Ok I have a 07' Prius. The red triangle comes on & the check engine light. It runs but when I hit the gas it bogs down and puts than gets going. I'm thinking transmission but don't know how to check the fluid level, is there even a fluid level to check? Please help
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1Welcome to Motor Vehicle Maintenance & Repair! Have you had the codes read to see what they say? This is a great first step in diagnosing a problem.– Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2 ♦Commented May 3, 2019 at 12:30
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1 Answer
The transmission of Prius is not an automatic transmission. It is part of the hybrid system, having a planetary gearbox and two electric motors in it. It is a good guess, though: a bad transmission certainly could cause the issues you're seeing.
It could also be anything in the hybrid system such as a power inverter for any of the motors, or some control system, or even a battery that doesn't have enough power to propel the car, just to start the engine.
I would proceed by reading the error codes. These hybrid systems are purely electronically controlled, so chances are the car already knows what's at fault.
You could also try these simple steps to obtain more information:
- How much charge does the HV battery have? There should be a display in Prius.
- If the HV battery is nearly empty, what happens if you let the car "idle" (=recharge) with the engine on? Does the engine temperature reach operating temperature with the HV battery charge increasing?
Don't try changing transmission fluid as there is none in Prius.
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1The Prius uses a special transmission fluid that is non-conductive. Use Toyota WS fluid only. Change process is easy but it is very unlikely that the fluid is the cause of the limp mode you are experiencing. Commented Sep 20, 2021 at 4:09