Interlock receptacle replacement , code p0a0d

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by TonySparkle, May 30, 2025.

  1. TonySparkle

    TonySparkle New Member

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    Hey everyone I got two questions. Our 2013 Prius three had been throwing some check hybrid system warnings, eventually stalled. We have been experiencing that along with a plastic/sulfur burning smell under high load from the front of the vehicle (thinking the Ipm issue). We towed it into a dealership for diagnostics and they pulled a p0a0d code.
    The receptacle is broken on the outside, I believe a bit of plastic chipped off when we were messing with it trying to get off the road. They sent a picture of the recently chipped plastic saying that was the problem. The dealership states that in order to fix the receptacle the entire battery needs replacing.

    Question 1 has anyone replaced this receptacle before? It looks like a 150 dollar set of wires with specific plugs on each end so it looks fairly easy to replace.

    Question 2 would something going on with the inverter be able to mess with the interlock by the battery in anyway?
     
  2. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Plug in hybrid? If so that may be the case.
     
  3. TonySparkle

    TonySparkle New Member

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    No it is a regular Prius three
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    not clear what happened. you messed with the orange interlock safety switch when 'trying to get off the road'? what does that mean? did you remove it and put it back? did it run okay for a time after that?

    i'm not familiar with the wiring, but don't trust a dealer to give you a straight answer.
     
  5. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    I'm not understanding what receptacle has? The one that holds the orange service plug?
     
  6. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Do realize there's a huge fuse in said plug
     
  7. TonySparkle

    TonySparkle New Member

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    Sorry I did a bit of a bad job explaining, let me give it another go.

    we have been experiencing the check hybrid system warning, along with a strong burning plastic smell from the front of the vehicle under high loads, and the hybrid system shuts off. Usually unplugging the orange interlock and plugging it back in would reset the system, and the same warning would come back up at irregular intervals.

    This last time though it put the car in a complete stall, the orange interlock was left off when we towed the car into the dealership.

    The dealership called back and told us about the P0a0d code, and that the orange interlock was improperly installed, and that the receptacle (the black plastic it plugs into) was damaged, the poles were failing to line up and it is non serviceable and would require a completely new battery.

    So my questions are:
    Can I replace the receptacle itself without the need for a whole new battery. (You can buy the wires with the plugs for about 100-150 bucks)

    Do you think the dealership looked at anything past the interlock I had left off and that something more could be going on outside of the loose interlock connection.
     
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  8. TonySparkle

    TonySparkle New Member

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    They are saying this black piece is broken and requires a whole new battery, but it looks like an easy enough fix.
     

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  9. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Go to any place that repairs hybrid batteries and they'll sell you that plug for 10 bucks more than likely I have several here I don't know if it's available separately in you're market or not the poles have to line up just bend them str8
     
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i don't see why it cannot be replaced, you will have to trace the wires and find the connections.
    otoh, you need to figure out why you got the original hybrid system warning.
    as an aside, you can usually reset by removing the 12v neg clamp for a minute.
     
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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