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

Red triangle and 300+ miles from Toyota-capable mechanic

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by lbman, Dec 29, 2021.

  1. lbman

    lbman New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2021
    4
    2
    0
    Location:
    Terlingua Texas
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Specs: 2008 Prius, ~166k miles, good maintenance history, Hybrid battery was replaced (by previous owner) about 30k miles back.

    Alright, so here's the chain of events so far...

    I'm on a roadtrip in Texas, far from any metropolitan area. I recently got the red triangle, brake system, VSC, hybrid system malfunction, and check engine lights all on at the same time. Being in the middle of nowhere on a road trip, I did the only thing I could do, I reset the car by disconnecting the 12V for 10s. Afterwards, all of the dash lights went away. I continued to drive about 125 miles when the same dash lights came on. This time, I did not reset the lights but b-lined it to a local Autozone to check the codes. Their scanner came up with nothing. However, just before arriving to Autozone, I got gas, and in that stop the brake system and VSC lights turned off. I have reset the battery again and driven another 60 miles since then, no warning lights coming on yet. Overall, the car seems to be running as usual. Gas mileage is what I've gotten for the past 2 yrs (45mpg avg). Could use some new tires.

    Tomorrow I'll be able to check the car with a bluetooth OBDII sensor and might be able to get my hands on a multi-meter to check fuses.

    I understand it will be necessary to visit a Toyota-equipped shop for proper diagnoses.

    In the meantime, any theories as to what is happening here?
     
    Longinus876 likes this.
  2. lbman

    lbman New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2021
    4
    2
    0
    Location:
    Terlingua Texas
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I also noticed the A/C blowing in the backseat which I'm told has to do with hybrid battery failure.
     
  3. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,502
    8,416
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    You are experiencing a HV battery failure. A temporary solution would be to charge the HV battery manually.

    Without any objects in front of you, put the car in Drive, step on the brake and then the accelerator (press all the way down). Look at your battery SOC screen and you'll see your HV battery charging. This should work to get you home, until you find a solution to replacing the battery
     
    Pointguard11, ydpplqbd and dig4dirt like this.
  4. lbman

    lbman New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2021
    4
    2
    0
    Location:
    Terlingua Texas
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Thanks for the reply. That explains why I'm able to drive 60+mph on the highway but the failure only happens when I'm slowed down on 35mph roads?
     
  5. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2018
    7,035
    2,790
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    He is experiencing a failure in the HV battery system.
    Not necessarily the battery itself.

    It would be good to check the battery ventilation first.
    Then the 12 V battery and it's main connections.
    Then the 12 V charging voltage; inverter and it's cooling loop.
     
    ydpplqbd likes this.
  6. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,502
    8,416
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    You must have missed post #2. He is experiencing a battery failure.
     
  7. mr_guy_mann

    mr_guy_mann Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2020
    3,617
    1,668
    0
    Location:
    NJ-USA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Having a HV battery fault will result in the cooling fan running (more than usual), but AFAIK so will some other faults, like temperature sensor failure.

    The OP should find a way to pull codes from the battery ecu, then we can offer advise based on facts instead of guesswork.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  8. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2018
    7,035
    2,790
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    Post #2 indicates that the HV battery is getting too hot......maybe.
    That does not necessarily mean that the battery itself is failing.
     
  9. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,502
    8,416
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Post #1, HV battery was replaced by previous owner.

    Well read it how you want. I'm not here to argue
     
  10. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2018
    7,035
    2,790
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    It is not an "argument", it is a clarification.
    Without some additional information, you can NOT definitively say that the battery itself is failing.
    The odds might be high but it's not a given.
     
  11. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,502
    8,416
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    What additional information can you get over the internet forum? If you can get all the information you need to know the exact cause of the failure, the OP would have fixed everything themselves already. Symptoms and history are all you have here
     
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  12. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2018
    7,035
    2,790
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    Sure fooled me. :rolleyes:

    He will have a scanner and a multimeter later.
    Your pronouncement was premature at best.
    I quit.
     
  13. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,502
    8,416
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    At least you're clear about that. Post #1, OP asking for "theories of what might have happened"
     
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  14. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2018
    7,035
    2,790
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    I'm sorry.
    I forgot that you don't know the difference between a flat statement of fact and the conditional statement of a theory.
    Have a nice new year.
     
  15. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,502
    8,416
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Happy New Year to you too!
     
  16. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    109,768
    49,877
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    you can't quit twice :p
     
    SFO and Raytheeagle like this.
  17. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    11,254
    15,489
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    I lost count how many times that has been uttered:whistle:.

    But I avoid seeing those posts ;).

    Ignorance is bliss and by the way @JC91006 was reacting, I knew the cause(y).
     
    bisco likes this.
  18. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    109,768
    49,877
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    lost cause :cool:
     
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  19. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    11,254
    15,489
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Agreed;).

    If only he would be introspective and see his effect:whistle:.

    Maybe a New Years resolution(y).
     
    bisco likes this.
  20. lbman

    lbman New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2021
    4
    2
    0
    Location:
    Terlingua Texas
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Alright folks, so basically the issue always repeats after I drive down a very long decline (45m at 50mph). Then, when I turn the car off (stopping for food), and then on again, the error comes up. So strange. Especially since the drive out to the location brings up no issues at all. It's always after the drive down.
     
    Longinus876 likes this.