200K Miles, ONE Prius & ONE Owner

Well for everyone still following this thread here is an update on the "Cut In/Cut Out" issue, Patrick. I think the "reboot" with the new battery has made a difference but I also think that part of the noise I heard was from the compressor for the AC. It seems to be pretty loud as well but is operating properly.

Now for the bad news or at least a word of caution to other high mileage Prii. If you are going to take the time and replace the inverter and heat storage pumps as preventative maintenance you probably should go ahead and do the water pump as well.

I didn't and my ScanGuage spiked to 250 F, this morning and I got the Red Triangle but no other errors or codes were thrown. I looked at the inverter fluid and it was "turbulent" so it was working. I let Ema cool down and drove her a bit and the temp went up to 230 F. It followed the engine on/off so I knew it was engine related so I limped about 8 miles to the nearest Toyota Dealership.

After some looking we found the dry pink fluid around the water pump indicitive of leaking. Then they put it up on the lift and found the inverter drain plug was actually "wet" meaning that enough fluid was leaking that it wouldn't dry. Of course low level of engine coolant cause high engine temps, LOL.

There was a bunch of trash on the inverter drain plug so they are replacing the gasket, putting in a new water pump and new thermostat. Thermostat is ok but at 209,000 miles now why not replace it for $25?

Anyway, Ema is on the lift as I type and should be done in the next hour or so. All in all not bad day but $400 is $400 to spend. I probably should have been proactive and replaced this pump when I did the others. Then again that wouldn't have made a difference with the "trash" on the plug gasket.

Happy driving,
Chris

 

Patrick,

I did not look at the radiator overflow reservoir until the Tech and I did here at the Dealership. I was worried about the Inverter and didn't think about the radiator overflow until we looked at it here, my bad. It did have fluid in it but was definately low. I limped in by keeping the temp under 230 F on the ScanGuage.

"Trash" is what the Tech called the stuff on the gasket, which was there, just had stuff on it. I can ask but I think he meant small metal shaving, dirt, etc... I didn't ask if it was torqued but did ask about the gasket and it was there. Not sure if this is a crush gasket that should be replaced everytime or not?

I had a P2601 error, I think - paperwork is at home, yesterday and we found the plug to the heat storage pump not connected. So I am wondering if after connecting that YESTERDAY, the exchanging of hot/cold fluid in the system moved this "trash" around. I need to remember to check the reservoir more often. I didn't notice any "puddle" under the car this morning but then again it may have been leaking slow for awhile and the air finally moved to an area that caused an issue.

Still here anything you want me to ask the Tech?

Chris

 

Patrick,

Yeah, the workmanship issues are not making me happy. The plug not being connected to the heat storage pump is just poor attention. In partially defense the coolant drain plug has not been confirmed as "loose" just that it was leaking, LOL.

The "Advisor" is the one that told me it was the Inverter Drain Plug so I need to ask the Tech directly. I am 99% sure it is not the ATF plug being referenced but will go ask the Tech now.

I will advise.

Chris

 

Patrick,

I just asked the Tech directly and I quote "The drain plug for the Inverter." was his response when I asked him which one was leaking and had "trash".

From that response I deduce that air in the system was keeping the inverter coolant reservoir full?

Next question or inquiry?

Chris

 

Patrick,

I saw the leak around the water pump, dry pink buildup, I did not see the leak around the drain plug.

The Tech did drain and refill the Inverter Coolant as well as the Engine Coolant. All kinds of empty Toyota SLLC jugs around the front of the car. I wasn't watching the entire time so am not sure how many total. I will check the bill when it comes

Thanks for all you help. I really appreciate it!!!

Chris

 

Patrick,

I was charged for a little over a gallon of SLLC. So I would guess that 3 quarts were used on the transaxle/inverter coolant loop and the rest was used along with the "old" (4,000 miles) to fill the engine coolant system.

I ran Ema about 11 miles to home but will be heading to Tennessee on a 4 hour, 200 mile drive here shortly so will find out if she is ok or not. I will be stopping at my normal dealership along the way to discuss ... workmanship and attentiveness.

Thanks again for all your help.

Happy driving ... again,
Chris

 

Ema is at 299,100 now so I will be adding a 300K post in the next couple of weeks. There have been some maintenance costs between 200-300K of course but other than that not much has changed with her.

The wife did leave a door open last week and drained my yellow top so I had to pull it and put it on a trickle charger for a couple of days but it seems to be working fine now. All and all a GREAT car!!! Will have the new 300K post up in the next couple of weeks.

Happy driving,
Chris

 

I actually started an entirely new thread for Ema's 300K status, lol.

300K Miles, One Prius/One Owner | PriusChat

Chris

 

Opticell,

Thanks for taking the time to read about Ema and commenting on my post. As you can see from the beginning of my post and my 3 paragraph rant I was a little "put off" with with 200,ooo mile sticky, lol. That is why I posted this alone and made a 300K post when Ema hit that mark. She is at 330K now, they grow up so fast, LOL.

Happy driving,
Chris