Dreaded P0A80 Code - Car Running / Charging Good.

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by PriuSocal, Jan 25, 2026.

  1. PriuSocal

    PriuSocal Member

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    On the car currently? or when I did what you quoted?
     
  2. PriuSocal

    PriuSocal Member

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    Here is the info that specifically says enter INSPECTION mode for the Universal Trip.

    P0A80 Confirmation Drive Steps for 2015 Prius
    To clear the P0A80 diagnostic trouble code (DTC) in a 2015 Toyota Prius, follow these universal trip steps carefully:

    Preparation
    • Connect Techstream: Attach the Techstream diagnostic tool to the vehicle's DLC3 port.
    • Power On: Turn the power switch to the "IG" position and turn on the Techstream.
    Clearing DTCs
    1. Clear DTCs: Use the Techstream to clear any stored DTCs, even if none are present.
    2. Power Off: Turn the power switch off.
    3. Power On (READY): Turn the power switch back on to the "READY" position and turn on the Techstream again.
    Universal Trip Procedure
    1. Enter Inspection Mode: Start the engine with the power switch in the "IG" position to enable inspection mode.
    2. Idle the Engine: Let the engine idle for at least 30 seconds.
    3. Drive the Vehicle:
      • Drive at a speed of 25 mph or more for a total of at least 5 minutes.
    4. Wait: After driving, allow 10 minutes to pass before turning off the engine.
    Final Check
    • Check DTCs Again: After completing the universal trip, use the Techstream to check if the permanent DTCs, including P0A80, have been cleared.
    Following these steps should help in successfully clearing the P0A80 code. If the code persists, further diagnosis may be needed to address underlying issues with the hybrid battery system.


    So, am I missing something and can this be once and for all accurately confirm which it is? I read DO NOT DRIVE vehicle in inspection mode as it can cause damage to the transaxle and above it clearly says to enter Inspection mode and DRIVE the car…..? I read Maintenance and Inspection mode are the same thing and in order to put vehicle in such mode the dance has to be performed so it is very confusing.

    If anyone has ACTUALLY DONE this and can by experience chime in rather than providing links or written instructions it would be much appreciated because the written instructions arent very clear and contradicting.
     
    #102 PriuSocal, Mar 9, 2026 at 5:25 PM
    Last edited: Mar 9, 2026 at 5:37 PM
  3. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    This confirmation driving pattern is intended to clear permanent codes.

    It also verifies your hv battery is now good.

    Toyota often makes you do steps that seem useless and normally would not be done as a way to verify you really want to do a procedure.

    They program the ecus to respond to sequences like this using their scanner, Techstream. Which is why paying a dealership to do it might make sense.
     
  4. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Sometimes the manual says to do something in inspection mode. When it says that, you do that, just proceed carefully.

    Gen 1 and gen 2 had just a single inspection mode, which would keep the engine running, and disable traction control. There were warnings against driving that way, because traction control protects the transmission from damage in some loss-of-traction situations, so in inspection mode, you're not protected from those situations. So avoid any kind of driving likely to involve a loss-of-traction situation.

    Gen 3 split the single inspection mode into two, "maintenance mode" and "certification mode" (in Techstream, they appear as "inspection mode - 2wd for measuring exhaust gas" and "inspection mode - 2wd for cutting TRC", respectively; their non-Techstream dances involve different numbers of go-pedal pumps).

    I used to think it was a clean separation, like the first mode had the engine effects and not the traction effect, and vice versa for the second mode. But another spot in the manual says the first mode still has both effects, while the second mode only disables TRC.

    So even if you use the first mode you still have to drive sanely while the mode is active.
     
  5. PriuSocal

    PriuSocal Member

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    I appreciate the info above but I feel its redundant to whats been said in the last 6 pages of this thread and we are dancing around an actual clear answer. By all means I appreciate the chime but what im looking for at this point isnt explanations of what does what but what to actually do for this universal trip. I am getting from @ChapmanF that it would be ok to drive the vehicle in inspection mode like its saying has to be done and instructions against it are for theoretical legal reasons and toyota to save their arse.

    Also, the last procedure doesnt mention the park put in neutral and wait for HV SOC to drop to 30%.

    This is what I am ready to do… Please chime in if any part of this is NOT correct, as after all the inconsistencies is what I understand:

    1. Connect my scanner to the vehicle
    2. Power On: Turn the power switch to the "IG” position
    3. Perform a force clear on the scanner even though NO current codes exist nor is CEL on.
    4. Power Off: Turn the power switch off.
    5. Power On (READY): Turn the power switch back on to the "READY” position
    6. Put vehicle into inspection mode by performing dance procedure (brake twice, neutral, brake twice yadda yadda)
    7. Let vehicle idle for at least 30 secs
    8. Drive at a speed of 25 mph or more for a total of at least 5 minutes.
    9. Stop and with the select lever in N, leave the vehicle until SOC drops to 30%.
    10 Once it hits that number, check for codes and see if the permanent code is gone.

    (Universal trip consists of steps 6-8)
     
  6. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Right, that's because that isn't part of a Universal Trip, it's just part of the confirmation driving pattern for P0A80.

    Most codes' confirmation driving patterns are something like "do some stuff, do a Universal Trip, do some other stuff". For P0A80, the other stuff involves deep-discharging the battery, so the ECU can watch how it performs.
     
  7. PriuSocal

    PriuSocal Member

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    Understood….so drivre in inspection mode or no???? LMAO

    The part where right before the universal trip requires the car to be on but next step staing perform an universal trip requires the car to be off to put into inspection mode THIS IS BEYOND FRUSTRATING that no CLEAR CONCISE answers are available.
     
  8. Brian1954

    Brian1954 Senior Member

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    Just follow the procedure that you included in your post #95. That procedure came from the Toyota service manual, not from some other website that you found when you did a search.