Priyus 2008 with 130,000 miles, red triange error, code P0A37

It is true that DTC P0A37 means that a temperature sensor within the transaxle has failed and therefore the transaxle must be replaced. This can be caused by low transaxle ATF which results in damage to the transaxle.

The transaxle is covered under the power train warranty which normally is 5 years / 60K miles. Check your warranty/maintenance booklet to see whether, as a California vehicle, your car's coverage differs.

A possible alternative is for you to obtain a used transaxle and have it installed, that might cost you < $2K total.

 

Which dealership in CA services your car? I would think the transaxle problem would be diagnosed the first time you went to the dealer. Did they find this problem and also the other problems you experienced? Then you did the process of elimination and changed out the lease expensive first?

 

Toyota only says that you should periodically check ATF (Totota Type WS Automatic Transmission Fluid) level and claims that it is a "Lifetime" fluid. It is only a "Lifetime" fluid if you expect to trash your Prius at 150k miles! My 2004 Prius is at 255k miles and I expect it to live longer. Of course I have drained and refilled my ATF 4 times now to keep the metallic load in the ATF (from wear in the gears) at a reasonable level.

As was noted earlier, you can have a salvaged, low mileage transmission installed at a reasonable cost. If you are near SF, contact Luscious Garage | Hybrid Specialists, or Art's Automotive or in southern California contact Oxnard Mechanic | Ari&#039;s Garage Automotive Repair Trusted Since 1993. All three are well thought of independent Prius repair facilities.

JeffD

 

The most common reason for the transaxle to be low on fluid is if there is an axle seal leak, usually from the driver's side axle. But that should be a problem the dealer would have noticed when you brought it in. I'm feeling your dealership service department is not that competent.

 

There is a Prius specialty shop in San Francisco that can help you. They know much more about the car than the dealership. Also their prices would be better when repairing it. It's about 1 hour from San Jose.

Luscious Garage
475 9th St, San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 875-9030

 

This information is on Luscious Garages Blog, the price for a replacement transaxle is as follows:

Labor: $1,360
Transmission (Used Unit): $800
Additional Parts (seals, axle nuts, fluids): $89.29
8.25% Sales Tax: $75.48
Total: $2324.77

 

This is where the dealership service manager steps in to remedy the problem. I would ask for a refund.

 

If the problem is truly the temperature sensor in the transmission, and not just a problem with the connections at the transmission then there is a cheaper way round the problem.
The resistance of the sensor at a given temperature must be in the workshop manual for test purposes. Wiring a thermistor of the correct resistance at the connections just inside the transmission would fool the ECU into thinking things are fine as the new sensor would read back the oil temperature. As long as the ECU reads within range the transmission will carry on working and the warning light will not come on. I agree this will not give warning of overheat the particular MG concerned, but under normal circumstances this does not happen anyway, and you have nothing to loose.

John (Britprius)

 

Yes, the question is whether the transaxle actually has suffered damage due to the lack of transaxle ATF or not. A properly operating sensor will show resistance from ~100K ohms at 50 degrees F down to ~30K ohms at 100 degrees F.

It certainly is possible that the wiring harness connector to the sensor has absorbed some water and the connection is bad or intermittent. That should be checked since that problem would be a very easy fix.

 

The fact that this is intermittent makes bad or dirty connectors a possible explanation. At freeway speeds the transaxle is getting warmed up also, and that could contribute to connector instability. The thermal sensor plug is on the front facing side of the transaxle case, about in the middle. (The other plug towards the outside end is the speed resolver.) I would attempt to remove and inspect it for damage.

 

If you are adventurous you could replace the sensor with a resistor and see what happens. It seems like the worst case is you need a new transaxle which is where you are starting off anyways.

 

Almost the same thing happened to my 2007 with 225k miles. Triangle AND ABS warning with buzzard came on whole driving. Hit the brakes and they locked up. After that all seemed well. Took it my shop they dish. 12volt battery drop and advised me to take it to the dealer. I did they said same thing, and nothing else everything seems to be ok now??
Don't know of it will happen again but confidence is now now. Any suggestions or advice appreciated .


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