interval. Your data would be critical to our understanding what is going on.

If you need a mileage database, I would recommend MyHybridCar because each of your mileage records are open (see my entries.) Others are OK if they allow anyone to track the fill-up by fill-up records.

Thanks!
Bob Wilson

 

This may be apples to oranges, but my IMA batt threw a code twice before a major trip. Each time it did, it had been sitting for more than 2-3 days without being ran. After the code reset (pulling the fuse), it would work fine till the next time it sat. I drove the car 1000 miles there and then about 50 miles a day for six days while there and then another 1000 miles back. It worked like a champ the whole time so long as it got constant use. After returning, the car sat for some five days and the next time I started it, it threw a code that would not be reset (pack failure).

In summory, our hybrid packs thrive on use so long trips aren't a problem. If your pack is trully the problem, the fact that it didn't throw a code while on the trip doesn't suprize me.

 

Glad the trip went OK Beth. Ask them what their inspection includes. A proper battery test will measure the voltage differences between the highest and lowest modules during charging and discharging cycles. If the voltage differences are too large, HV battery is diagnosed as poor. It seems to me that any competent Toyota shop could do this, and would if you asked for it. Would not be free.