Warning light issue

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by scott180, Aug 26, 2015.

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  1. HGS

    HGS Member

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    Patrick,

    When the ICE is recharging the Traction Battery I am seeing inverter temperatures of 165 F while parked with high outside air temperatures (see picture). While driving, the inverter temperature is usually about 135 F on a hot day while charging.

    I've read that the maximum inverter temperature is over 200 F.

    I'm not at all concerned, just making notes of what is normal so when something starts to fail I have reference point.

    Cheers

    image.jpg
     
    #21 HGS, Sep 1, 2015
    Last edited: Sep 1, 2015
  2. scott180

    scott180 Junior Member

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    Just to follow up on this, I did order an inverter from AutoBeYours.com and installed it this weekend. Everything seems to be working and no warning lights are on. I had also noticed that the cruise control wouldn't activate at all prior to the inverter replacement. Once I did the replacement, that started working again too. Thanks for the help with this. I found this video on You Tube which really helped for the coolant removal and replacement:

     
    #22 scott180, Sep 14, 2015
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  3. HGS

    HGS Member

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    Great job! There's a lot of satisfaction repairing a car for much less than a dealer/repair shop.
     
    #23 HGS, Sep 15, 2015
  4. techntrek

    techntrek Member

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    I still would be worried about damage to the 12 volt battery, since it sat completely discharged for a while. Even a deep cycle battery like the Prius has, can't withstand that kind of abuse. Using the diagnostic screen you mentioned earlier, you should see 12.7+ volts in the first non-Ready accessory state (no brake - push the Start button once). If you continue to see 12.1 volts you have a problem. In the 2nd non-Ready state (two Start button pushes, no brake) you'll see the voltage drop slightly since most of the 12 volt systems come online, but it shouldn't drop into the 11 volt range. Then in Ready mode, as mentioned above, you'll see 13.8-14.5 since the DC-DC converter will now be supplying a charge to the 12 volt battery.
     
    #24 techntrek, Sep 15, 2015
  5. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    In order to cut down on misunderstanding, one should endeavor to use the correct terminology.

    ACC ............ Foot off the brake, press start button once.
    IG-ON ......... Foot off the brake, press start button twice. (Once again, if in ACC)
    OFF ........... Foot off the brake, press start button a third time. (Once again, if in IG-ON).

    READY ....... Foot on the brake, press start button once.

    NB: Pressing the Start button once, with your foot ON the brake, from any of the above states (ACC, IG-ON, OFF), will start the car and make it READY to drive.

    This should really be: Then in READY mode, as mentioned above, you'll see a momentary drop (due to a short burst of high current drain - possibly even below 12 V), prior to the DC-DC converter coming online, and then 13.8-14.5 continuously since the DC-DC converter will now be supplying a charge to the 12 volt battery.

    Where did 12.1 V come from? Is that a typo - did you mean 12.7+?

    Hope that helps.
     
    #25 dolj, Sep 15, 2015
  6. techntrek

    techntrek Member

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    I don't remember seeing any drop in either of mine when changing to Ready mode - the DC-DC converter engages and the voltage rises. Getting ready to swap out the traction battery on one of them soon so I'll be in the diagnostic screen more often so I'll check again.
     
    #26 techntrek, Sep 15, 2015
  7. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    If you are using the MFD, you might not see it as it is really only momentary. You will see it if you use your volt meter.
     
    #27 dolj, Sep 15, 2015
  8. techntrek

    techntrek Member

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    Well, I was clear about taking the reading using the diagnostic screen and not a VOM. That would require two people for starters.
     
    #28 techntrek, Sep 15, 2015
  9. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    Well, that is true and I did register that fact, however, I can testify it is possible that one can use a VM solo, with a bit of thought. I just thought you might be interested to know that there is a momentary high current drain just before the DC-DC converter kicks in.

    Even if you are not interested yourself, others reading this thread might.
     
    #29 dolj, Sep 15, 2015
  10. scott180

    scott180 Junior Member

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    Since this ordeal in late summer I had a couple other things happen and now I have some warning lights on, specifically the (!), ABS and VSC lights.

    I had the car in to check a noise in the front left tire. The dealership said it was the bearing, which they had replaced last november. Even though it was a month out of the 1 year warranty, the replaced it for free. They also said my front tires were down to 2mm. I knew I was getting close to needing new tires. I took them to the place I always get them done and they put on a new set. Well, three of four since on was replaced a couple months ago because the tire was sliced somehow and I had a flat while driving.

    On Thursday I hit 190,000 miles.

    Then this morning, the lights came on. I'm guessing I need to read the codes to find out what's going on. Does the mini VCI that has been mentioned to read codes work with Win 7? A number of posts seem to suggest that it only works with XP
     
    #30 scott180, Dec 26, 2015
  11. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Windows 7, 32 bit OS is also OK.
     
    #31 Patrick Wong, Dec 26, 2015
  12. scott180

    scott180 Junior Member

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    Since I don't have a laptop that will work with the software is there a handheld code reader to recommend? I found the MAOZUA VS55 in Amazon which looks like it would work. But I really have no idea.
     
    #32 scott180, Dec 28, 2015
  13. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Mini VCI cannot be surpassed for Toyota vehicles troubleshooting. How about either buying a used laptop or else install Windows 7 32 bit OS on an existing unit.
     
    #33 Patrick Wong, Dec 28, 2015
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    there aren't any that will read all the specific codes. so if you're not concerned with accuracy, perhaps someone will chime in with what works best for them.
     
    #34 bisco, Dec 28, 2015
  15. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    What system are you running on your laptop? Any Windows system from W98SE to W10 32 or 64 bit can be used without to much difficulty.
    Mac can also be used. Member Patrick Wong has the details for this.

    John
     
    #35 Britprius, Dec 28, 2015
  16. ericbecky

    ericbecky Hybrid Battery Hero

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    Or buy a cheap ($50?) xp laptop from your local used computer dealer or from craigslist.
     
    #36 ericbecky, Dec 28, 2015
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  17. scott180

    scott180 Junior Member

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    Two updates here.

    First I ordered the Mini-VCI. While waiting for it to arrive, my brother in law was over and he had gotten a code reader that works with his phone. So we thought to give it a try. We plugged it in and turned on the car. The warning lights never came on. He tried to read the codes and his device couldn't find any.

    It stayed that way for just over a week and while out driving they came back on. In the meantime, the Mini-VCI came. I found an old laptop with XP. I put in the cd that came with the unit and there was nothing on it. It actually came with two CDs, and neither had anything on it. Or at least the computer isn't reading it. If I look at the CD I can see that there is something on it, but the computer isn't reading it.

    What is on the CDs? I assume it is the USB driver and the actual software software. I can't do much with this thing without the software.
     
    #37 scott180, Jan 9, 2016
  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    1. You're looking at the CD with a Microsoft Windows computer, in a Windows Explorer window?
    2. What files are you seeing?
    3. Do you have Win Explorer set up to display file extensions? Anything showing with extention .exe?
     
    #38 Mendel Leisk, Jan 9, 2016
  19. scott180

    scott180 Junior Member

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    It took awhile but I have the software in the computer. Hopefully today I can see if u can connect. I had to open and close the DVD drive about a dozen times and then the pc recognized it.
     
    #39 scott180, Jan 10, 2016
  20. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    When you are trying to establish comm between the Prius and Mini VCI, start with the Prius in the IG-ON mode (which means all dashboard warning lights are on. The car is not READY.) That mode places substantial drain on the 12V battery so don't leave the car IG-ON for an extended period.

    Once comm has been established then you can make the Prius READY.
     
    #40 Patrick Wong, Jan 10, 2016
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