Last month Haruka (2005) went completely dead in my driveway, was towed to the dealership, and the 12 volt battery was replaced. I had noted and reported an odor of something burning coming from the hood area. While driving the same day I had picked her up, the instrument cluster began to light up - the Brake indicator light and buzzer, (very annoying to the ears and brain) the Master warning light, the Anti-lock brake system warning light, and the Vehicle stability control system warning light. She was struggling, stalling, and then refused to move at all (scary stuff when you are in traffic). Towed back to the dealership she was there for two weeks while the inverter and the entire main wiring harness (had a melted hard hard shell connector) were ordered and replaced. This was no small repair - the front bumper assembly and the complete dash board had to be removed. With just under 32,000 miles the repairs came under the 36,000 mile warranty. Out of warranty I would have been over $5,000.00 out of pocket. My confidence has been shaken. Why did this happen? Could it happen again? Could it happen to you?
What codes were pulled by the dealer. There was a TSB about inverters with coolant leaks. Was the harness the main wiring back to the battery? For all the work you mention there was no need to take apart your dash. Sound like it the 12 volt was fine all along and it was the inverter. Wayne
inverter would have been covered under the hybrid warranty, not sure about the harness- depends on which one. some harnesses do require substantial disasembly of the dashboard- engine room wiring harness, for one.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FireEngineer @ Jun 3 2007, 12:28 PM) [snapback]454406[/snapback]</div> The dealer checked DIA Code C1241. The harness is listed as ENGINE ROOM WIRE 82111-47201.
This is why I have an extended warranty. By having it I'm sure this will never happen to me. Without it I'm sure my car would be in the shop right after I passed the 3 yr, 36,000 mark.
Ooh. C1241 means the brake ECU wasn't getting enough 12V power, either pointing to the harness/connections or something not right with that capacitor box in the back that backs up the brake power. Could they have screwed up the capacitor supply in the process of replacing the battery, or did you smell the burning stuff before that was done? . And at a long shot, was it the brake actuator connector shown in http://techno-fandom.org/~hobbit/cars/maint50k/ about halfway down? . _H*
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Jun 3 2007, 01:05 PM) [snapback]454422[/snapback]</div> You are right - the inverter is covered under the Hybrid Vehicle System Warranty which is 96 months or 100,000 miles.... No problems since the repairs - knock on wood!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hobbit @ Jun 3 2007, 05:30 PM) [snapback]454562[/snapback]</div> I smelled that awful burning electrical smell before they replaced the 12v battery. I have no clue about the brake actuator - they called it the "Main Wiring Harness" and the Part No was 82111-47201 "Engine Room Wire".
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(geminirat @ Aug 23 2007, 02:26 PM) [snapback]501156[/snapback]</div> Is this the wiring harness being discussed with the plate that's on backwards and might rub and cut the wiring harness? Is this what happened? Do you know if the harness wires wore through from rubbing against that piece that sticks out of the backwards plate?
galaxee, is this car under the TSB for inverter coolant leak? Just wondering if that is the cause. Nate
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva @ Aug 23 2007, 03:55 PM) [snapback]501174[/snapback]</div> Don't think so - they found a "slightly melted hard shell connector on the white 12 volt main wire" and seemed flabbergasted when they couldn't just R & R the connector and had to order a whole new harness!
