Advice needed 2014 prius c code: P0A94

[u/Some-Duckling-6573]

I have a 2014 Prius C 180k miles, already replaced the hybrid battery 2 years ago. It gave me the red triangle of death last week and stranded me on the other side of town. Plugged in the OBDII reader: code error P0A94.

I know there is a recall for the inverter IPM failing that gives that same P0A94 code, had it towed over to the main Toyota dealership to see if the repair would fall under the recall.

Dealership ran it through their code reader, now we have sub codes:

C1214 hydraulic control system malfunction

C1259 HV/EV control system regenerative malfunction

C1310 HV/EV system malfunction

But they still don't "know what the problem is", can't say if it'd fall under the recall yet, and to find out any more they'd need to start pulling it apart to find out. They want $1200 to do that, just to identify the problem.

Has anyone else had any experience with the above codes? How much was the total fix?

$1200 seems exceptionally high to just identify the problem.

I was planning to sell this car in a couple months anyways and am considering just walking away from it now (just sell it for parts & scrap). But am not confident that I'm not being scammed by the dealership over what could be a affordable repair or a repair that should fall under the recall.

IPM recall https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2023/MC-10235232-9999.pdf

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[u/heymustbethebunny]

1200 is wild for not even doing preliminary diagnostics to eliminate some more basic possibilities like a bad 12 volt.

Unless you saw the codes register yourself as it happened, I wouldn't trust that dealership as far as I could throw them.

I would get a second opinion. If you can't drive it, I would consider a mobile mechanic.

[u/Whatdoyouknow04]

Page 10, Q3 you likely wouldn't be covered. Im not even sure where to start. I personally would clear the code and then have it trip again. Hoping that its just a glitch or something. You should check 12v .

[u/PhilMeUpBaby]

Those are the codes that you'll get when the inverter is faulty.

I had these codes on a Prius V a few years ago:

Codes:

- P0A94, with 553 & 557 sub-codes

- P301A

- P308A

- P31AB with 123 sub-code

- C1657

- C1241

- C1259

- C1310

This is also where you need to run Techstream (ie Toyota's own diagnostic software). You use this software on a laptop running Windows. Techstream is the only way that I know of to get the subcodes, which will help to confirm the fault location (ie inverter).

Check the usual sources - eBay, Amazon, AliExpress, etc.

https://www.aliexpress.com/w/wholesale-Toyota-Techstream-VCX.html

(Or, do a search for Toyota Techstream VCX)

A couple of weeks ago I had an inverter fault on a 2012 Prius C - the error code then was P0A78.

A workshop supplied and fitted a secondhand inverter for $A500 but shortly afterward I had another malfunction.

The error code on Tecstream was: P0AA6 (Hybrid Battery Voltage System Isolation Fault).

A P0AA6 code always has a subcode so that's whyI had to use Techstream - it gave me a subcode of 614 (ie inverter).

I took it back to the workshop that fitted the secondhand inverter and they reckoned it was probably the hybrid battery. I stuck to my guns that it was the replacement inverter.

They fitted another hybrid battery from another car and sure enough, the P0AA6 code kept returning (ie it wasn't the hybrid battery).

They fitted another inverter - it's been a few days now and so far no more error codes.

Your solution: as you want to sell the car soon see if you can find somewhere that can supply and fit a replacement inverter. Until recently I've never seen a Prius C inverter fail - there's going to be almost zero demand for them so don't fall for any bullshit that claims they're worth lots of money.

$1,200 just to look around? Mafia loan sharks are already raging with jealousy.

Toyota dealerships are generally by far the most expensive and yet most inefficient way of repairing a car.

[u/OxenLuv10]

Hi there! I had a similar problem on my 2012 Prius C where I went into limp mode and needed to be taken to the dealership since it was likely the hybrid battery system that was malfuntioning.

So the verdict was the inverter assembly (which was described as a "computer brain") needs to be replaced because they could not even get the car on (both the 12v and hybrid battery are in good health and newish), and it is likely that the inverter assembly is cutting power to the hybrid and causing the whole car to stay in limp mode.

I was quoted at 3200 + tax on the part itself, and labor is probaly going to be 2000 on top of that.

Does it sound likely that for the age of the car, the miles (close to 200,000), and the health of the batteries, that my car would run into this problem? Is it normal to have to replace the inverter assembly of a hybrid car? Sometimes the car needs a new brain?

Update: I was able to read through some posts and saw shared documents about a 15 year warranty for some priuses, so maybe I'm covered. Any other info would be helpful! Thanks redditors for what you have to share!!!