Several issues after changing cabin air filter, Please Help!

It is not a big job to clean the mas air flow sensor inside the filter intake. Just insure you get the proper cleaner for this job. Do a search and on how to, if you are not familiar with this. Google it! H

 

These problems showing up after changing the cabin air filter are totally coincidental. The MAF sensor is behind the engine air filter, not the cabin air filter.

Find someplace else that can get you the codes if Autozone can't do it right.

 

If the cabin air filter was in need of cleaning, then the engine air filter is likewise suspect. It is easy, so do that before anything else. While you have the filter off, you can look down the throttle body and see the MAF sensor, and its condition. Cleaning it is also not a big deal as noted above.

 

I replaced the engine air filter on both my Prii this past weekend. Came to <$18 each at the local auto parts store. Takes less than 3 mins to pop off the cover, pull out the old filter, clean out the debris in the air box, put the new one in and close the cover.

 

When I focus on getting good gas mileage, I can get well over 60mpg. ​

As you drive your Prius, you will continue to learn how to get the best mileage - we consistently get 50-55 mpg here in Minnesota (in the Summer) - it drops in the Winter to 45-50.​

 

Phisixfly,
Since you are new, I will give you some of my experience w/ the Prius. When you first get your Prius, anytime a light or Triangle comes up, you freak out (I did the same thing). Then you go to get help and noone knows how to work on a Prius (and it causes more problems). I don't know what caused your DTC's to come up but when/if I get an error code, the first thing I do is pay attention to how its driving, what is my mpg, is the hybrid system cycling properly? If all that is fine, I read the codes, make a note of them and reset them (I use torque for android, others use scanguage and others simply disconnect the 12v for about 1 minute and reconnect to reset the codes). Then I drive the car and wait to see if they come back. If they come back consistently (which in my case they haven't) that's when you know they're valid and repair/maintenance is necessary.

It should be noted that this is simply what I do and is by no means what others would recommend (I'm sure rebuttals to me will follow). What I can say for sure is this website is the place to come for Prius info. There are numerous knowledgeable people here that will sincerely try to help and freely offer their experience.

Welcome to Our World!!!!!!

 

It is not common to get them all the time. I have had only one on my '06 (self induced) and about 4 on my '01. In all cases, I reset them and they never came back. I have read numerous posts here very similiar to yours where people freak out, pay the dealer to read them and end up having no problems after they are reset.

 

No!

Knowing as much as possible about this very complex car will reduce the freak out factor. I have read or skimmed 1000's of posts on this list by now, and am still learning. Reading through the sticky postings at the top of each subforum is a good place to start. Set your location in the Preferences for this site, and others can point you at the best Prius shop near you.

And running Priidash or Torque will aid the learning process greatly. At first maybe you will want to let someone else do the driving, so you can see all the gauges that display what is happening under the hood.

 

That's great advice nh70. I think most of us could say the same thing. The Prius is very complex but, the more you learn the simpler it gets.

 

It is not a good idea to leave the Prius turned on for long periods in any mode other than ready, as this can flatten not only the 12v battery (a low 12v battery is renown for giving false DTC's "codes") but can also discharge the HVbattery leading to even more problems.

I suggest you check the voltage of the 12v battery in accessory mode with the headlamps on and report back the voltage.

John.

 

Ready mode is when you put your foot on the brake and push the start button once "ready appears on dash"

If you push the start button once without putting your foot on the brake this is what I call radio mode "the radio works".

Pushing the start button a second time puts the car in accessory mode every thing works but the engine.

It is ok to leave the car in ready mode and park (not neutral!!!) as long as you have fuel in the tank. Leave the car in this mode if you want to sit in and listen to the radio, the batteries will keep charged. This mode should also be used for OBD scan.

Do not use the other modes except for very short periods as they are able to discharge the 12v battery. It is difficult to tell how good the 12v battery is because it "unlike other cars" does not turn the engine over so you cannot hear that sound of a slow turn over. The best way of telling it's condition is to do a voltage check but not in ready as the battery is then on charge.

Hope this is clear.

John