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

Red triangle, brakes, hybrid warning: after cleaning hybrid fan and going over small bumps

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by wrothgar, Aug 19, 2018.

  1. wrothgar

    wrothgar Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2014
    77
    16
    0
    Location:
    oakville, ontario
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I am thinking I have 2 issues here.

    After cleaning the hybrid fan on my gen ii (200 000 km, 2008, second owner....had it for 4 years, 100 000km), the next day the red triangle and brake lights came o on the dash, and the display showed "problem" and a car icon in the top right corner. This occurred immideately after going down hill and hitting a bump (on about a 30 km journey). I wasn't actually driving.

    Dealer found and dixed a corroded wire connection at the battery cooling fan...and claimed the car was fixed.

    Next day, same scenario: about 25 km of driving, bump on a downhill, same lights.

    The front driver wheel bearing had been done twice...I suspect a wheel sensor may be bad, but that's just a guess.

    I have a regular obdii reader...but not a mini vci.

    I have had issues with leaking in the hatch, that seems to be from half way up.

    Dealer says that Toyota's troubleshooting guide points to the "computer under the hybrid battery" being faulty, although they don't think that is the case.

    The second triangle came today, which is a Sunday, so I'm not able to call the dealer back. Normally I don't use the dealer for any maintenance.

    I'm looking for suggestions for how to narrow this down.

    Oil is fine, 12v reads 12.67 V from the batery...inverter pump recall was done a long time ago.

    Both times I wasn't driving, but it sounds like the same conditions that cause the prius to turn on the stability light.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    108,000
    49,090
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    i would start by diving back into the cooling fan, and inspecting every connection, since it is the last thing you touched.
     
    ITBland likes this.
  3. Paul Schenck

    Paul Schenck Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2013
    522
    306
    0
    Location:
    Fresno, California
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I would get to the bottom of the leaking situation taking everything out of the back except the battery. Your “small bump”report makes me think of splashing liquid on electronics. Especially after contacts were cleaned. I used to spray WD-40 on my spark plug wires on foggy mornings to start my 68 Cougar. As an electronics lab manager loose and compromised connections make for strange test results. If they recently inspected and cleaned contacts with a contact cleaner they would be even more sensitive to a splash of rusty water from say the battery pan? So I say focus on the leak and you’ll find the cause of this and many other future problems. My own Prius rear door leak was caused by a over enthusiastic cleaning dislodging the weather boot on the hatch electronics umbilical, an easy fix, silicone.


    iPhone ?
     
    ITBland likes this.
  4. wrothgar

    wrothgar Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2014
    77
    16
    0
    Location:
    oakville, ontario
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Thanks. I'll add some photos of the dealer's wire splice. I think it's done poorly.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  5. wrothgar

    wrothgar Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2014
    77
    16
    0
    Location:
    oakville, ontario
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I removed the plug at the bottom of the 12 V battery well a long time ago...no water pooling in there. Definitely leaks on passenger rear side of hatch.
     
    Paul Schenck likes this.
  6. wrothgar

    wrothgar Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2014
    77
    16
    0
    Location:
    oakville, ontario
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Here are 3 images showing the dirty connector and broken pin...the quick splice (added yellow wire bridges the brown) and if you look closely, the yellow wire sheathing is completely intact. Is this the way a quick splice is supposed to work? Seems like it isn't right to me.

    upload_2018-8-20_13-43-19.png


    upload_2018-8-20_13-43-36.png
    upload_2018-8-20_13-43-49.png
     
  7. ITBland

    ITBland Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2017
    433
    272
    3
    Location:
    New Orleans, La area, US
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    No. the quick splice should cut the insulation, but not the wire--looks like the wrong size quick splice was used--Blue is usually for 18-14 AWG wires, those wires don't appear to be that big. If you have to use a quick splice, Red would have been the better choice (typically for 18-22 AWG wires.)
     
    #7 ITBland, Aug 20, 2018
    Last edited: Aug 20, 2018
    bisco likes this.
  8. ITBland

    ITBland Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2017
    433
    272
    3
    Location:
    New Orleans, La area, US
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    +1 to this!
     
  9. Paul Schenck

    Paul Schenck Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2013
    522
    306
    0
    Location:
    Fresno, California
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    II
    It does look like that connector has seen some moisture. I’d splice around it with a moisture proof soldered connection?


    iPhone ?
     
    bisco and ITBland like this.
  10. wrothgar

    wrothgar Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2014
    77
    16
    0
    Location:
    oakville, ontario
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Seems to have been the issue. I now need to trace the leaks in the trunk....I think there are a few posts on doing that. Thanks!

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    Paul Schenck likes this.
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    108,000
    49,090
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    rain gutter seam, hatch hinges.
     
    Raytheeagle and Paul Schenck like this.
  12. wrothgar

    wrothgar Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2014
    77
    16
    0
    Location:
    oakville, ontario
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Is silicone sealant good to use, or is there something better?

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    108,000
    49,090
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    iirc, that is what most have used.
     
  14. wrothgar

    wrothgar Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2014
    77
    16
    0
    Location:
    oakville, ontario
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    108,000
    49,090
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    silicone
     
  16. ITBland

    ITBland Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2017
    433
    272
    3
    Location:
    New Orleans, La area, US
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    iirc = If I Remember Correctly, not some mythical brand of super sealant :)
     
    bisco, dolj and Raytheeagle like this.
  17. wrothgar

    wrothgar Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2014
    77
    16
    0
    Location:
    oakville, ontario
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    bisco and ITBland like this.