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2005 Prius dead, 5 empty squares on dashboard

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by JamesT, Jul 10, 2024.

  1. JamesT

    JamesT Junior Member

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    I was driving around my neighborhood charging my phone after a power outage, and stopped at a stop sign the dashboard flashed and the car shut off with 5 empty squares where the mode letters should be. Would not start after and had to get it towed to my house. Wondering what the issue is. Tried disconnecting the 12 volt battery to reset the computer, but didn't help.
     
    #1 JamesT, Jul 10, 2024
  2. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    Check out this thread. Your symptoms roughly match- a dead inverter coolant pump can cause a fuse to blow, and once that fuse was blown everything else on that branch went out.
     
    #2 Leadfoot J. McCoalroller, Jul 10, 2024
  3. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Yes see if you have any blown fuses I would have been doing that on the side of the road because while I'm waiting for a tow truck just because I can't just sit in the seat and look out the window
     
    #3 Tombukt2, Jul 10, 2024
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  4. JamesT

    JamesT Junior Member

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    Ok, so I tested the fuse they mentioned and it is definitely the fuse that is blown. So I guess my inverter water pump is bad? In the state the car is in I can't even connect my OBD device to check error codes. I watched this video and it doesn't seem hard to replace the water pump, is this just normal wear and tear for 225k+ mile car I have been driving since 2005, or can something worse be wrong? I have done a lot of repairs myself, but to this point never had to replace a fuse even. I am on my second hybrid battery, as I put a lot of miles on the first in really hot temperatures.

     
    #4 JamesT, Jul 10, 2024
  5. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    Disconnect your pump, then replace the fuse with a new one. (That way the pump can't blow that fuse too)

    Then you can run your diagnostic stuff, even start the car and gently putt around a little. Won't get far without inverter cooling though.
     
    #5 Leadfoot J. McCoalroller, Jul 10, 2024
    bisco and pasadena_commut like this.
  6. pasadena_commut

    pasadena_commut Senior Member

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    In the summer heat the car won't go far without an inverter pump. If it was just being driven around at suburban speeds in cooler temperatures you probably wouldn't notice the pump was out, only to find out the sad truth when the car went on the highway.
     
    #6 pasadena_commut, Jul 10, 2024
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    something worse is always a possibility
     
    #7 bisco, Jul 10, 2024
  8. JamesT

    JamesT Junior Member

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    Praise the lords of Toyota and the people in this group! Unplugged the inverter pump, replaced fuse and car unbricked its self and I was at least able to back into my garage. So definitely the inverter pump. Any recommendations on an affordable replacement one? I see prices online anywhere from $25 to $160. I would prefer to not spend a ton on it. On Amazon lots of brands under $50, just wondering if anyone has a personal experience with replacing it they'd like to share.
     
    #8 JamesT, Jul 10, 2024
  9. JamesT

    JamesT Junior Member

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    I am kind of wondering because now that it runs I hooked up my OBD scanner and no error codes, but in trying to diagnose the problem I unplugged the 12 volt battery hoping to reset whatever was wrong, does that clear the codes and since I haven't driven it, it hasn't relogged the error? The pump is currently unplugged so you would think that would show up as an error code.
     
    #9 JamesT, Jul 10, 2024
  10. JamesT

    JamesT Junior Member

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    I am kind of wondering because now that it runs I hooked up my OBD scanner and no error codes, but in trying to diagnose the problem I unplugged the 12 volt battery hoping to reset whatever was wrong, does that clear the codes and since I haven't driven it, it hasn't relogged the error? The pump is currently unplugged so you would think that would show up as an error code.
     
    #10 JamesT, Jul 10, 2024
  11. pasadena_commut

    pasadena_commut Senior Member

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    The answer really should be a sticky on this forum. Below is my most recent post giving what has become the standard answer for that question, which comes up a lot. Others feel free to dispute any points contained in the linked post,

    Just bought it and got Inverter cooling efficiency issue. | PriusChat
     
    #11 pasadena_commut, Jul 10, 2024
  12. ttou68

    ttou68 Active Member

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    If your local dealership have online parts store, you can order one and pick it up.
    The price is usually a lot better then going in and pay retail...
    Bought one back in January for a little over $100... OEM is the best option, as aftermarket parts are not very reliable when comes to electric water pump.
    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #12 ttou68, Jul 10, 2024
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  13. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Yes.

    A gen 2 doesn't have any direct feedback from the pump to the ECU about whether the pump is connected or working.

    If/when you get a code, it will be for the inverter temperature getting too high.
     
    #13 ChapmanF, Jul 10, 2024
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