My dad broke the Orange Interlock

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Mountain16, Feb 23, 2019.

  1. Mountain16

    Mountain16 New Member

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    Location:
    Millbrae
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    My dad didn't drive his prius for a month, then the red triangle of dead and with few other check engine lights show on the screen. We used an OBDII scanner and got the code P0A80. So he decided to get the traction battery out and to test which battery cell is bad. He removed the orange Interlock/safety plug at first. However, he wanted to move the car into the garage. So he pushed the power button WITHOUT putting the orange Interlock back. Now the car would not let him start the engine(we can drive the car before he tried to remove the battery). I don't know what he did exactly but he said he broke the orange Interlock, even we put plug it back in, the car won't start now. What we can do to fix it? And should we continue to remove the battery?
     
    #1 Mountain16, Feb 23, 2019
  2. ericbecky

    ericbecky Hybrid Battery Hero

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    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
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    You can get a new one from the dealer.
    Or probably on eBay.
    Or I can sell you a used one.

    No big deal trying to start the car without the interlock in. Of course car will throw codes, but just unhook the 12v battery and clear the codes.

    Then, properly reinstall the orange plug.
    Start car.

    Installing the orange plug can be confusing.
    It is a 3 step process.
    - Insert plug
    - swing handle upwards
    - slide handle straight down until it clicks
    The 3rd step is the one that is often missed, so car will not start.
     
    #2 ericbecky, Feb 23, 2019
    Mendel Leisk and SFO like this.
  3. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Vehicle:
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    Two
    Service manual is very clear stating and I quote:

    "Please do not READY ON when you remove the service plug. There is a possibility that battery ECU breaks down".

    But what do they know.
     
    #3 edthefox5, Feb 23, 2019
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  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Is it just me, or are the descriptions of turning on the car getting completely loopy? And, maybe this should be in the Owner's Manual, and in colliqual english, something like:

    Don't start the car when the service plug is removed.
     
    #4 Mendel Leisk, Feb 23, 2019
  5. ericbecky

    ericbecky Hybrid Battery Hero

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    2005 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Of course you should never intentionally start it with it out. It is correct to say that there is a possibility ofa damage

    But if you accidentally did it one time, it is a low possibility. Not zero. But low.

    I work on hybrids every day for my business.
    Many of them have warnings on the batteries that warn against working on them and say quite clearly "YOU WILL BE KILLED OR HURT".

    Yet here I am. Unkilled, and unhurt.
     
    #5 ericbecky, Feb 23, 2019
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