1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Dealer says the Hybrid Battery Inverter has melted

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by cbrown0000001, Jul 25, 2017.

  1. cbrown0000001

    cbrown0000001 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2015
    6
    0
    0
    Location:
    Idaho
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Hi All,

    I had the triangle of death come on in my prius. I am planning to fix the battery. However, the dealer who ran the diagnosis said that the hybrid battery inverter has melted and also they mentioned a water pump code. Has anyone else heard of this before? I have never heard of the Prius inverter failing but I have only heard of the battery failing. The car drives but does all the usual things when the battery fails (I have read about this condition on this forum many times since my 2007 prius is getting old). Please let me know if you have heard of this before. Thanks.

    Chris
     
    #1 cbrown0000001, Jul 25, 2017
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    56,693
    39,238
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    #2 Mendel Leisk, Jul 25, 2017
  3. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2009
    5,608
    3,788
    0
    Location:
    So. Texas
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Inverter failures due to the inverter coolant pump failing were so common Toyota offered a recall on the pumps on the gen 2. Over 700,000 Gen 3's were recalled for a different inverter issue.

    So the answer to your question would be............ Yes, we've heard. ;)
     
    #3 fotomoto, Jul 25, 2017
    edthefox5 likes this.
  4. cbrown0000001

    cbrown0000001 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2015
    6
    0
    0
    Location:
    Idaho
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    II
    If there was a recall is toyota then on the hook for fixing it?
     
    #4 cbrown0000001, Jul 25, 2017
  5. cbrown0000001

    cbrown0000001 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2015
    6
    0
    0
    Location:
    Idaho
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    II
    BTW would the inverter failure cause the triangle of death to come on?
     
    #5 cbrown0000001, Jul 25, 2017
  6. Travis Decker

    Travis Decker Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2015
    139
    115
    0
    Location:
    Portland OR
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    II
    What are the codes from text stream
     
    #6 Travis Decker, Jul 25, 2017
  7. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,557
    10,324
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    For starters:
    (1) was your car subject to the inverter recall?
    (2) if so, did you have that work done?
    (3) is the current failure related to that recall?
     
    #7 fuzzy1, Jul 25, 2017
    hotelprisoner likes this.
  8. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2006
    7,028
    1,116
    0
    Location:
    South Jersey
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Not all VIN are affected. If your number is in the affected range the dealer will reflash the IPM which will extend the warranty. A specific failure that triggers the specified codes will qualify for a replacement under the extended warranty. The extended warranty does not cover every inverter failure.

    Register your VIN at http://www.toyota.com/owners to see the applicable recalls.
     
    #8 JimN, Jul 25, 2017
  9. cbrown0000001

    cbrown0000001 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2015
    6
    0
    0
    Location:
    Idaho
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I am sorry all I don't have a scanner so I don't know the codes. The dealer did the analysis at no cost so they didn't give me a report but I am hoping they will still give me the codes.

    I will check the VIN number of the car to see if there are any recalls. Does the water pump code correspond to this? I mean if the water pump fails doesn't the engine heat up first before the inverter goes? Also the engine runs fine so I have a hard time believing it is the water pump. Has anyone seen this code come up with the battery failure?
     
    #9 cbrown0000001, Jul 26, 2017
  10. hchu1

    hchu1 Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2006
    316
    127
    0
    Location:
    Houston, Tx.
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    The inverter pump is different from the water pump for the internal combustion engine. If it goes the inverter could well be toasted.
     
    #10 hchu1, Jul 26, 2017
    M in KC likes this.
  11. hchu1

    hchu1 Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2006
    316
    127
    0
    Location:
    Houston, Tx.
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    You should get the codes from the dealer and post here.
     
    #11 hchu1, Jul 26, 2017
    M in KC and Mendel Leisk like this.
  12. cbrown0000001

    cbrown0000001 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2015
    6
    0
    0
    Location:
    Idaho
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Ok will do! I didn't know thanks for the information.
     
    #12 cbrown0000001, Jul 26, 2017
  13. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,557
    10,324
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Separate pumps and cooling loops for each. We hear far more about inverter pump problems than about engine cooling pump problems.
     
    #13 fuzzy1, Jul 26, 2017
  14. 05PreeUs

    05PreeUs Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2016
    1,097
    563
    0
    Location:
    MSP
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    It is possible, easy way to check is to turn the car "on" and look in the reservoir immediately inboard of the inverter; if there is coolant moving in there on a warmed engine with the AC on, the inverter pump is working as is the inverter.

    Dealers all-too-often mis-diagnose something as a failed or failing inverter. Knowing what ALL the Prius specific DTCs are the vehicle reports are key to understanding where the issue may lie.
     
    #14 05PreeUs, Jul 26, 2017
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)