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Getting diagnostic codes

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by nat724, Sep 7, 2017.

  1. nat724

    nat724 Junior Member

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    I'm sure this has been asked before, but I can't find the answer. A few days ago, as I was transitioning from a paved to dirt road, all of my warning lights came on. I drove it another mile and called AAA to see if they could come run a code. Long story short, they couldn't. I decided to just drive it to the closest shop (about 20 miles) and got the code run, but it was just 1121, which I'm not too worried about.

    The red triangle is still on, but all the others have turned off. The check engine still comes on sporadically as it always has (because of the P1121 code). I've been reading that I have to take it to a dealer and have then run it there for the hybrid system.

    Is there anywhere else to do this, or just the dealer? I'm hoping to find somewhere a bit cheaper.

    I'm not willing to invest much into this car at this point. It's worth at most 3k, and I'm just hoping it'll last through graduate school. It's the longest I've ever owned a car, and I've definitely abused it, driving through the rocky mountains to ski every weekend and down some pretty bad roads to get to climbing areas. Frankly, I'm impressed that I've been able to get 90k miles out of it (almost 200k total now) given the conditions I've driven it!
     
    #1 nat724, Sep 7, 2017
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    what is it, did i miss it in your post?
     
    #2 bisco, Sep 7, 2017
  3. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    Their profile says other non hybrid. That should narrow it down a bit. :D
     
    #3 Prodigyplace, Sep 7, 2017
    bisco likes this.
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    that's what i was afraid of.(n)
     
    #4 bisco, Sep 7, 2017
  5. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    You need to get a code reader that can read prius codes. The P1121 won't cause the triangle to come on, that would just cause the check engine light to come on.

    A possible failure would be your inverter pump, which is quite common on the gen 2. They fail about every 100k miles.
     
    #5 JC91006, Sep 7, 2017
  6. nat724

    nat724 Junior Member

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    Haha sorry, 2005 Prius.
     
    #6 nat724, Sep 7, 2017
  7. nat724

    nat724 Junior Member

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    Do you know where I can get a code reader that can read prius codes?
     
    #7 nat724, Sep 10, 2017
  8. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    A favorite here would be the mini VCI with techstream software. it runs off a laptop computer and it'll cost around $25 on Amazon.
     
    #8 JC91006, Sep 10, 2017
  9. nat724

    nat724 Junior Member

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    Is that pretty easy to use? And will do codes for the hybrid system?
     
    #9 nat724, Sep 10, 2017
  10. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Yes
     
    #10 JC91006, Sep 10, 2017
  11. ericbecky

    ericbecky Hybrid Battery Hero

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    Or download the android Torque Pro app and buy a Bluetooth Elm 327 OBDII reader from Amazon.

    Less than $30 total.
    Read and clear codes. Even hybrid stuff.

    Not as comprehensive as techstream with minivci, but quick for on the go checking and cleaning up of codes.
     
    #11 ericbecky, Sep 10, 2017
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