Inverter Coolant pump issue figured out

Ok Guys

I havent posted for a long time, its Jonathan in the south pacific, the becoming Master Toyota Technician on this tiny island
Bob you sent me that mini port, remember me?
Anyway last time i posted i was dealing with failing gen 1 battery pack, got that resolved by doing a rebuild with gan2 batts, thats was over a year ago or maybe 2 and has gone well.
Current Fiasco issues i need expertise on.
I went to do a total fluid change as it has been sorely needed, like really!
At the same time i replaced the plugs & Inverter coolant pump as it was suggested to me by a member here.
Well 2 issues has arisen:
1: After 2 full days, and literally taking apart, blowing every which way, i mean mouth to mouth, to air pumps, to syphons to you name it, the inverter coolant piping, i finally got the pump primed but it has little turbulence, and i know why now! I had shipped in enough atf4 transmission fluid, but my local neighbor "borrowed some" in american terms we call it "stealing" but ya know island 2nd world living.... So i sent my worker whom i instructed on how to change the pump and fluid etc... to get some more ATF4 and i said make sure it is #4 (silly me, i still behave like an American in a foreign land)
Well i just found out today they have no clue about #'s or types of atf fluid and what was put in was regular atf fluid out of a 55 gallon barrel, which i will go to the "auto store" (and those are Big quotations there) to try and find out what exactly is now in my inverter coolant system and transaxel system. What i do notice is that it is thicker, (same color though) and the pump is pumping it at a much slower rate then what i remember before the change. The inverter pump fluid that was disposed of was completely pink and watery like, the transaxel fluid was black and thinner as well.
Now here is the kicker, i will not be able to get ATF4 in for about 8 to 10 weeks depending on shipping etc... but need the car to get around.
I also have noticed that my mpg which was around 37, 38 , (i know thats terrible!) is now at 26/ 27mpg
At first i thought the new spark plugs (toyota SK16R11's ), maybe they were not factory gapped, i didnt check as i dont have a feeler gauge, but are the plugs from toyota pre factory gapped to spec for gen 1 prius's?

But now i am thinking can it be regular atf fluid in the transaxel making it thicker to turn or something and would that effect the mpg that drastically?
The vehicle is running great, feels smoother, i have had only 2 codes show back up which are p1436 & 1437
which i thought had to do with either a vacuum line or something with the cat converter?
( 3190 and 3191 have gone away )
Anyway am i going to thrash my car if i run it for 10 weeks like this?
And whats up with my mpg after these changes? at $7 usd a gallon i got to get that mpg up.
Ok look forward to your replies, &
This Chat forum is a God Send!

 

OM GOsh Bob I feel so retarded!
I just realized that i am not to put in atf4 tranny fluid in the inverter coolant system! I saw it was red and looked in the manual and could swear it said atf4 fluid. I just re looked and did a search and DUH!!! No wonder it took me 2 days and every procedure under the sun to get my poor new inverter pump to pump this heavy oil with no turbulence visible, duh!!!!
Ok redemption:
Drain out all the fluid in there now
Do a flush with filtered rain water
Would it be better if i refill with the coolant they have here whilst waiting for the correct coolant? Its green comes out of a 55 gallon barrel and thats all i know at this point.
Also when i went to look on amazon for sllc coolant all i could find was
Toyota Genuine Fluid 00272-SLLC2 Long Life Coolant - 1 Gallon is this the correct one?
Can i use the green one as long as no alcohol ??
Also whilst i got you here Does the Denzo sparks come pre factory gapped for our 02 prius?
And would running the wrong atf in the tranny mess with mpg that drastically?
Yes i got the mini VCI thank you, i just dont have a clue how to use it, i assume i plug into my lap top, but what program do i use with it?
Tires, don't laugh, i have 3 @ 185/ 70 / 14 and not by choice 1 @175/65/ 14, all are filled to 35 psi

Also as far as Airplane maintenance, all of that gets done in New Zealand.

 

OK an Update on my fiasco fluid change
As far as the non ATF4 fluid, i know have this new developed situation and i am not sure what to do.
Currently when i move the shifter out of park to any gear it feels extremely loose, and when i put it into park, the car will continue to roll unless i put the break on. It says its in park but it just rolls like it is in neutral.
Is this directly related to the wrong ATF fluid used? Or just a fluke coincidence? Any suggestions here ? til the correct atf4 fluid arrives?
THe fluid i was told that was the particular atf fluid is called 3g? My other choice of atf fluid the "auto shop has is called ATF-cvt but the man assures me the 3g is for all later model vehicles. ok whatever.
Now the coolant he carries is called type 5ph and is alcohol free and cut with 40% distilled water. I was going to flush out the inverter pump tomorrow and put that in till the other toyota coolant arrives.
Ok i am all ears here.
Thanks

 

Hi Tom
Thanks for the reply
The car and myself are on a tiny island in the south pacific, & the closest dealer would be 780 nautical miles away being nzd.
I did get the correct fluid shipped out here , but my neighbor long term borrowed it, (in America we call that stealing, but......)
Now thinking about it, the rolling in park issue must be related to the transaxel wrong fluid change. What i need to figure out is will it mess up the tranaxel etc if i keep it in there & use the car for 10 weeks waiting for the correct fluid to arrive?
I hear you on the oil/ water not mixing in the inverter coolant loop system. What i will do is open up drain point and blow compressed air throogh the filler tank, then rinse with water etc.

 

Weather is nice, but hot sometimes!
Anyway just did the flush, drain out atf fluid, flush with water, flush with soapy water, flush with fresh water, in-between compressed air , filled with reg non alcohol coolant, done! It is a breeze to prime when you compare it to priming with thick atf fluid!!
Now the bigger issues i am still dealing with is the Park gear does not lock the wheels, the car still rolls. The gear shifter feels so slippy and loose since the atf 39 fluid was put in. I am thinking this is a direct correlation to the wrong atf fluid as it started to happen right after the change of fluid in the transaxel , but not 100%. If anyone can weigh in here i am all ears.
Also my mpg has fallen down 50% when we did the trans fluid change and new spark plugs, yes the correct plugs were used, but i did not gap them as i didnt have a feeler gauge but i can get my hands on one unless plugs come pre gap to correct size for my 02 prius.
Now i need know if i am going to mess up my car if i run that regular atf fluid in the transaxel for 10 weeks until the right stuff arrives.
reply if any ideas or info
Thanks

 

Hi Prius Chatees

Ok update:
Ok so inverter pump is running well, good flow now that i at least have the coolant and not ATF fluid.
Now onto the major drop of MPG's. So i q tipped with Alcohol the MAF sensor and then dis assembled the air intake to clean the butterfly thingy, is it called the throttle body ? anyway cleaned with a tooth brush & Alcohol. Reassembled and went into "town" and back, seem to have done the trick as now the compter is showing back to where i was b4 all this but still very low mpg's around 37 to 38, but at least not at 20!!
Now just so you all know the Toyota spark plugs come pre gapped.
I still have yet to figure out the park gear issue as the vehicle still rools away when in park?
Does anyone know where i can find a diagram of the steering column assembly to the transaxel. is there a cable running to the tranaxel for the park gear that i can inspect and adjust?, any pins or springs i can get access to?

 

Hi Patrick

Thanks for the advice.
Yes i have to get a repair manual so i am not in the dark. Will check out those resources.
My mpg is down to 34 to 35, running around town, very short distances.
I am now placing the parking break on every time the car is in park as it is definitely not locking the wheels at all.
I will have to wait another 7 weeks or so to get the atf4 fluid in there.
I still get a P1436 P1437 code that i am not sure on.?
Ok if anything else develops or i think i can be of help to anyone from ym experiences i will post.
Thanks you all

 

Wow thanks for all that info!
When i clicked on that link it said
File Not Found
I tried looking at tech articles whats the title of that link you sent me?
I will get under the car for a visual inspection & see if i can see any damaged lines, and try to tinker with that valve, etc..
High temp grease, oh boy, We have large dozers here , any hydraulic oil or something related can act as high temp grease? Would running the vehicle with those codes hurt anything or effect mpg?

 

So with higher engine revs does that mean an effect on mpg? If so how much?
Gas here is $7. usd per gallon, if i need to get parts it is 8 to 10 weeks arrival time & a pain in the rear!

 

Ha Ok so i am not the only one, The coolant system is now running good, and boy oh boy do i know how to bleed very well now, i mean i got it to bleed and pump albeit very slowly! with thick atf fluid!