CEL Code P2601-Mechanic Replaced Aux Coolant Pump-No Go

This is my first post so please excuse my ignorance.

I own a 2007 2nd Gen Prius. I purchased it used from a Toyota dealership 1 year and two weeks ago. I have had a few issues with this car and the dealership. Crack in the windshield at purchase, caliper was too tight, headlight went out as soon as I drove it off the lot, dead battery within the first month.

6 months ago I get a CEL. I went to Auto Zone where they read it off as P2601-Coolant Pump control circuit range/performance.

I kept driving with it. I know I should not have. Finally I bucked up the courage to go to pepboys. They looked at the code immediately told me they had to replace the water pump-that the cost of the pump was $300 and total with labor would be around $700. I laughed. I asked them if they knew which pump-and the guy just stared at me. I told him the codes been on since Feb and that I've seen no leakage when I've looked under the hood or under the car. He said it was leaking everywhere but they couldn't see from which pump. An hour later they said they can't figure it out and didn't charge me.

Ok. So I call a local mechanic recommended to me by a coworker (it is not October and apparently in the state of IL you need to get emissions tests to renew your tags! News to me!)

I tell the mechanic the situation as well as the code and he quickly gets me in and replaced the Aux Coolant Pump. $227 out the door. Cool. Light is off I am happy.

This morning I turn on the car and BOOP there is the light! I called the mechanic he said to bring it in that maybe its a new code or that what they did didn't fix it...and I go 'what do you mean didn't fix it? you told me you knew what the problem was'

So my question: What should I say to the mechanic to 'direct him in the right direction'. I've researched up and down this forum that it could be faulty wiring, it could be the inverter pump (do not ask me what that is I have no idea)

I am very ignorant when it comes to cars so I apologize if this post is cringe worthy or irritating to you all who know the inside and out of your lovely vehicle. Any advice, knowledge or previous experience would be greatly appreciated.

 

The coolant heat recovery system pump ok I will keep that written down. The pump that was replaced was the "aux coolant pump" at least that was what was written down on the paper. I have an appt with the dealership for February, but I am every so tempted to take it to that local mechanic...I am currently still driving on the car with the CEL still on and yes I know I deserve bad prius juju for the rest of my life for doing it-I simply cannot afford it and I am still trying to recover the $500+ loss on new parts that didn't fix the problem. Thank you for your insight I will certainly think this over but either case I will be using your words as a piece of knowledge when discussing this with either mechanic. THANK YOU!

 

I applied for a 4 month extension of my tags at the DMV and haven't thought of it since unfortunately. I have made an appt with the dealership to see if they can help me out, but due to Patrick Wong's assistance I may take it back to the original mechanic because they are relatively cheap and closer to my work. On the sheet of paper for the pump replacement that I got from the mechanic it reads "Aux Pump replacement" so I am not sure what the hell that means lol as that is not one of the four pumps Patrick Wong listed. I am a bad prius owner and I am very very sorry to come on here and ask for advice, I know ignorance is not a becoming quality.

 

It is the same code.

 

Thank you for giving me a step by step on how to look at the pump coolant flow. I will certainly do this this weekend and take advantage of the 50+ degree weather! The Aux Pump (or as you have stated the inverter coolant pump) was the one that was replaced. with a brand new inverter pump. Once I go through this process that you've listed, I may go back to the mechanic and suggest they flush any of the air out along with what Patrick Wong has stated. Thank you again for this plethora of knowledge. I am motivated to take some sort of auto mechanic class at one of the local community colleges this summer just to understand my car better (And save some money which is my biggest motivation)

 

Also to be honest I have been driving with this CEL for almost a year now :/ My ignorance says (and prepare yourself for cringe) 'it can't be THAT bad if its been driving fine for a year' but yes this does need to be taken care of.

 

That is why I have better hopes for the dealership (although my wallet doesn't) The mechanic I first took it too was confused as to why the car wasn't 'running' when sitting idle. I had to explain it was a hybrid and that the engine wouldn't kick on until the heat/ac was running or if the car itself was using the engine. They were BAFFLED-and bothered that they couldn't leave the car running to see IF the CEL would kick back on. Thank you for this information-it seems I have a lot to consider and investigate personally with my car before I make a decision of who to take it to for repairs.

 

Alright. So I went to the dealer this weekend to have them diagnose the code as well as figure out what specifically it wrong. I explained to them everything I have listed here. Inverter pump replaced, valve replaced etc. I even told them what everyone on here has suggested. From checking wiring to flushing out the air in the system. They did all that and said everything is running fine, that they cannot see anything wrong with the car and how the coolant system is running. They turned off the light and I went on my way (also no cost they didn't charge me...)
Sunday morning I rush out to turn the car on (as the CEL usually comes back on in the AM) and NOPE NO LIGHT! Well this morning the CEL came back on and I nearly broke down.

Now the guy that was assigned to my car, he did tell me that if the CEL came back on (and he said 'I see no reason why it would but just in case') That I need to bring the car back in for a few days so they can take a look at it more, and be there when the CEL comes back on. He told me specifically "I am not going to charge you anything until we start taking parts out of the car." He was EXTREMELY helpful so. Ugh.

 

So I have good news...I took the car BACK into the dealership. The same guy took it in and promised to take care of it, they gave me a courtesy car (2017 Corolla XLE it was nice) and sent me on my way. Got a call the next day from the same guy stated that they did a few tests and ran the coolant system in its entirety whilst hooked up to the computer and found that it stopped working at the inverter pump. They investigated and a fuse was blown. They weren't sure if the fuse was blown by the old or the new pump but they replaced it anyway. Cleared the code and it has been...5 days without the light coming back on-and this is in some frigid weather (which is when the CEL comes back on after a cold night and then a cold start up) So...

With that. I have been driving it around all week/weekend and am hoping to take it into the EPA testing facility today to get my emissions (by the end of February) and then get my tags renewed.