2008 Prius will NOT move + Code P0A90 Drive Motor “A” Performance

The blue adapter will not show the subcode of this error, so it is difficult to choose the exact correct path. There are several options that need to be worked on.

https://share.qclt.com/%E4%B8%B0%E7%94%B0%E6%99%AE%E7%91%9E%E6%96%AF%E5%8E%9F%E5%8E%82%E8%8B%B1%E6%96%87%E6%89%8B%E5%86%8CPDF%E6%A0%BC%E5%BC%8F/Prius%20Service%20Manuals%202004/%E4%BF%AE%E7%90%86%E6%89%8B%E5%86%8C/04pruisr/05/21bpm/0a90242.pdf

 

The error code is an indication of the problem.
This error code has many subcodes.
The error subcode is an indication of the exact direction.

It is like the number of a multi-story building, and the number of the office in this building.

The transmission can be inexpensive, it rarely fails. But it is quite difficult to disassemble. You need work skills, lifts for large-sized heavy installations.

 

The eCVT is a planetary gear split in two and joined by a chain, so plenty of opportunity for grinding noises. Although it is more likely that the clutch plate has failed, and/or the drive axle at the clutch plate has sheared.

I'm not saying this is your problem. You will be best served by obtaining the subcode to guide your diagnosis and ultimately the repair.

 

It's difficult to judge the grinding noise from a short video taken from the driver's seat.


The Techstream program determines error codes and subcodes, records a freeze frame when an error occurs. This is a program from the manufacturer of Toyota, Lexus and Scion cars.

Special scanners for different manufacturers, "Multi-brand scanners" can also show this data, but here there may be both no information and incorrect information.
There is a topic on the forum where the Autel AP200 scanner is discussed, which shows data on various Gen2 ECUs well.

It is necessary to find out the error code and subcode, otherwise all actions will bring little benefit, but a lot of expenses from your wallet. I would not change parts thoughtlessly. Moreover, a number of subcodes can indicate problems in the wiring.

 

The ap200 will show your sub code for this code right in the list I don't know how to explain it but it doesn't no problem and you'll be changing your transmission it's not that bad of a job I don't know if I'd part a nice car out for that you can get them for near free if you were closer here you can just pick one up there's like three they rarely do this this is an outlier problem I've read about five maybe never done one personally but it's an easy transmission to change for the most part other than the inverter coming out and if you sets of wires but easy access nice clean bolts stuff just pulls out I can get people to come do it in the driveway a lot of guys now have a lift goes into their receiver on the back of their vehicle and can swing 180°, so they lift the transmission out swing it around set it down pick up the other one swing the boom around set it in the car it's literally that quick then that hoist on hitches from the hitch and goes right in the back of the truck station wagon van or whatever

 

The torque plate sits on the back of the motor it's still on the engine if you want that you need 17 mm I think that removes flywheel bolts in your electric gun you blast those off put a pry bar or a wrench behind the plate rocket a little bit and it'll fall off and hit the rocks just like the transmission did look at the springs make sure they're not damaged or showing silver or they slammed that way you'll know what's happening

 

Well I'm assuming you have some kind of a charger you're plugging to your battery or were you talking about your 12 volt if you don't keep trying to start the car the HV battery won't go dead just sitting there for a couple of weeks while you're working on your car at least mine hasn't ever it's always started once I put the 12 volt in and everything's back together ready the car step on the gas and it fires right up I bet it would even do it down somewhere around 100 volts in the hybrid battery or something like that not sure but it seems like it will. I'm not sure about the damper business it should be pretty similar to the Gen 3 the damper inner portion bolts to the back of the crankshaft just like a flywheel does it almost weighs what a flywheel does and then the part with the spring springs the torque plate goes inside of that and is held on with I don't know 12 mm gold headed bolts and then the transmission shaft slides on to the splines in the middle of the torque plate so you pulled three transmissions literally off of the engines and they're no torque plates you see that spleened shaft from the transmission that you just pulled out of a car that should go up into the torque plate the thing with the springs and behind that is the flywheel heavy thing that's bolted with the five or six bolts just like a flywheel. That seems funny because the car can't move without it are you sure you're just not seeing it for some reason because all you're going to see is Three springs and a splined hole looks like a clutch assembly and you're wondering where the friction material is?

 

the battery shouldn't deplete and die in any normal amount of time like say 4 months I regularly walk up to these cars that have been sitting four to eight months in front of a person's house bring a 12 volt put it in the car and start the car after I've paid the person so they can't get their money back and give me the money and keep the car because most of these I drive away from where I go to get them so you changing an engine unless it's going to be a two-year job or changing the transmission should not be a problem you're just going to change your transmission put in the torque plate put the transmission up to drive axles and start the car and go driving and that's pretty much be the end of that I would imagine the no torque plates where you're removing these transmissions is extremely interesting I wish you were not just not seeing something when you pull the transmission out like I say you should be looking at something that looks like a clutch hub with three springs I think in it and that's it I don't see how these cars drove or got to the junkyard or to the auction house to be sold with no torque plates in them they must have been driving at some point

 

All I can say is that is interesting as all get out so somebody has some dampers and flywheel substitutes or assemblies however you look at it and God knows what they're doing with them because the cars sure not going to go anywhere without them. But yeah these engines are pretty plentiful and you know any of them can go to using oil at any time I mean just depending upon how they're taking care of and all that can make a difference but they're not General oil burners per se or anything like that it's a pretty good little engine actually until it isn't and then you need to do something about it but they're generally cheap quick to change a weekend afternoon that kind of thing especially if you have something assembled and ready to go so like right now while I'm driving the Prius I can round up a 1n engine and freshen up the bottom end and then an afternoon stuff like that just set it off to the side when the motor on running starts to consume and do things I don't like I have another block assembly with an oil pan on it ready to just slap a head on and drop it in the car doesn't take up much space it's just sitting there don't have a lot in it.

 

So the battery that died in the Prius being parked 3 months when he parked that car there must have been some issues starting to rear their ugly heads under that battery case in the back corroded nuts you know corroded bus bars wiring sensors whatever it is doesn't really matter leaking modules in the middle all of that and then when you park something like that with those things just starting that stuff Fester's sitting and I bet that pretty much got him or got the battery or whatever I can see that but a lot of these cars that I'm buying from people believe it or not some of them are original owners or they are the child of the original owner and got the car from their parent and drove it to college I live near the college and then when these problems arise you know the kids parked the cars for a few months because they're walking all over campus and partying with their friends nobody's driving anywhere then they go to get in the car and start it it doesn't start then all the stories start to fly and everybody scared to death and I wind up getting called and you know they're trying to sell the car for $700 and then I show up with a 12 volt battery and a wrench and stick a 12-volt in and start the car up right in front of them and then tell them it's been great enjoy and I'll probably never see him again and drive off so for us we haven't really seen the dead hybrid batteries in three to seven months if the car was in good shape when it was put down or put the rest then usually the battery will be fine so these are parents cars and then they become the kids cars and the kids haven't done nothing but drive them to college and get out of the car so it's still in pretty good shape like Mom and Dad owned it. So the battery was probably kept up in the inverter pump and all the little stuff or I'm just really lucky either way I'll take it