Hybrid Battery Fail: Do Not Clear Trouble Codes with a Code Scanner

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Javier Oropeza, Oct 28, 2019.

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  1. Javier Oropeza

    Javier Oropeza New Member

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    Hi! After years of stalking this site I am making my first post. I have a 2010 Prius that has been shutting down. Check engine light, Check Hybrid system, limp mode, death triangle etc. My wife was stranded so of course I went to pick her up armed with my code scanner. P0A80 replace Hv Battery? HMMMM! So I cleared it to get the car home. Day later same thing. Car shaking running like crap lights alarms drama! This time I told my wife to screen shot the codes then clear to get the car home. Up until last week I knew very little about HV batteries. I take care of my car regular maintenance. I purchased the Dr Prius App which concluded that my Battery is less that 30% with trouble at cell #7. uh oh. I do however have 143k mi with 1 more year left on the warranty (Cali ). So i decide to call my local dealership to check it out. This is where it gets weird. I told the dealership that I cleared the codes to get the car home. The dealership had to do some other warranty work so I left the car. When they called with the conclusion this is what the service guy said " We see that there is a P0A80 code pending but because it isnt confirmed Toyota said there is nothing we can do." Wth!!?? Called Toyota same thing Sorry cant help you til the car breaks down again. I have been driving the car to see if it will repeat that fail. But son far nada. Is it possible that the dealership could override the computer to not show the same codes? HELP!!
     
    #1 Javier Oropeza, Oct 28, 2019
  2. pingd

    pingd Member

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    I don't believe there is any known mechanism for the dealer to suppress codes.

    Might want to duplicate the same conditions as much as possible (AC running?, ambient temperature, EV/ECO/Power mode, etc).
    If the battery is failing the way you describe, it is surely just a matter of time before it throws the same codes again I reckon.

    But be careful where you try this ... when my Prius shutdown I had at most 5 secs to pull over before it stopped completely ... would have been super scary on the freeway/in bumper-to-bumper traffic!
     
    #2 pingd, Oct 28, 2019
  3. Javier Oropeza

    Javier Oropeza New Member

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    D3A4EA9C-EAE1-46A7-A106-8100E230B887.jpeg

    I have been trying. When I run dr Prius app it shows less than 30% and p0a80 but isn’t confirmed
     
    #3 Javier Oropeza, Oct 28, 2019
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 28, 2019
  4. iskoos

    iskoos Active Member

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    Does the car really shutdown after the P0A80 code?

    My friend got this code a few times and we either cleared or disconnected the battery to clear the dash. Car throws the code once every several weeks (could be a month). Unfortunately, his car is way out of warranty.

    I was wondering myself how often this code would appear itself.

    So really would the car shut off? I never heard of this till now and would like to know more about it.

    Thanks
     
    #4 iskoos, Oct 28, 2019
  5. Javier Oropeza

    Javier Oropeza New Member

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    My Prius would throw a bunch of codes but it doesn’t shut all the way down. It runs like crap though. I think that is the loop hole. How dead is dead.
     
    #5 Javier Oropeza, Oct 28, 2019
  6. iskoos

    iskoos Active Member

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    As I said I never heard (except from pingd) that the car experiences shut off after the P0A80 code.
    Well technically it could be possible with a super weak HV battery. But we should be talking like almost the entire pack is gone not just a few modules. And I never heard this happen to anyone so far. It is generally one or two weak modules. And this is not enough to stop the car from running.

    What I realized from my friend's Prius is that the car never shuts off the gas engine if the P0A80 code is thrown and the Triangle of Death is on the dash. ICE keeps running.
    Is that what happened to your wife's Prius?

    Also, just wait a bit more, that code will come back. Nothing fixes itself.
     
    #6 iskoos, Oct 28, 2019
  7. Javier Oropeza

    Javier Oropeza New Member

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    The code keeps popping up but it’s only pending. You’re correct the car doesn’t shut down completely. The check hybrid system light comes on and the car runs like crap. If this happens do not clear the codes. If the dealer can’t see the hv light they won’t fix the battery. Even if they see a pending or permanent code. B83D7199-CD47-43F0-994D-C75D00395356.jpeg
     
    #7 Javier Oropeza, Oct 28, 2019
  8. pingd

    pingd Member

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    Oh, sorry, I had different codes P3190, C1259, C1310 but got the triangle of death.
    I'm probably wrong here, but if you get the triangle of death, won't it always shutdown shortly?
    Or, even with the triangle of death, it can remain in limp mode for an extended period of time? (I guess then, that it depends on the exact codes on whether it goes into shutdown or limp?)

    Sorry if I alarmed you/am misinformed but that was my understanding until just now!
     
    #8 pingd, Oct 28, 2019
  9. Javier Oropeza

    Javier Oropeza New Member

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    No worries I knew nothing about hv batteries until last week
     
    #9 Javier Oropeza, Oct 28, 2019
  10. iskoos

    iskoos Active Member

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    No problem. It is about finding the correct information.
    No to your question. "Triangle of Death" doesn't mean the car will shut down soon.
     
    #10 iskoos, Oct 28, 2019
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