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Well... It finally happened....

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by DarkPri503, Apr 3, 2015.

  1. DarkPri503

    DarkPri503 Junior Member

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    I've had this 2005 for a couple years now, clocking in almost an even 50k, without any hitch our issue (except a dead 12V).

    We just got our 5k oil change a couple weeks ago at Toyota, again no hitch.

    The wife was driving it this morning and boom! check engine light :/

    Going in for diagnostic. Wish us luck.

    Anyone have a guess to what it could (probably/possibly) be?
     
    #1 DarkPri503, Apr 3, 2015
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    check engine lights are usually emissions related.

    loose gas cap, bad oxygen sensor, bad catalytic converter, bad spark plugs and coils, dirty throttle body, dirty maf sensor, dirty air filter.
     
    #2 JC91006, Apr 3, 2015
  3. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    If the light you mean is literally the check engine light, the yellow engine shaped one, then you're probably looking at one of the possible trouble codes that are detected by the engine control module. There are a lot of possibilities, so it's sanest just to wait and see what codes are read out when asking that module what it's complaining about, but they're mostly all the same possibilities you'd see with any similar gasoline-engine car.

    -Chap
     
    #3 ChapmanF, Apr 3, 2015
  4. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    Well with that much revelation and specifics..I can say without a doubt your problem at this point is....

    Your Check Engine Light is on.

    Good Luck.
     
    #4 The Electric Me, Apr 3, 2015
    Merkey and Mendel Leisk like this.
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    When you get it checked please post an update: codes, what the problem was.
     
    #5 Mendel Leisk, Apr 3, 2015
  6. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    If it's still driving you are not too bad...
     
    #6 rjparker, Apr 3, 2015
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    all the best.
     
    #7 bisco, Apr 3, 2015
  8. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    Not necessarily true....
    Hopefully true..possibly true...but not necessarily true.
     
    #8 The Electric Me, Apr 3, 2015
  9. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    serious issues are usually "flashing" check engine lights......that would require you to pull over asap. Constantly on check engine lights are not as bad.
     
    #9 JC91006, Apr 3, 2015
  10. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    I should have mentioned here too, most of the trouble codes that would light the check engine light are codes that will be readable by any OBD-II standard scan tool (think friendly neighborhood AutoZone, etc.) in case you don't have a scan tool of your own and could stop by and have the codes read on the spot, and end the suspense for all of us (and yourself).

    -Chap
     
    #10 ChapmanF, Apr 3, 2015
  11. DarkPri503

    DarkPri503 Junior Member

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    Hey guys thanks for all constructive ideas! :) So the saga continues. This morning, two days after the check engine light (to reply to a post, yes it was just a solid engine indicator light, not the triangle "!", phew) I fired it up and no check engine light. About 20 min after my drive, the light came back on. I'll definitely be going to Autozone tomorrow to see what code it throws. I will keep you guys updated.
     
    #11 DarkPri503, Apr 5, 2015
  12. exstudent

    exstudent Senior Member

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    Survey says ...

    My money is on P1121 - 3-way coolant control valve. Intermittent (seconds, minutes, houra, days) duration and reappearance, and a known part to fail producing an intermittent CEL. Hopefully it is this part, as the total repair cost isn't so bad.
     
    #12 exstudent, Apr 5, 2015
  13. bingee3

    bingee3 Active Member

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    did they under fill when they did the oil change ?
     
    #13 bingee3, Apr 5, 2015
  14. Dino33ca

    Dino33ca Member

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    +1

    Op, get ready for another 50k reliable driving!
     
    #14 Dino33ca, Apr 5, 2015
  15. exstudent

    exstudent Senior Member

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    Under the impression OP is second/third owner. Previous miles + 50,000miles he accumulated = future expected 3-way coolant control valve life span.

    Mine lasted 121,454 miles; original owner too. Hopefully everyone's lasts this long or longer.
     
    #15 exstudent, Apr 5, 2015
    Last edited: Apr 5, 2015
  16. DarkPri503

    DarkPri503 Junior Member

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    DING DING DING ExStudent! Correctomundo!

    P1121 thrown, so it looks to be the three way valve. I'm guessing it being ten years old, the TSB will not be applicable for a free repair haha. Also, I read somewhere, like Bingee mentioned, if the coolant is low it might throw the code. My worry is WHY would the coolant be low. I'll have to follow up with Toyota to see if they didn't check the coolant, and it's a little cold now, but I'll be checking its leveling as well

    Thanks for sticking around guys... The saga continues! Be back for more, and I hope you're right Ex, I will take this sort of repair every 50k any day! :)
     
    #16 DarkPri503, Apr 10, 2015
  17. DarkPri503

    DarkPri503 Junior Member

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    sorry for the late update. Got the valve replaced at toyota and also got the coolant flushed and replaced. It was a little pricey but i've saved so much money driving this baby, I was happy to get her purring again.
     
    #17 DarkPri503, May 20, 2015
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