Help please !!!!! 2013 prius c overheating

Wait for it to cool down and see if it starts up. If it does, your water pump is probably shot and not cooling the engine any more.

 

If it really was SMOKE and not steam........you have a BIG problem.

Likely you need to have it towed to a real Prius shop.......and need to think about what your next car will be.

Note: You got some REALLY bad advice from Auto Zone.

 

Check the thermostat first. A stuck thermostat in the closed position will cause these symptons of overheating.could also be s clogged radiator.

SM-S327VL ?

 

Most of the reasons why your C is overheating have been mentioned above, however I want to give them to you in order so you can save time (and possibly money).
1st: The most common one is a stuck thermostat in closed position (not letting the coolant flow through the engine).
2nd: Faulty water pump (not common in Toyotas, but it may be your case).
3rd: A clogged radiator (sludge inside the core caused by contamination or mixing coolants types/colors).
4th: Leaking coolant (even if it's a small leak, overtime you will lose enough coolant for your engine to not be able to have enough for a full coolant cycle). Check both upper and lower hoses and for a cracked radiator. Also check for cracked reservoir/overflow tank.
5th: Temperature sensor (this one is very uncommon even in unreliable vehicles such as Chryslers or Mitsubishis, so it's very unlikely in a Toyota).
6th: Clogged coolant hose. (extremely uncommon because of large diameter.)

I hope this helps!

 

Based on how the thermostat looks, it should be connected to the upper hose (the hose that has coolant flow in the direction from the radiator to the engine block). Most conventional engines have it there (my Camaro does). I bought the C only a few months ago and haven't had a chance to play with the NZ engine, but this summer I will be doing a full visual inspection on the engine. See photo attached from RockAuto.com (this is where I buy all my parts or use it to get OEM part #'s).

 

So it's been about a year, but, I'd do a cooling system pressure test. Then I'd pull the spark plugs and have a look at them and down in the cylinders. If any of them is shiny clean you may have a head gasket issue, although I'd think there would be a CEL for misfire. Pull any codes. Check the oil dipstick and cap for evidence of coolant in the oil. Check exhaust for white smoke. Purchase a block test kit at an auto parts store and check for exhaust gasses in the radiator. If you can rule out a head gasket issue or crack then check the previously mentioned items, with the addition of radiator fan function.

 

Way, way, WAY overkill and mostly a waste of time IF.......heat coming out of the vents when not wanted is the ONLY symptom.
KISS

 

Wow did you even read OPs post? The car has overheated.

 

My most humble apologies.
Somehow I thought this was the "heat coming out the AC vents" thread.

 

On a well maintained C with 109k miles, should I replace the thermostat?
I've never had over heating and just flushed both parts of the cooling system.

 

I'd feel better with a new one. Probably should have done it while the coolant was drained. Use an OEM part. Never cheap out on a critical part.

 

I recognize this part now. That looks like the engine block drain under the retaining clip with the 1/4" hose attachment to it. It looks like it would be a pain to replace.

 

The C does not have a thermostat. Temps are controlled by the electric water pump via variable speed.

 

But who's to say a new one will work at all?
If the car is maintained properly, IMHO the original thermostat should last the life of the car.

 

See post #15.
The thermostat is NOT the problem......because there isn't one.
Now, there is at least one coolant temperature sensor.......but water pump failures seem fairly common.

 

That's news to me on these Prius C forums as far as well maintained Prius Cs are concerned.
Got a link to someone here or on other forums where their water pump failed prematurely in a well maintained Prius C?
I'd be surprised if you found more than one of them, or even one of them.

 

The common water pump failures Im aware of are on the Gen 2 Inverter pumps. They updated that pump years ago and going forward they have been better. The C also runs both an electric inverter coolant and engine coolant pump. The inverter pump is also a variable speed pump where as the Gen 2 pump runs continuously at 1 speed. This is why the Gen 2 pumps die quicker since they always run.

I have been also thinking about when to replace these pumps my self? I don't want them to die 100s or 1000s miles away from home on a road trip? Maybe at 200k miles just both to be on the safe side???

 

IMHO these parts are meant to last the life of the car, if your car is well maintained. If you go to all the expense and effort to replace this part, and then what if it fails anyway and you end up removing a perfectly good water pump and replacing it with one that's defective?
But if your car has a lot of after market modifications then I can't speak on that.