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

Grille Shutter Inoperative and Check Engine

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Kremtok, Jul 18, 2016.

  1. Kremtok

    Kremtok Smug Alert!

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2008
    100
    74
    0
    Location:
    Homer, Alaska
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Greetings,

    Relatively new 2016 Prius Four with all the boxes checked was working just fine this morning. At the end of the work day I got in the car to drive home and I got a warning - 'Grille Shutter Inoperative Visit Your Dealer' - accompanied by a check engine light.

    Since I'm a little over 200 miles from a dealership I'm in a bit of a spot. They have a local shop that they contract with but they can't get me in until Thursday.

    Has this happened to anyone here before?
     

    Attached Files:

  2. MrMischief

    MrMischief Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2008
    426
    443
    0
    Location:
    Denver CO
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I'd peek down at the front and see if the shutters are open or closed. If they're stuck open, not that big of a deal.
     
    CR94 and fuzzy1 like this.
  3. Kremtok

    Kremtok Smug Alert!

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2008
    100
    74
    0
    Location:
    Homer, Alaska
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    They are open, but is the check engine light related to or independent of the grille shutters?
     
  4. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,557
    10,325
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Can you read the CEL code to find out?

    I'll vote with MrMischief -- if the shutters are open, then no need to quit driving or rush to service at an inconvenient time. Closed shutters would be a greater concern.
     
  5. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    45,040
    16,256
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    CEL usually is a "catch-all" light. It doesn't literally mean check the engine. It's there to indicate a malfunction. Fortunately for us, Toyota included a multi-info display that tells us the error (in this case, your active grille shutters).
     
    fotomoto likes this.
  6. Kremtok

    Kremtok Smug Alert!

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2008
    100
    74
    0
    Location:
    Homer, Alaska
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Thanks for the replies.

    After sleeping on it I was able to approach the problem with a clearer head. I had a buddy get in and start the car while I watched the shutters and the problem was immediately apparent. When they installed the block heater before delivery, they routed the cable through the grille shutters, which stopped them from closing. The only question that remains is why it took 311 miles for the problem to manifest.

    Anyhow I rerouted the cable and the problem is corrected. Now I just need to get the code read and cleared and everything will be peachy.
     
    bisco and Mendel Leisk like this.
  7. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2009
    5,608
    3,789
    0
    Location:
    So. Texas
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Since the dealer is so far away, try your local auto parts stores. They can usually read (some hybrid codes) and clear them. If it comes back, then a trip to dealer is called for.
     
  8. booke02

    booke02 Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2016
    391
    415
    0
    Location:
    Israel
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Glad to hear a happy end to the saga.
     
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Book Cover Judge

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    56,863
    39,319
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Good sleuthing! Maybe Toyota should put out a service bulletin on this.
     
    RCO likes this.
  10. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,557
    10,325
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Many codes should self-clear after a certain number of Ignition-On cycles without the problem reappearing. This ought to be one of them.
     
    kithmo and fotomoto like this.
  11. rdgrimes

    rdgrimes Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 7, 2013
    1,740
    446
    4
    Location:
    New Mexico, USA
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    N/A
    Only a dealership knuckle dragger would route a cord through the louver vanes. Seriously stupid.
    Anyway, I'd wager that nearly every possible failure mode on those louvers is to default open.
     
    m.wynn likes this.
  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Book Cover Judge

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    56,863
    39,319
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    To be fair, these active grill shutters are new and pretty rare. For sure let the dealership know, for next time.
     
    m.wynn, kithmo and fuzzy1 like this.
  13. Kremtok

    Kremtok Smug Alert!

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2008
    100
    74
    0
    Location:
    Homer, Alaska
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Thanks guys. I notified the dealership so they can change their installation practice. With 30 or so Priuses on the lot right now, they may even have to correct the installation on a few of the cars they have in stock.

    For the record, the check engine code was P05A0, which I understand is 'Active Grille Shutter Stuck On.' A buddy had a port reader so I just cleared it and it's all good now.
     
    MrMischief likes this.
  14. Arturas

    Arturas Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2016
    4
    3
    0
    Location:
    Vilnius, Lithuania
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Hello, guys! I have the same problem here in Lithuania. I get the message "Grille shutter inoperative. Visit your dealer". But the problem is that grille shutters are available at USA market only and it's hard to get the piece (curtains and motor) here in Europe. Even though, it cost's about 500 EUR. I'm not sure if I need this "Grille shutter" as it is unnecessary for my eco-friendly driving.
    So maybe someone knows how to disable the error message, because it pop-ups every 4-5 seconds on my screen. How can I tell my Prius: "You don't need Grille shutter. You look better without it, babe"? :)
     
    Christov Tenn and RCO like this.
  15. bequa

    bequa Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2012
    26
    11
    0
    Location:
    Tbilisi, Georgia
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Hello Arturas,

    Have you found any workaround ?

    Has anyone idea of motor resistance? or ways of spoofing it?
     
  16. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,312
    50,132
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    you folks have grille shutters on the 2004 and 5?
     
  17. sillymike

    sillymike Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2010
    59
    21
    0
    Location:
    GA
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
  18. bequa

    bequa Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2012
    26
    11
    0
    Location:
    Tbilisi, Georgia
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    @bisco

    Lol no, its 2016 Pri, profile info is outdated.
     
    bisco likes this.
  19. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,312
    50,132
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base