Gen 2 (2008) Prius keeps showing red car with exclamation mark, no codes showing up.

Please post the make and model of the right tool that they have.

How much engine oil shows on the dipstick?

 

The only information I have from the owner's manual is that icon indicates a fault with something in the hybrid drive system. Usually I would expect such a problem to trigger the "master caution" (red triangle) as well.

If someone has done a "system scan" for codes, I would want to have a copy of the results. Specifically a list of all 15-16 systems on a Gen 2, with each one saying that it did not have codes present.

You can also consider getting your own scantool and checking things when the fault occurs.

Here's a thread that reviews several options for smartphone. The synopsis is post 37. The Autel AP200 is a decent choice of capability vs price.


Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Go out and put your hand on the inverter pump while the car's ready on. If it's not vibrating that's it.

 

I think mr_guy_mann might have meant to link this thread:

Gen2 OBD2 app review | PriusChat

 

The inverter don't blow per se chk Am2 fuse underhood if blown unplug black connector at top of box looks out of place . Then replace Am2 fuse . Ready car ?!..

 

Is the inverter coolant pump is not pumping that is a problem . Oil if they put enuff in it shouldn't set a thing . But a knock off pump is known issue . Maybe look at and feel it wen car ready

 

I had this problem on and off, turned out topping up the brake fluid sorted it. It is back on now and I suspect it's the oxygen sensor, but the car is heading for 25 yrs old .... so I just ignore it now

Many moons back, it would flash on around a certain corner ....... then it started to flash on a lot more often .... turned out it wanted the oil to be topped up the chances of the wife looking under the bonnet are fairly slim.
Recently, I replaced the inverter coolant pump with a unit from China, seems to work fine, the difference in cost between it and the genuine part was outrageous, if the cheapy pump starts blowing fuses again, I'll increase the value of the fuse or wire a relay in the circuit first, before I buy another cheap Chinese one ...... then I'll dissect the genuine pump and the cheap pump and see what is different between them

T1 Terry

 

Read the trouble codes that the car is trying to tell you about. Read post #5 and post #7. Then buy yourself a scanner that can communicate and read all the trouble codes that your Prius has. Until you read the trouble codes, you can only guess what the problem is. The Autel AP200 is an excellent choice for a scanner to buy.

 

The b9thblook almost same inside .

 

There will be a basic cause if one works for a long time, and the other doesn't last, that's the part that interests me, fault finding rather than simple parts replacement .....

T1 Terry

 

The circuit board is the part that looks different mainly to me inside that sonic welded pump heat knife it apart. If you're that good with circuit boards you may see exactly what you want to do or something right away whether you'll have to get something to do it with is unknown . That just gets me to the $80 for the real pump the time involved to disect pump etc .

 

It's $43 against $304 plus 10% GST, over this side of the globe, so worth it .....

T1 Terry

 

Is that 404 equal to about 93 US dollars ? Here's a good piaggio Italian scooter co Vespa and Aprilia I own both brands they make aircraft too . They us a 5/8 barbed elec 12 volt hot water pump for pumping water thru radiator I have 1 of these attached to my 09 work vehicle about 4 years now was about 60 bux us. It may never fail my two scooter 500cc both have never been touched new bikes in 1999. All original ridden alot on like 50K in one year

 

By the time you added the crazy price for freight out of the US, that $93 US would be $404 AU .... the dealerships in Aust just have insane mark ups on genuine parts that make them so expensive, the Chinese ones come free freight and they fight each other for the sale, so their mark up is very little .... For the AUD $304 for a genuine item, I can buy a lot of Chinese pumps. I have no idea if the pump is PWM speed controlled or what actually turns it on and off, I could fit a simple heater circulation water pump if it's just on/off switched.
the one I fitted is working fine, but it's only been on there for around 6 mths, so, time will tell I guess.

T1 Terry