2008 Prius - running like its' going to explode

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Paula D, Oct 4, 2023.

  1. Paula D

    Paula D New Member

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    After lending my daughter a perfectly fully functioning Prius - 2008, while her Tacoma needed a lot of repairs, it came back home.

    I planned on selling it, and after it was returned, THe battery kept dying. Bought a new battery, and it still keeps dying within days.

    I also got an error message for a coolant pump, not firing correctly. Hubby drove it around the block (LOW on gas - light was on) to keep it in use, and it died in motion. Then it started right back up, Got it home running super rough. New battery, new plugs, new coils - still running like it's going to explode.

    Tests for head gasket shows it's still in tact and fine (by a mechanic)

    I still need to replace the coolant pump, ( but oddly that error code hasn't been showing up anymore??) but I'm assuming bad gas clogged the fuel filter. I see that it is located under back seat, but when I google a replacement filter - I get Zilch. Not even on toyota parts page. Has over 200 K on it, but the reader says there is still a lot of life in the hybrid battery, for what it's worth. - so any ideas and can I get a new fuel filter and where?

    I know I'll get replies on the hybrid battery being the culprit, but this seems more mechanical - and is there another test for the hybrid battery beyond the plug in diagnostics?.

    Thanks and keep on humming.

    PD
     
    #1 Paula D, Oct 4, 2023
  2. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    The reason your search turns up with zilch is the fuel filter, fuel pump, and the fuel sender unit are integrated into the fuel tank, so if you need to replace any of them, you need to replace the fuel tank to achieve that. This is a feature of the North American model only.

    In my opinion, replacing the fuel filter usually does not fix issues like yours so you'd want to be very sure the fuel filter, fuel pump, or fuel sender is broken before considering changing the tank.

    Your next shotgun part will be injectors. Have you cleaned the MAF and throttle body?
     
    #2 dolj, Oct 4, 2023
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  3. ColoradoCrow

    ColoradoCrow Senior Member

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    Did your daughter put bad gas in it?:( Diesel????:eek:
     
    #3 ColoradoCrow, Oct 5, 2023
  4. pasadena_commut

    pasadena_commut Senior Member

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    No codes? Own a scan tool? If so use it. If not, they are a good investment which pays off in situations like this.

    If the inverter coolant pump is the one you are referring to have that replaced (or do it yourself, there is a long thread on this forum somewhere explaining how), charge up the 12V externally, and then see what happens. Worst case the inverter pump is not running at all and the inverter rapidly overheats (but only under a load, or on a very hot day, if it is cooler it can apparently shed enough heat without active cooling). If the inverter overheats the car shuts more and more things off as the temperature goes up. The 12V might be down to 9V or something like that, and the car will just run like crap until it just stops. Discharging the 12V that far will damage it so that it cannot hold much of a charge. The new one may already be toast if it has suffered this sort of abuse. Do you have a voltmeter? If so measure the 12V at the battery or between the jump post in the fusebox and the body as ground.
     
    #4 pasadena_commut, Oct 5, 2023
  5. Brian1954

    Brian1954 Senior Member

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    @Paula D
    I live in York and own a Gen 3. I do not have any experience with the Gen 2, but I do have TechStream if that would help you. Let me know if you would like my help.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #5 Brian1954, Oct 5, 2023
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  6. Paula D

    Paula D New Member

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    When you refer to North American model - Ours was made in Japan, but not sure if that has anything to do with the ' Model?:

    I'll follow with your suggestions.

    thanks!
     
    #6 Paula D, Oct 6, 2023
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    he just means where it is sold. ours got a fuel tank bladder, and nothing inside is repairable. elsewhere in the world didn't.
     
    #7 bisco, Oct 6, 2023
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  8. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    Welcome to PriusChat!!
    Its helpful in this situation to post the 'OBD2 codes' (error messages) from the scan tool (reader), otherwise we're all just guessing.
    Once you replaced the 12v battery, you also erased the stored 'obd2 codes', and will have to rescan again. Though this may not be your problem, and given your 200k miles, it would be best to clean up the MAF sensor and the surrounding throttle body before scanning further.

    FYI : You're moderated until you've posted 5 times.
     
    #8 SFO, Oct 7, 2023
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