The red triangle light and the car with the ! Light went off and these are the codes the local shop has found:
- P0121
- P3190
- P3191
- C1259
- C1213
- P3101
The shop I went to in Little Rock would not touch it. Need to put these together and diagnose where to start?
My parents' Gen 1 2003 Prius, at 99,030 miles, wouldn't start, and I thought I'd share the problem description and the fix that worked for me, for others who see the same symptoms.
View 6 RepliesHere is my situation- back in 2014 I had a local mechanic replace my HV battery and 12V battery after the Red Triangle of Death. Well yesterday that triangle reared its ugly head again! (and cruise control stopped working) Since this mechanic has 3 year, 36,000 mile warranty on all parts and labor, I figured this should be covered. I drove my wife's car to work today, then after work drove the Prius over there to find them closed until Friday!
So I had the guys at Advanced Auto read the codes for me and got P3006, C1213, and C1259. I have done extensive reading and researching, much of it on this site on these codes, but my main question is this:
I commute about 20 miles one way, and on certain days my wife commutes 10 to 22 miles the opposite direction. There are 3 days we go opposite ways this week, and at least one that is completely unmanageable without 2 cars.
2003 Prius. Situation as follows:
Malfunction Indicator Lamp lit on start-up during sub-freezing weather for failure to start (P3191 and P3101 codes loaded). Occurred twice (so far).
Dealer diagnosed as possible fuel pump problem, though fuel pressure nominal and held pressure after engine shut-off.
Independent mechanic (using EG011-03) diagnosed following:
Diagnosis codes: P3191 (engine does not start) and P3101 with information code 205.
Circuit opening relay was fine.
Fuel Pressure was normal (~45 psig) and held after engine shut off.
Coolant temperature - 9 deg C
Engine RPM - 1200
MG1 Torque value - 0
Installed ECU Part Number - 89661-47053, calibration # 14705301, 14705302
EG011-03 decision tree leads to replace Engine Control Module with newer part number.
Took back to dealer, who indicated still possible fuel pump problem (and reluctant to replace ECM).
Something in my Gen II 2006 Prius is causing a type of overheating condition in the hybrid system. The fault/error codes coming up are P3190 and P3191. If I turn the car off for 30 minutes and restart it, it runs fine for a period of time (but usually not more than a week).
I first noticed the problem a couple of months ago during my 45 mile (mostly highway) commute. While driving on the highway, I noticed that the Prius wouldn't accelerate when I stepped on the gas pedal. A couple of minutes later, my dash warning lights come on and the car started slowing down (no response to the gas pedal at this point). For a minute or so, I was able to change gears (reverse or drive) and move a little in either direction but the transmission stops responding altogether very quickly.
Dash lights that light up
Hybrid system error symbol lit up and I noticed that the hybrid battery charge level was at one purple bar.
The first time it happened, I had my car towed to the nearest Toyota dealership. The flatbed tow truck driver (to my surprise) was able to start the Prius and back it into a spot at the dealership. Some of the dash lights were no longer lit.
The dealer couldn't find anything wrong with the car except for the fact that my water pump was leaking. They replaced the water pump, cleared the error codes and drove the car around for about 45 minutes but couldn't reproduce the problem. I drove my car home.
note: this dealership replaced my hybrid battery and 'computer' (I'm sure it has a specific part name - I don't have the info) right before my warranty ran out over a year ago. I didn't have any warning lights lit up on the dash at the time but I told the master mechanic working on my car that it didn't have much power going to the wheels when I put it in reverse (I couldn't back into my driveway). After the hybrid battery and computer were replaced, I had no issues with backing into my driveway.
The same issue happened a week later. I turned the car off for 20-30 minutes, started the car and noticed that the bulk of the dash warning lights turned off so I drove it home. I took it to my local mechanic the following day. He cleaned the intake manifold, changed the spark plugs, cleared the P3190 and P3191 codes indicating that they were generic codes indicating a misfire and said that it was now running fine.
A week later the same thing happened. I did some research and brought the car back to my local mechanic and asked him to change the transmission fluid & to use the Toyota ATF WS fluid. He changed the transmission fluid (and noted that it was dirty), cleared the codes and I brought the car home. I unfortunately didn't get a sample.
We had a power failure that night so I plugged my pond aerator into the cigarette lighter to keep my koi alive and less than 2 hours later I came out to find the pondmaster ap-20 (20 watt) air pump (blows bubbles through 1/2" tubing) wasn't running and my car had shut off with the dash warning lights illuminated. I have run this little aerator for 4 days on a single tank of gas without issues in the past.
My sister was driving her 01 Prius and the engine shut off and all the dash lights came on. I was worried it was the hybrid battery since it is still original. I started the car and it started fine, drove home without any issues. Went to the store, everything seems normal. Read the codes and found P0121 and P3190, I just have a basic reader so I don't have any sub-codes or anything like that.
View 8 RepliesMy prius has 172k miles on it, yesterday i got the dreaded red triangle and check engine light along with the temp indicator on the navi screen. I pulled over immediately. after sitting for a bit, the lights went away except for check engine. I checked the engine compartment and felt no real heat anywhere. Coolant reservoir was full i drove a few more miles as i was taking a customer to the airport (i work for uber) and they came on again.
After sitting for a few again they went away and i continued on to the airport. on the way back home, about 40 miles or so later, it happened again. again i sat for a few and it went away and i took it to the dealership in my town. they have always been really cool there (an anomaly i know) I never before used dealerships for anything before owning a prius) and he pulled the code for me and it showed POAOF failure to start. that had actually never happened, but was told that it doesn't necessarily mean the car wouldn't start, it can happen while running.
He cleared the code, as i had recently changed the 12v battery and after reading a bit here i know it can cause some weird stuff so i was hopeful that would do the trick. so today i went out and worked again. Drove probably around 50 miles or so and on the way home it happened again. Back to the dealership. This time they put the main tech on it and he also got the code P0121 indicating the throttle position sensor. He took apart the throttle body and tested it and said it was showing not enough ohms or something like that (I know jack all about electrical) and that the throttle body was bad and would need replacing, also saying there was oil in the intake and it would need to be cleaned.
My 2001 Prius has 77K. It has done warning lights before and always been a gas cap that was not tightened or a misfire code three times since I bought it last spring. It has been driven very little when I was rear-ended and my Camry was totaled. It coughed a little when I started it, but had no problem driving the first 40 miles. I stopped for about 5 minutes to stretch. When I tried to start it to continue to work, all the warning lights came on and it died. I tightened the gas cap and restarted the car to have it die 2 more times. Third time it stayed on and I was planning on limping two blocks to AutoZone to have the codes read, when it rolled to a stop. No forward, no reverse. By the time the tow arrived, it would go forward. The codes were P3101 and 12689.
View 4 RepliesIs it safe to drive my '02 with the triangle on the dash? I've tried to get rid of it, throttle body cleaned, MAF cleaned, battery seems good (13v, no load). What else can I do to try and get rid of it? BTW, '02 Prius, 183K mi. It runs good, cycles on and off normally (motor to battery, etc.). The code clears it self after sitting about a week w/ occasional starts, then I drive it for about 50-70 miles and the light comes back on...
View 7 RepliesI have a 2003 with ~230,000 miles on it. We are the 4th owners, and have owned it for 7 years / 120,000 miles.
7 months ago, in December, I experienced my first red triangle of death. It happened on a warm start, but drove fine. Took it to O'Riley, they used an Innova 3120 to check the codes, and these are the 3 that came back (P1455, P0420, P3191). After starting the car the 4th time, the warnings went away, and all seemed well. It happened again about 3 months ago while on the highway, and again went away after 4 starts. At the time I was not too terribly worried about emissions codes, we live in an area that doesn't require testing, but the 3191 was the more ominous one.
The red triangle came on again two days ago, about 5 minutes after a cold start, and again today, about 5 minutes after a warm start. I do not know what the current codes are, but I will be taking it to a store tomorrow to get them checked. I had an oil change 4 days ago. I checked the intake manifold for any sign of liquid (I saw several posts in RE to the 3191 of that being a possibility), and it is as clean as our '05s. I checked my service history, and didn't have anything done the first two times this happened.
If the same codes persist, I'm assuming the problems could be cheap to almost what the car is worth (~$2,500).
So I replaced my battery about 20k miles ago, so I know that's fine. I always throw a P0420, but I'm told that's fine too. So I was driving, and I lose power suddenly. The red triangle comes on, and I plug my scangauge II in, which tells me it's P0121, or the throttle body sensor. I reset the codes to make it home - my battery DID charge just fine on the way home, making it up to a 63.5 state of charge. Now when I start it, and press the gas, it tends to rev up, rev down, and repeat. I haven't gotten the red triangle again yet but I also haven't driven it since then.
View 2 RepliesThe Prius has 115ooo miles. It is a 2005. Just recently it started showing the red triangle of death, check engine light, and the brake light. When I check for codes using a scanner it comes with the following:
P0A80
C1310
C1259
P3015
My cars been stalling , won't drive up hills can't really get over 25 - 30 mph and I'm getting a sound from the fan in the back. These 3 error codes could mean for my 2007 Toyota prius
View 19 Replies2001 vw cabrio 2.0 .. The car starts and stalls BUT only if you give it gas. I replaced the throttle body and did the throttle body alignment using vas-pc , no problems at idle but as soon as i give i gas it dies, and it seems to die quicker at higher temperatures. When it dies i get codes P0121 and P1570 i clear the code , do the alignment , and same thing happens over again. I also replaced distributor , crank sensor, maf sensor , spark plugs, wires , rotor, tried different pcm reprogrammed, no vacuum leaks, the only thing i can think of now is the ecm relay? but its missing so is it using the fuel pump relay ?
View 3 RepliesI leave my car for 2 weeks without driving, and when I start the power, I have check engine light on and I drive to the dealer right away. Mechanic performs diagnostic test for engine misfire no engine miss found. The error code is P0302/P3191. The mechanic told me that I always run the car in very low on fuel, and it causes the 2nd cylinder misfile or not running when the fuel is very low. They suggest me always pump the gas when the fuel indicator has 2 bars left.
My question is that: How come the car cannot run in low fuel, low fuel doesn't mean no fuel, and it can damage the engine/cylinder?
A 2001 Prius is getting a warning triangle. No check engine light, and with my OBDII scanner, it shows there are no codes. I can erase and the triangle goes out, but it comes back on eventually. It seems only if the car is driven a long time/distance it comes on, indicating some heat issue perhaps.
The 12v battery is good, the radiator coolant is good, the inverter coolant is good and flowing. The washer fluid hose is broken, could THAT give the death triangle? There must be a way to have the cars display whats wrong with the fancy software and touch screen?
I successfully replaced the HV battery on my own and it was so easy even this girl to do it! I drove the car about 300 miles when I got the triangle of death warning light again yesterday. I took my 2002 Prius to the dealer to read the codes but how to borrow a scanner (or whatever) from Autozone and do it myself.
View 19 RepliesI just acquired our second Prius, a beautiful 2002 (Gen1 in the USA) with 90k miles. On the dash, I get the red triangle of death with the exclamation point inside it. On the computer info screen, I have an icon of a car with an exclamation point in it and it reads "problem". I have connected the OBDII reader to it and it does not have any codes. Nothing in the history, or in the current or pending. The car has full power and runs fine, but has the stupid RTOD.
View 19 RepliesI use a scangauge to monitor the traction battery in my 2001 prius. Today when I started the car to come home, the alarm triangle came on, but the scangauge shows no codes found. The car ran fine and got me home, but what the alarm is about.
View 11 RepliesLooking at a 2003 Prius with 77K miles. Turn the key, the engine starts, runs smooth for about 5-7 seconds. After that it starts to run rough and rattle, then shuts off. The only code I pulled was P3191. I pulled off the air cleaner to clean the throttle body, and noticed a small pool of oil in the bottom of the intake manifold. Is that normal, or could that be causing the code issue? BTW, I cleaned the MAF and throttle body, and the engine still does the same thing.
View 14 Replies2005 with 123,000 miles. I have owned for a few thousand miles. Car was dealer maintained at every recommended interval. Car runs perfect.
After car sat for a week or so, I drove it and the red triangle popped up along with PROBLEM statement and take to immediately to dealer symbol. Red Triangle and other warnings repeats every once in awhile - will go a day without, and then will come on and off within a couple miles. Car continues to run fine. There are no other check engine lights. I have checked all the fluids and they are fine.
The battery charges fine, and holds the charge overnight. I have a generic code reader and there are no codes. I have read other posts, and there are always problems that seem to come with the Triangle. Gas mileage is fine as well.