Prius overheating on highway. Changed thermostat. Water pump is operational.

Discussion in 'Prius v Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by CAITLIN FOLEY, Apr 28, 2020.

Tags:
Page 2 of 3
  1. CAITLIN FOLEY

    CAITLIN FOLEY New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2020
    14
    6
    0
    Location:
    Memphis, TN
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    V
    OK, the thermostat opens up in the boiling water on stove. Thermostat good. I am curious about this idea of the water pump being only half power. This might explain issue. When I get the thermostat open by running engine, the hose water sucks right up into the block. So the only difference I can think between the hose water, which goes all the way thru engine and radiator, and the water coming out of radiator is different pressure. I guess the water pump isnt pushing the water with enough pressure to move the emmissions , heater core , etc,. but not ebough flow to push it through the radiator as well. But even when I pinch the alternate thermostat hose input that sets the open/close temp, the system still doesn't pull water through the radiator. So weird. I guess I'll dismantle the water pump and check it for full functionality.
     
    #21 CAITLIN FOLEY, May 2, 2020
  2. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2018
    7,035
    2,792
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    OK.....well that is REALLY unusual to have the thermostat mounted near the BOTTOM of the engine.
     
    #22 sam spade 2, May 2, 2020
  3. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2018
    7,035
    2,792
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    Please keep us posted with your progress.
     
    #23 sam spade 2, May 2, 2020
  4. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2009
    5,623
    3,800
    0
    Location:
    So. Texas
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Traditional thermostats can be checked via the hot pot of water and a thermometer method.

    :coffee:
     
    #24 fotomoto, May 2, 2020
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    57,964
    39,991
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    What I found revealing, was to suspend both the old and replacement thermostats in a pot of water, bring it close to boil while watching their relative performance.
     
    #25 Mendel Leisk, May 2, 2020
    fuzzy1 likes this.
  6. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    25,665
    16,765
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Right at the water pump inlet. Same place it was in the 1NZ, only that was a separate traditional looking thermostat sitting behind the elbow, instead of built in to the elbow.
     
    #26 ChapmanF, May 2, 2020
  7. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,558
    10,331
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I'm not required to have a dog in that fight. Spectating is just fine.
     
    #27 fuzzy1, May 2, 2020
    Last edited: May 2, 2020
  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    57,964
    39,991
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Deleted, inflammatory.
     
    #28 Mendel Leisk, May 2, 2020
    Last edited: May 2, 2020
    Tim Jones likes this.
  9. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2018
    7,035
    2,792
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    And apparently you think throwing insults at others is perfectly fine too.
    Even though you are "not required to have a dog in that fight" either.
    :p
     
    #29 sam spade 2, May 2, 2020
  10. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,558
    10,331
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I didn't know that was your exclusive territory.
     
    #30 fuzzy1, May 2, 2020
  11. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,558
    10,331
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Changed it back to standard form.
     
    #31 fuzzy1, May 2, 2020
    Tim Jones and Mendel Leisk like this.
  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    57,964
    39,991
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Sorry for my previous post, it was inflammatory.
     
    #32 Mendel Leisk, May 2, 2020
    Tim Jones and fuzzy1 like this.
  13. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,558
    10,331
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Probably no more so than mine, also backed out.

    That part you were curious about, can be edited to read whatever you want.
     
    #33 fuzzy1, May 2, 2020
    Tim Jones and Mendel Leisk like this.
  14. CAITLIN FOLEY

    CAITLIN FOLEY New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2020
    14
    6
    0
    Location:
    Memphis, TN
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    V
    UPDATE:
    Per Sam Spade's suggestion, I pulled the water pump. I had seen a video of a water pump replacement where the mechanic shows a good pump next to a bad pump. He shows how the spindle spins freely on the good one and has resistance on the bad one. Then he takes the spindle out and shows the magnet bulging out on the bad one. So I try mine out. It spins, but not freely like his good one. I take out the spindle. It's bulging out and magnet coating beginning to tear showing a tiny bit of rust.
    I believe I found my problem! If it's not the cause of the overheating, it needs replacing anyway. But it's definitely not pushing at 100%. I'd guesstimate the resistance I could feel manually would reduce the power 20% to 50%.
    Ordering pump tonight. I'll update after replacement.
    Thanks guys!
     
    #34 CAITLIN FOLEY, May 4, 2020
    Air_Boss, Raytheeagle and Mendel Leisk like this.
  15. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2012
    4,089
    1,129
    0
    Location:
    New Yawk
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    Aha. So that's an induction motor.
     
    #35 Air_Boss, May 4, 2020
  16. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    25,665
    16,765
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Pretty sure it's a permanent-magnet motor. A bunch of motors in the car are. Maybe I'm mistaken....
     
    #36 ChapmanF, May 4, 2020
  17. CAITLIN FOLEY

    CAITLIN FOLEY New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2020
    14
    6
    0
    Location:
    Memphis, TN
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Pretty cool contraption. Evidently the impeller just sort of floats in midair while spinning.
     
    #37 CAITLIN FOLEY, May 8, 2020
  18. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2012
    4,089
    1,129
    0
    Location:
    New Yawk
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    Magnetic bearing, in all likelihood.
     
    #38 Air_Boss, May 8, 2020
  19. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2018
    3,312
    2,309
    0
    Location:
    Taylors, SC
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    A magnetic link, not a bearing, is very commonly used in chemical bath stirrers. There is no physical seal that is prone to wear and leaks.
     
    #39 Georgina Rudkus, May 8, 2020
    Air_Boss likes this.
  20. ttou68

    ttou68 Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2017
    351
    208
    0
    Location:
    40509
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I just replaced one, and too bad there's no rebuilt kit for it...

    And in similar situation, lower radiator hose doesn't seem to get as warm as other hoses. Even though engine never got above 199° after 70~80 miles of very hilly highway driving, still thinking about replacing thermostat at the moment..
    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #40 ttou68, May 8, 2020
    Last edited: May 8, 2020
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Page 2 of 3