Red triangle, no codes, need help with next steps

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Jbird610, Feb 1, 2025.

  1. Jbird610

    Jbird610 Junior Member

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    2007 Prius. We received the red triangle along with other codes last summer. One of the codes was for the mass air flow sensor so I cleaned it. That didn't help. We bought a completely remanufactured hybrid battery pack, replaced the 12v, changed the oil. I lost the key. It sat for 5 months while I looked for the key. Never found it. Took it to Toyota where they programmed a new key. Got the red triangle again. Changed the mass air flow sensor. It worked for a couple of days. Another red triangle & wouldn't start. We unhooked the 12v, let it set, then hooked it up again. It worked but didn't restart later. We can't keep doing that indefinitely. This time no codes accompanied the red triangle. I've read on here about what to do. The oil is fine. I changed the inverter pump. It drove a few days. Then it wouldn't start. I noticed on here that another issue is the problem with headlight leveler, but I'm getting the yellow headlight error.

    I'm using the Fixd app. I'm wondering if I need to take it to my friend who has the mechanic's code reader. I've attached the latest warning lights and the last scan that showed codes (before changing the mass air flow sensor)
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Jbird610

    Jbird610 Junior Member

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    The pic was blurry. He's one the my son took that is chlearer
     

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  3. audiodave

    audiodave Active Member

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    Is that replaced 12 volt charged up? After It sat for 5 months
    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  4. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Your code reader is not up to snuff You definitely have codes You even have ABS codes they may be communication errors You need a capable scanner It will save you a lot of headache if you can find an AP200 it's white looks like an Apple product it's all over Amazon they're being discontinued You should get on that right away then you'll have a scanner that will read all the codes bleed the brakes and do what you need it to do for like $63 that's a smoking deal It needs Android 12 or lower or an Apple product to run properly I put it on an old blue tablet that I paid $30 for all I use it for is car things
     
  5. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

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    +1 ^; Unfortunately, letting a 20 year traction pack sit idle for 5 months is a great way of killing it. In addition to that, I know those old cars has parasitic drains on the 12V battery, so if you don't drive them daily or at least every other day - the 12V battery will get low and a bunch of phantom error codes will pop up, because of the low 12V battery.
    Disconnecting the 12V battery to make the ECU forget that it has a traction battery issue isn't a fix. You need to take care of the underlying problem (bad traction battery), if you want that car to run reliability.
    The headlight issue is a separate problem, but may be related to a weak 12V battery. The little headlamp motors isn't getting enough power.

    Good Luck....
     
  6. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    FYI, Toyota's latest long term storage doc says to recharge the 12V battery monthly. I would recommend connecting to a battery tender.
     
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  7. MAX2

    MAX2 Active Member

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    Is your "ready" light on or not? It's not visible in the photo. Errors need to be read with a scanner suitable for Toyota, and not the first one that catches your eye. Then there will be no need to react to incomprehensible codes and chaotically change equipment and battery.
     
  8. pasadena_commut

    pasadena_commut Senior Member

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    Monthly would be cutting it close if the 12V battery is left attached. Our 2007 loses roughly .04 V/day. Measured recently when I had the chance to park it for five days. It wasn't a perfect test because I had to open a door or the hatch (but not the driver's door) usually once a day for a few seconds. When any of those are open it pulls 500 mA when the car is off, and let's say 30s open, would use .00417 Ah each time, x5 is .02 Ah, which should be a negligible amount of the initial charge. Readings in volts were 12.69, 12.62, 12.59, 12.57, 12.52, 12.48. All readings were at roughly 10:00 AM but it was in a garage and the temperature varied. Electronic battery testers say this battery is fine for Ah, but when given a substantial load, like 20A, it loses voltage like it has only about 1/4th of its claimed Ah capacity. (Maybe they all do that? I have never tested a brand new AGM battery this way.) During this 5 day test It was never started and it is a non SKS vehicle. The vehicle was left unlocked and the hood unlatched.

    Anyway, 30 days would be a 1.2V drop. Start at 12.7 V (optimistically) that would be 11.5 V, and you don't want the battery at 11.5 V, or even in the low 12's. I think 10 days would be safer, especially since one usually doesn't know the initial voltage on the battery.
     
  9. pasadena_commut

    pasadena_commut Senior Member

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    That "new" 12V battery may be garbage now. Assuming it was attached to the car those 5 months it would have been completely drained. Prius 12V batteries do not like that.
     
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  10. Jbird610

    Jbird610 Junior Member

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    Yes, I've charged it several times.
     
  11. Jbird610

    Jbird610 Junior Member

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    I had the 12v unhooked that whole time. It's currently testing as 12.25 v.
     
    #11 Jbird610, Feb 1, 2025
    Last edited: Feb 1, 2025
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  12. Jbird610

    Jbird610 Junior Member

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    My son sent me one of the pics he took and it had the "Ready" light on.
     
  13. Jbird610

    Jbird610 Junior Member

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    Are you referring to the hybrid battery?
     
  14. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

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    Yes, that's usually what the P0A80 means, but you'll need the sub codes or test it, to narrow down the issue. At that age, you probably have a few bad modules. You might get lucky and it's just corrosion at the contact points, but I doubt it.

    Good Luck....
     
  15. highmilesgarage

    highmilesgarage Active Member

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    FIXD is really aggressive on marketing their product which is basically just a glorified OBD2 scanner (only ECM) with a better UI/reporting. I've seen a lot of these ads in youtube and I think it's a waste of money if you use it for Prius (limited functionality) It's just like the OTTO ads where it's not really an insurance company but a depot to sell your info to other insurance company (you give info for free and they sell it)
     
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  16. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

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    You actually pay for the privilege of getting your information sold to 3nd parties, especially if you opt. for their subscription package.:(:whistle:
     
  17. Brian1954

    Brian1954 Senior Member

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    There is only one sub code for P0A80, which is 123, so it does not help narrow down the troubleshooting process.
     
  18. Jbird610

    Jbird610 Junior Member

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    I was given the Fixd reader by my dad. It was a step up from what I had. I purchased Autel MaxiAP AP2500E. I got P0AA6. The hybrid battery was installed in July, but I allowed it to sit there for several months. I read another post about leakage. I don't know if that's what I have going on because I haven't gotten into it yet. I guess that's the next step.
    I also read in that same thread to be sure to torque the bus bar nuts to 48 inch-pounds. I don't remember doing this. I think I just tightened them hand-tight. Could a lack of proper torquing cause this code?
    I attached the screenshot of my scan.
    I looked up some info about this code. One video said that a problem with the 12v could cause it. The hole where the ground screw attached to the body is loose, so I attached the ground to another nearby location where the cargo hooks are. That didn't help alleviate the code, although before I had 3 of the same code and after I only had 1. Apparently this reader isn't detailed enough to give me the sub codes. So there's still a problem. One option was the AC compressor.
    I've attached the screenshots of the live readings. I didn't know enough to be she to interpret these numbers to identify a problem.
    Also the blue battery on the display is getting lower. Is this the hybrid or 12v?
    I tested the voltage of the 12v and it wasn't low

    View attachment 267330 View attachment 267331 View attachment 267332 View attachment 267333 View attachment 267334 View attachment 267335 View attachment 267336 View attachment 267337 View attachment 267338 Screenshot_20250203-202806.png
    Any thoughts?
     
  19. Jbird610

    Jbird610 Junior Member

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    So there's was an error with the attachments. Let's try again PXL_20250204_023025906.MP.jpg PXL_20250204_023004304.jpg PXL_20250204_022402167.MP.jpg Screenshot_20250203-202644.png Screenshot_20250203-202652.png Screenshot_20250203-202703.png Screenshot_20250203-202722.png Screenshot_20250203-202732.png Screenshot_20250203-202745.png Screenshot_20250203-202757.png Screenshot_20250203-202806.png
     
  20. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    That scan tool hasn't given you any information from the HV control ECU. If you have the red triangle showing, that's the information you're going to need.
     
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