help!! "Drive Motor B" code, stuck 12 hours away from home

Posting the actual code would help. Otherwise, we're flying mostly blind.

What year is your Prius? If you're in the affected model years of http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...ump-dealer-letter-technical-instructions.html, did you have that work done?

 

When the electrical systems fail, any codes are generally suspect , the voltage drops and strange things happen.

Check the coolant pump reservoir for turbulence with the car in Ready.

If it is the coolant pump failure, most would probably say don't risk the drive, you could be stranded , say in the 100 degree Midwest..

 

Yes, just like you're going to drive off., but have the car in Park.

Take the cap off of the reservoir and look inside, its a very low pressure system.

It should slightly gurgle, like a fish tank filtering system .

I'm reminded of another thread, if it is the inverter coolant pump failing, of the suggestion of placing a bag of ice on top of the inverter itself to ensure cooling on a short trip. Just imagining how many bags of ice hypothetically it would take in your situation.

I do know have the hood popped open to the release position (not closed, but still somewhat latched) , does allow some extra cooling for the inverter. I would secure this if done on the highway. Just a thought, not a suggestion. The best technical reason (in my understanding) not to try the cross country trip in the heat of summer, you can't easily check the voltage status of the car, and without a functioning inverter, the car eventually will quit from low 12 volt voltage.

 

foot on brake, press power button once = ready.

 

+1 on this.

To check the inverter coolant pump is working do the following:

1. Place the Prius in ready mode and (optionally) let it warm a minute or so until the engine cuts out.

2. Pop the hood and remove the filler cap from the inverter coolant reservoir. (the smaller reservoir of pink fluid just above and to the side of the inverter).

Look down the filler hole and you can fairly easily see the turbulence of the flowing fluid if the pump is working.

 

Yes seems a classical inverter pump failure symptom.

I may be paranoid but I would set the parking brake hard and place tire chucks (in addition to shifting to park) just in case the car goes crazy and decides to run me over while I am checking the reservoir.

 

The main clue to your post might be, that you were driving 75-80 up a 10 mile incline. If continuing your trip, make sure the coolant reservoir is full and gurgling! Otherwise, DO NOT DRIVE. If gurgling, slow down, drive at 55MPH, use AC but adjust AC temp to 72 to 78 after you get going. If 55 is all right you might raise the speed to 65MPH. But continue to monitor the cars operation. Powering off and on several times should clear codes, so will disconnecting the neg 12 volt ground lead. Both procedures are a form of rebooting. It appears that 75-80MPH + a steep 10 mile incline + full MAX AC setting is too much for poor little Prius, to treat her gently. Get that TSB as soon as possible! :cheer2: A perfect driving procedure is slow on the uphill and coast on the downhills, after all the purpose of buying a Prius was to save gasoline usage, right?

 

I doubt that the level being "just below the low mark" would be enough to actually stop it flowing. I doubt that it will really help to increase the level at this stage, you need to get the inverter coolant pump replaced. (they have to drain and refill the coolant during this procedure anyway).

 

If you do want to top it up and try and keep driving then I'd try to get a straight ethylene glycol product which shouldn't cause any problems, and it wont be in there for long anyway.

If you do drive you want to go VERY easy on it with short trips, avoiding hills and try to avoid the hottest parts of the day. Personally I'm not sure it's worth the risk.

 

BUY anything that Pep boys has that is roughly equivalent to the Pink coolant, it is only temporary PLUS most of the right coolant is still in the system. Stop at Toyota and get the TBS first chance. Either Sunday or Monday for sure. The job only takes an hour or two. Carry excess coolant with you to top up and consider an ice bag on top of inverter ( that is a good idea ) Monitor car closely, do not stress it. Cheers :cheer2:

 

Just below the low mark, may be sufficient. To burn out the inverter!

 

Just get a basic ethylene glycol product from a gas station or something, it will be better than water.

 

Don't take that out of context andy. The intake and outlet pipes are a good way below the "low" level on the reservoir. My comment was that being just below that level (but still well above the inlet and outlet pipes) is not likely the cause of the fluid not flowing. A failed inverter pump is the likely cause of that. My comment was specifically that simply topping up the fluid is unlikely to cause the coolant flow to "restart" at this stage.

 

OK I will agree with that.