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

My brother’s 2003 Prius help won’t start

Discussion in 'Generation 1 Prius Discussion' started by Priuslover09, Mar 3, 2020.

  1. Priuslover09

    Priuslover09 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2020
    365
    48
    0
    Location:
    Dc
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    My brother went to start his car and it wouldn’t start he got the code
    P3125 and he touch the inverter and it burning red hot. He called the Toyota dealership today and they told him it would be over 6,000$. He lives in below Indianapolis and he needs some options otherwise he would be needing a ride from his gf that has a ford focus xl 2000
     
  2. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2016
    6,058
    5,783
    0
    Location:
    Columbia, SC
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Feel free to use google.....................
     
    kenoarto likes this.
  3. Priuslover09

    Priuslover09 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2020
    365
    48
    0
    Location:
    Dc
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    again I use yahoo
     
  4. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2016
    6,058
    5,783
    0
    Location:
    Columbia, SC
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Maybe that's part of the problem with not being able to find good solutions? Google is everyone's friend if you have a question. Yahoo is great if you like reading about the Kardashians latest news
     
    kenoarto and dig4dirt like this.
  5. Josey

    Josey Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2019
    287
    108
    0
    Location:
    Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2003 Prius
    Model:
    One
    Did anyone check the level of coolant for the inverter coolant system? This will be the reservoir at the top center when you look under the hood. It should be between the min/max marks and look nice and red / dark pink.

    The P3125 can come with a any number of "subcodes." Do you also have a subcode? (There are a lot of them. See here: P3125 - Toyota Prius Hybrid Fault Code Diagnosis - Rennacs) In other words, basic Pxxxx codes rarely point to any magic bullet. They're just starting points for diagnosis. On that note...

    Do not take a car like this to a dealer. Ads aside, dealer service departments can give a rat's tail about true "service." Everyone who walks through the door is just a cash cow, and that is all. Ask around among people you know and use ... well, whatever internet search strategy you want... to see if you have any reputable, locally owned, independent shops that specialize in prius/hybrid work and use them instead.
     
    mroberds, WHCSC and Georgejaunty18 like this.
  6. Priuslover09

    Priuslover09 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2020
    365
    48
    0
    Location:
    Dc
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    Yes my brother did
     
  7. zpi28

    zpi28 New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 10, 2019
    6
    2
    0
    Location:
    Arkansas
    Vehicle:
    2003 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Do you or your brother have any automotive troubleshooting experience? It will take some knowledge of cars and some electrical knowledge helps as well with this car. Do you know where the inverter coolant pump is? its behind the drivers headlight. Need to check it to see if its pumping. It should be running with the key on.

    Had your brother been driving the car prior to getting the code? Had he already been driving the car before he touched the inverter?
     
    mroberds likes this.