Overheating After Using EV Mode

[sumi's_man]

So the other day after I had been driving my 2006 Prius for about 30 minutes in stop-and-go city driving, the MFD beeped, flashed PROBLEM and showed the icon for the coolant overheating. After turning off the AC, turning up the heat a little, and driving a minute more or so, the light went out, and all seemed normal. At the time the warning first appeared, I had been playing with the EV mode (I have the coastaletech mod installed), switching back and forth between EV and regular, just for kicks.

I drove the car a couple times after that with no problem, but then then it gave me the overheating warning again today, once in stop-and-go traffic and once while driving about 55 on the freeway. Both times, I could get the warning to clear fairly quickly by slowing down, turning off the AC, and turning on the heat. I was not using the EV mode at all today.

Clearly, I'm going to take it in to get looked at, but I had a few questions. First, could using the EV mode have caused this problem? I have used it a few times before with no ill effect. Second, should I remove the EV mode mod before I take it in, just in case they hassle me about warranty issues? Third, can anyone recommend a good dealer in Chicago (I'm in the city at North and Damen)?

Thanks in advance for your help!

[Swanny1172]

Does the coolant fan run while in EV mode?

[aaf709]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sumi's_man @ Jul 13 2007, 08:20 AM) [snapback]478108[/snapback]</div>

Second, should I remove the EV mode mod before I take it in, just in case they hassle me about warranty issues?
[/b]

There should be no need to remove the EV mode.

[jdenenberg]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sumi's_man @ Jul 13 2007, 11:20 AM) [snapback]478108[/snapback]</div>

So the other day after I had been driving my 2006 Prius for about 30 minutes in stop-and-go city driving, the MFD beeped, flashed PROBLEM and showed the icon for the coolant overheating. After turning off the AC, turning up the heat a little, and driving a minute more or so, the light went out, and all seemed normal. At the time the warning first appeared, I had been playing with the EV mode (I have the coastaletech mod installed), switching back and forth between EV and regular, just for kicks.

I drove the car a couple times after that with no problem, but then then it gave me the overheating warning again today, once in stop-and-go traffic and once while driving about 55 on the freeway. Both times, I could get the warning to clear fairly quickly by slowing down, turning off the AC, and turning on the heat. I was not using the EV mode at all today.

Clearly, I'm going to take it in to get looked at, but I had a few questions. First, could using the EV mode have caused this problem? I have used it a few times before with no ill effect. Second, should I remove the EV mode mod before I take it in, just in case they hassle me about warranty issues? Third, can anyone recommend a good dealer in Chicago (I'm in the city at North and Damen)?

Thanks in advance for your help!
[/b]

either your inverter loop coolant pump (there are two - one for the ICE and the other for the inverter coolant loop) has failed, or you need to have the inverter coolant bled to remove air bubbles.

Excessive use of EV can cause heating of the PSD (Tranny). You may want to change the ATF (type WS) early. Toyota doesn't emphasize ATF replacement, but in normal use you should replace the ATF every 60,000 miles (15,000 in a classic Prius) and with extra EV, maybe at 30,000 miles. Your dealer can do this for about $85 (mine did).

JeffD

[sumi&#39;s_man]

Thanks to all who replied. According to the dealer, a rodent got into some of the belts and its remains were preventing things from running smoothly. Apparently they were able to get it cleaned up and they claimed all should be well now. Even though I don't think this technically qualifies as something that would be covered under warranty, they still took care of it for no charge. Kudos to Grossinger City Toyota in Chicago and my friendly service advisor Sean!

[efusco]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jdenenberg @ Jul 13 2007, 10:54 AM) [snapback]478145[/snapback]</div>

Excessive use of EV can cause heating of the PSD (Tranny).
[/b]

No offense Jeff, but this doesn't sound right to me at all. There's no difference in the PSD when in EV mode or normal driving mode.

There IS the potential for increased heating of MG2 Inverter with excessive and agressive use due to the dramatic increase in electrical flow through there. That's really the only thing I've noticed increase in temp significantly.

[aponteluis]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sumi's_man @ Jul 18 2007, 12:06 PM) [snapback]480920[/snapback]</div>

Thanks to all who replied. According to the dealer, a rodent got into some of the belts and its remains were preventing things from running smoothly. Apparently they were able to get it cleaned up and they claimed all should be well now. Even though I don't think this technically qualifies as something that would be covered under warranty, they still took care of it for no charge. Kudos to Grossinger City Toyota in Chicago and my friendly service advisor Sean!
[/b]

Did the dealer gave you any hard time for having the EV mod. ?

[sumi&#39;s_man]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(aponteluis @ Jul 18 2007, 11:25 AM) [snapback]480942[/snapback]</div>

Did the dealer gave you any hard time for having the EV mod. ?
[/b]

Nope, they made no mention of it. I'm sure they never even knew it was there.

[FL_Prius_Driver]

Hopefully, "EV" was not the name of the rodent you had powering the car with the engine shut off. Otherwise you will have to install the EV mod.