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

Error Code P0A3F Hybrid Warning Light

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by raimix, Oct 13, 2012.

  1. raimix

    raimix Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2012
    204
    33
    0
    Location:
    Long Island NY
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    While driving in the highway @70mph I heard a beep, then
    'Check Hybrid System Stop the Vehicle in a safe place' warning light came up.
    Pulled over immediately.
    Called roadside assistance, towed to nearest dealer.
    Dealer pulled code #P0A3F .
    Reason I was provided was 'Electric motor drive cycle malfunction. They checked for corrosion on plug, no corrosion found. Toyota adviced Service manager to Clear Code and Redrive twice.
    Corrosion on the plug can be had because of protective coating they put on the plug. That was the reason service manager gave me, called toyota for further explanation.
    Spoke with 2 representatives from Toyota, both telling me to talk to Dealer's Service manager.

    I drove 8 hours with 2 minor stop to attend my friend's wedding. Couldnt' make it in time because of this, missed the whole ceremony. This is not what I expect from Toyota, espcially being brand new.

    Edit :
    quick google search says P0A3F is Drive Motor "A" Position Sensor Circuit
     

    Attached Files:

    #1 raimix, Oct 13, 2012
  2. raimix

    raimix Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2012
    204
    33
    0
    Location:
    Long Island NY
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I drove very carefully, light on Throttle to stay on ECO.
    Mostly going 65~70MPH almost all highway during the trip
    P0A3F error code on brand new PiP with not even 2100 miles ?
     
    #2 raimix, Oct 14, 2012
  3. chesleyn

    chesleyn Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2012
    596
    158
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    What did the dealer finally say the problem is? If it were me, I'd leave the car with them and have them give me a loaner until they figure it out.


    iPhone ?
     
    #3 chesleyn, Oct 14, 2012
  4. raimix

    raimix Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2012
    204
    33
    0
    Location:
    Long Island NY
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    P0A3F requires the circuit to be reconnected to replaced.
    The reason was for electronic motor drive cycle malfuction. that was the reason.
    Fortunate for me servicing dealer was VERY accomodating.
    Service manager right away got me loaner car from Enterprise, had it lined up but Toyota had to give him the 'go'.
    It was fixed or cleared? less then 3hours, and I drove the car again. Toyota did say it's okay for me to take the car.
    I was VERY EMBRASSED walking into my very close friend's wedding hall after ceremony was over.
    This defintely started me in wrong footing with his wife. Words can't even describe the frustration/anger

    Road side + waiting for the car + making detour was about 5 1/2 hour wasting time.
     
    #4 raimix, Oct 14, 2012
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,699
    48,945
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    sorry to hear that. very unusual and not a good way to get started with your pip. is this your first toyota? i think this is the first pip problem i've heard of.
     
    #5 bisco, Oct 14, 2012
  6. raimix

    raimix Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2012
    204
    33
    0
    Location:
    Long Island NY
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    First Toyota.
    Had Hondas, and still own Hyundai.
    How often is this error code 'P0A3F"? What about to new vehicles?
    Chance of reoccurence?
     
    #6 raimix, Oct 14, 2012
  7. rockerdan

    rockerdan PiP Rocks!

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2012
    427
    83
    0
    Location:
    Wheatfield NY
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    this is the first error code ive heard of on a PIP.
     
    #7 rockerdan, Oct 14, 2012
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,699
    48,945
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    zip, zilch, nada. not to say there aren't any others, just don't recall seeing anything on these boards, and some have put some pretty good miles on so far. it must feel lousy to be the first one, but you most likely won't have any more problems. if it were me, i would ask for a better explanation of what happened in layman's terms, and why it won't happen again, for my own peace of mind. now that i think of it, i did read a thread about someone who had a loose cable from the factory after a few days of ownership. might have been a c or a v tho.
     
    #8 bisco, Oct 14, 2012
  9. jim335

    jim335 Member

    Joined:
    Apr 20, 2012
    100
    50
    0
    Location:
    pa
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Was the car driveable with the error code showing? Sometimes you can just keep driving, the car is covered under warranty, so if you break the car, it will be easier for the dealer to know what to replace for free under warranty.
     
    #9 jim335, Oct 14, 2012
  10. raimix

    raimix Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2012
    204
    33
    0
    Location:
    Long Island NY
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Well i understood the problem, the wires / circuit were bad.
    I just dont understand why it would be so on a brand new car.
    I wanted explanation on why and how did it occur on a brand new car.
    Service manager gave me best layman's term he can, but doesnt' explain why it happened on a brand new car. If it was older car with, it would've made sense. Preventive coating could've caused corrosion on plug, I understood that but this problem wasn't based on plug. Hello!?! I'm wasn't born yesterday.
    Spoke with two toyota representatives, they both politely asked me to talk service manager.
    I requested to speak to toyota tech. who can provide explanation based on their qualification but what i got was polite rewording to talk to the service manager of the servicing dealer.
    Service dealer was very professional but he doesn't have answer to the question I am asking.
    I must be very unlucky, and that's what they want me to stomach and move on.

    Isnt' it reasonable to be provided detail explanation, espcially since it happened to a brand new car that's not even month old. Wouldn't a normal person want the answers to what is happening to their car.
     
    #10 raimix, Oct 14, 2012
  11. raimix

    raimix Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2012
    204
    33
    0
    Location:
    Long Island NY
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Well the car allowed me to slow down and pull over. I didn't even try to move the vehicle after i pulled over.
    There was shake/shutter from the car, and whining noise from possible electric motor when I turned the car off.
     
    #11 raimix, Oct 14, 2012
  12. jim335

    jim335 Member

    Joined:
    Apr 20, 2012
    100
    50
    0
    Location:
    pa
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Sorry for your trouble. Sounds like you had no choice but to stop.
     
    #12 jim335, Oct 14, 2012
  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,699
    48,945
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    i think you have every right to a better explanation than you got.
     
    #13 bisco, Oct 14, 2012
  14. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2005
    3,686
    699
    2
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    To witch LI dealer you took the car?
     
    #14 mrbigh, Oct 15, 2012
  15. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2004
    14,487
    2,994
    0
    Location:
    Fort Lee, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    That sux. What's the manufacturing month/year for your vehicle?
     
    #15 usbseawolf2000, Oct 15, 2012
  16. Tracksyde

    Tracksyde Member

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2011
    1,429
    761
    0
    Location:
    So Cal
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    A quick Google yielded this document from 2004. It does state 3 possible reasons for malfunction, one of them being the connector. We have to assume the Toyota dealer tested for the other 2 conditions. If they found nothing and cleaning up the connectors and clearing the codes, the error did not re-appear, then I would also conclude, as they have, that it was the connector and the corrosion or coating they told you about.

    DTC P0A3F

    Trouble Area:
    -Wire harness or connector
    -Hybrid vehicle motor
    -HV control ECU

    Again, this is a document for a 2004 Prius, but I'm guessing the motor resolver circuit operates the same way in the newer hybrid system.

    I agree you should get an explanation.. however, it really does seem like the explanation you were given is what it is.
     

    Attached Files:

    #16 Tracksyde, Oct 15, 2012
    Fern1461 likes this.
  17. priuskitty

    priuskitty PIP FAN

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2011
    2,286
    335
    0
    Location:
    Clawson, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    what's even more mysterious is why is the connector corroding after only 2038 miles?
     
    #17 priuskitty, Oct 15, 2012
  18. raimix

    raimix Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2012
    204
    33
    0
    Location:
    Long Island NY
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I understood what the problem was, just didn't understand why it would happen on a brand new car.
    Spoke with service manager of the servicing dealer, very professional friendly person.
    I requested for explanation why it would happen in a new car.
    His reply was, could be for many reasons. Possibility of loose harness / connector / plug.
    I did mention this wasn't the case as he has never informed me of anything loose.
    He did say there are other possibilities, but he has never seen my case before.
    So my question goes unanswered.
    I did get an assurance that the car didn't have any faults/malfunction hence Toyota has instructed to do 2 drive cycle test and let me be on my way.
    So nothing seems to be wrong, but vehicle did give hybrid warning light and I was forced to make emergency stop in middle of highway while going 70MPH.
    Toyota doesn't seem to understand that I am also concern for my safety.
    Calling toyota directly gives me 2 options.
    #1. Open a case to have service dealer give me a call.
    #2. Not open a case, and call the service dealer directly.
    I choose #2, as service manager seems very friendly and tried his best.

    Any thoughts / advice?

    Vehicle built date is 05/2012
     
    #18 raimix, Oct 15, 2012
  19. raimix

    raimix Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2012
    204
    33
    0
    Location:
    Long Island NY
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    The dealer was in Indiana.
    you mention witch, is this a pun on their bad service ?
     
    #19 raimix, Oct 15, 2012
    bisco likes this.
  20. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,699
    48,945
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    when you ask the doc what you have, and he tells you it's a 'virus'? it means they have no idea. they figured out what was wrong, and they knew what to do about it, but they have no clue why it happened. hey, they can't know everything!:rolleyes:
     
    #20 bisco, Oct 15, 2012
    Last edited: Mar 30, 2016
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)