Another thermos question

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Tideland Prius, Dec 1, 2005.

  1. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Ok, my thermos has been acting weird. I need some input please.

    A couple times in the morning when I start the car, there would be a really really loud noise from the water pump. It'll last a few secs then revert back to its normal sucking sound. Also, so far, the car hasn't pumped any back in when I turn off the car. Either that or there is absolutely no sound when the pump is filling the thermos.

    I shrugged off the first time I heard that loud, higher pitch sound cause I washed the car the day before and figured something must've had ice form around it but it happened this morning too. Ditto with the car not storing the hot coolant. Is it because the engine isn't warm enough? My commute is 15kms, roughly 20mins under normal commuting traffic load (more if heavy traffic). The temperatures have ranged from 0°C in the morning to 4°C as a daytime maximum.
     
    #1 Tideland Prius, Dec 1, 2005
  2. Tempus

    Tempus Senior Member

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    Some people have reported one of the coolant pumps failing. I'd get the dealer to poke at it.
     
    #2 Tempus, Dec 2, 2005
  3. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    I'm at 34,200miles and will need my 35k oil/filter change by the end of the month. My pump, too, has been really loud/high pitched and sounding like it's laboring. I think it still works as I see a drop in ICE temp from my 'pre-heated' condition with the EBH when the ICE starts up. But I think the days are numbered.

    I'm going to have it checked out and, hopefully, replaced at that service along with my recall work.
     
    #3 efusco, Dec 2, 2005
  4. skew

    skew Junior Member

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    Mine is very loud when it drops under 40 deg F. I will have it looked at when I take it back for the ecm reprogram. I have around 13,000 miles it was made in aug of 04'
     
    #4 skew, Dec 2, 2005
  5. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Hmm, ok. Well here's some more observations.

    This loud, higher pitched sound only seems to occur when my previous shutdown did not have the engine management store the coolant in the thermos.

    Several times, I've shut down and not hear the usual whine of coolant being pumped into the thermos. When I start up, that louder, higher pitched whine will occur. So, does this mean that the computer thinks there's something in the thermos and that it's sucking on air or something?

    I'd take it to the dealer except it seems I only can do warranty stuff at the dealer I purchased the car from and well, their service isn't exactly the best at the moment.
     
    #5 Tideland Prius, Dec 3, 2005
  6. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    i would get it checked. i think there was someone else who had to have that part replaced after his waranntee ran out and it wasnt a cheap thing either as i remember...ok, if i remembered i could tell ya how much. seems to me he was just over the 36k cutoff. kinda seeming like the pump doesnt have much of a operating life.
     
    #6 DaveinOlyWA, Dec 3, 2005
  7. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Alright, I'll have it checked. I only have 20,000kms on it and barely a year and a month.
     
    #7 Tideland Prius, Dec 3, 2005
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