2001 Prius HV Transaxle Coolant Replacement

statultra · 05-30-2006, 07:48 PM

The 01 prius i currently have, i wanted to change the HV transaxle coolant with new one, so i drained the coolant from the two drain plugs and "tried to fill it up" using the method outlined in the manual, did not work though. What should i do? i drove it in this condition around the block. Could anyone help me, that actually put coolant in the system??
Thanks

galaxee · 05-30-2006, 09:24 PM

there should only be one drain plug... which two did you open? or are you thinking of the two bleeder screws up on top?

there is another drain plug nearby- the coolant plug is 24 mm bolt and screwed into the bottom of the aluminum of the transaxle housing. the transmission plug is a 10mm allen nut, and is in the black metal pan of the transmission, just off to the driver's side. this plug is for draining transmission fluid. there is another 24 mm bolt roughly halfway between those 2, toward the radiator, that is the input for transmission fill.

transmission fluid requires a special apparatus to fill. i hope you didn't drain that stuff too.

at this point, you've blown air into all the inverter lines at this point. drive it down the block, top it off. drive it down the block, top it off. keep on until it's full. DO NOT drive it far. drain and fill of that system is a real pain and you can't use the bleeder valves anymore with all that air in the lines.

statultra · 05-31-2006, 08:52 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ May 30 2006, 09:24 PM) [snapback]263118[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

there should only be one drain plug... which two did you open? or are you thinking of the two bleeder screws up on top?

there is another drain plug nearby- the coolant plug is 24 mm bolt and screwed into the bottom of the aluminum of the transaxle housing. the transmission plug is a 10mm allen nut, and is in the black metal pan of the transmission, just off to the driver's side. this plug is for draining transmission fluid. there is another 24 mm bolt roughly halfway between those 2, toward the radiator, that is the input for transmission fill.

transmission fluid requires a special apparatus to fill. i hope you didn't drain that stuff too.

at this point, you've blown air into all the inverter lines at this point. drive it down the block, top it off. drive it down the block, top it off. keep on until it's full. DO NOT drive it far. drain and fill of that system is a real pain and you can't use the bleeder valves anymore with all that air in the lines.
[/b]

Are you referring to the 2004-06 Prius, your description doesnt seem to be accurate for the 01 Prius. Could anyone help regarding this?
Update

I discovered I drained both the transaxle and inverter coolant, and in the process i didnt even put transaxle coolant, i drove it so much, and yet no problems ( although i hope i didnt cause any permanent damage, im going to put the fluid in correctly tommorow ) this car is just simply amazing.

hobbit · 05-31-2006, 10:16 PM

wait a sec, even on the Classics the transaxle coolant and the
inverter coolant are the same, aren't they? Sounds like you drained
the coolant *and* the transmission lubricant -- they're both pink,
but different consistencies ... but if you refill both those volumes
with the same thing, you will be *really* hosed.
.
_H*

galaxee · 05-31-2006, 10:25 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(statultra @ May 31 2006, 08:52 PM) [snapback]263720[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I discovered I drained both the transaxle and inverter coolant, and in the process i didnt even put transaxle coolant, i drove it so much, and yet no problems ( although i hope i didnt cause any permanent damage, im going to put the fluid in correctly tommorow ) this car is just simply amazing. [/b]

oof. yeah that's what we were afraid of.

there might not be a pan on the 01, but the concept is the same. you drained both. hopefully it'll end up okay. you have to fill the trans fluid from the front of the transaxle housing. the inverter coolant is filled from the reservoir in the center of the motor on the top, next to the air filter. not to be confused with engine coolant, which has its own separate pressure cap and reservoir.

be absolutely sure the transaxle has fluid before trying to fill the inverter coolant reservoir! the only way you're filling that inverter res is by driving it around to flush all the air out of those lines by driving it. you don't want to drive it without trans fluid.

transaxle coolant= inverter coolant.

transaxle fluid is oil, not coolant.

statultra · 06-01-2006, 07:03 PM

hey thanks alot for your help, i just filled the oil stuff in the trans from the front 24 mm plug today. I used a windshield washer pump, a brand new one ( well i need to so i can create a efficient way to do it because i have my 05 prius salvaged ready to be fluided up ) I have a question for the 05 Prius, the tank located next to the inverter on the 05 Prius do you fill that with Super LLC? also the 05 prius the big thermos thing holds super LLC also right? Oh one more thing, the ATF WS on the 05 Prius, is that a sealed area, ( the 24mm fill plug thingy inside there ) , i mean theres no hoses that go to the radiator from the ATF WS area on the 05 Prius?

sorry about hte bad grammar and spelling and other stuff thats not making sense.

Thank you. hobbit and galaxee

- Brian

Also the 01 Prius had a tiny tad bit of Type T IV in there, i drained it out today and it was so dark burnt and stuff, ( blame me for that ) but wow after i changed hte transmission fluid i was amazed, really, i observed accelerating on electric farther than i have ever before. It was great. At the same time i decided to change the oil on the 01 with mobil 1 5w-30 CAR FEELS GREAT NOW

galaxee · 06-06-2006, 11:51 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(statultra @ Jun 1 2006, 07:03 PM) [snapback]264305[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I have a question for the 05 Prius, the tank located next to the inverter on the 05 Prius do you fill that with Super LLC?
[/b]

yep

Quote:

also the 05 prius the big thermos thing holds super LLC also right?
[/b]

also yes

Quote:

Oh one more thing, the ATF WS on the 05 Prius, is that a sealed area, ( the 24mm fill plug thingy inside there ) , i mean theres no hoses that go to the radiator from the ATF WS area on the 05 Prius?
[/b]

correct- it is a sealed area.

good luck

oh- and have fun getting all the air outta that storage tank...! remember, there's an air bleeder on the side of the radiator. may also be one on the coolant tank... don't recall offhand.

bwilson4web · 06-19-2006, 08:30 AM

Hi Brian,

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(statultra @ Jun 1 2006, 06:03 PM) [snapback]264305[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

hey thanks alot for your help, i just filled the oil stuff in the trans from the front 24 mm plug today. I used a windshield washer pump, a brand new one ( well i need to so i can create a efficient way to do it because i have my 05 prius salvaged ready to be fluided up ) I have a question for the 05 Prius, the tank located next to the inverter on the 05 Prius do you fill that with Super LLC? also the 05 prius the big thermos thing holds super LLC also right? Oh one more thing, the ATF WS on the 05 Prius, is that a sealed area, ( the 24mm fill plug thingy inside there ) , i mean theres no hoses that go to the radiator from the ATF WS area on the 05 Prius?

sorry about hte bad grammar and spelling and other stuff thats not making sense.

Thank you. hobbit and galaxee

- Brian
Also the 01 Prius had a tiny tad bit of Type T IV in there, i drained it out today and it was so dark burnt and stuff, ( blame me for that ) but wow after i changed hte transmission fluid i was amazed, really, i observed accelerating on electric farther than i have ever before. It was great. At the same time i decided to change the oil on the 01 with mobil 1 5w-30 CAR FEELS GREAT NOW
[/b]

I'm sorry I didn't see your first post. I don't hang out in PriusChat much. I've been making a study of Prius transaxle oil:

http://hiwaay.net/~bzwilson/prius/pri_T_cold.html
http://hiwaay.net/~bzwilson/prius/pri_toil.html

My study has been just the NHW11 models, not the NHW20s.

It sounds like you didn't drop the pan on this NHW11 transmission oil change. I'd recommend that after 10-15k mi., you treat this change as a 'flush'. Go ahead and get a new transmission pan gasket and "o" ring early and have them ready (lead time on the "o" ring.) When 10-15 k mi. have passed, drain and wipe down the pan, leaving the magnet, clean out the oil pickup tube and wipe down all exposed surfaces. The Type T-IV should be at the viscosity limit then and you'll have collected most of the remaining gunk in the pan and the gallery located to the rear. If you can, use the washer pump to drain that gallery and using a coat-hanger tool, wipe it out too.

Bob Wilson

statultra · 06-19-2006, 11:28 PM

hey bob

i didnt drop the pan since ive been so busy lately, is there a lot of crud in the pan when you removed it? i could imagine there would me with mine since i ran it with a half a cup of type t, the fluid was so good looking dark red smelled pretty good too. i ran the car in a condition with no coolant on 2 90 degree days here in NJ going on 20 miles in traffic and such, im suprised it actually held up, matter of fact thankful .

05-30-2006, 09:24 PM	#2
galaxee running WOT until out of fuel Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: central NC/ western WI Posts: 9,081 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 5 Times in 3 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 21	there should only be one drain plug... which two did you open? or are you thinking of the two bleeder screws up on top? there is another drain plug nearby- the coolant plug is 24 mm bolt and screwed into the bottom of the aluminum of the transaxle housing. the transmission plug is a 10mm allen nut, and is in the black metal pan of the transmission, just off to the driver's side. this plug is for draining transmission fluid. there is another 24 mm bolt roughly halfway between those 2, toward the radiator, that is the input for transmission fill. transmission fluid requires a special apparatus to fill. i hope you didn't drain that stuff too. at this point, you've blown air into all the inverter lines at this point. drive it down the block, top it off. drive it down the block, top it off. keep on until it's full. DO NOT drive it far. drain and fill of that system is a real pain and you can't use the bleeder valves anymore with all that air in the lines. __________________ black 2005 prius, tweaked just the way i like it my diagnostic guy on electronics: "lack of troubleshooting ability is due to a high common sense rejection ratio."

06-01-2006, 07:03 PM	#6
statultra uber-Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: cape coral, FL Posts: 575 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	hey thanks alot for your help, i just filled the oil stuff in the trans from the front 24 mm plug today. I used a windshield washer pump, a brand new one ( well i need to so i can create a efficient way to do it because i have my 05 prius salvaged ready to be fluided up ) I have a question for the 05 Prius, the tank located next to the inverter on the 05 Prius do you fill that with Super LLC? also the 05 prius the big thermos thing holds super LLC also right? Oh one more thing, the ATF WS on the 05 Prius, is that a sealed area, ( the 24mm fill plug thingy inside there ) , i mean theres no hoses that go to the radiator from the ATF WS area on the 05 Prius? sorry about hte bad grammar and spelling and other stuff thats not making sense. Thank you. hobbit and galaxee - Brian Also the 01 Prius had a tiny tad bit of Type T IV in there, i drained it out today and it was so dark burnt and stuff, ( blame me for that ) but wow after i changed hte transmission fluid i was amazed, really, i observed accelerating on electric farther than i have ever before. It was great. At the same time i decided to change the oil on the 01 with mobil 1 5w-30 CAR FEELS GREAT NOW __________________ 2005 Toyota Prius Hybrid Package 9 2001 Toyota Prius 2005 Honda Accord Hybrid 3.0 V6

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05-30-2006, 07:48 PM	#1
statultra uber-Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: cape coral, FL Posts: 575 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	The 01 prius i currently have, i wanted to change the HV transaxle coolant with new one, so i drained the coolant from the two drain plugs and "tried to fill it up" using the method outlined in the manual, did not work though. What should i do? i drove it in this condition around the block. Could anyone help me, that actually put coolant in the system?? Thanks

05-31-2006, 10:16 PM	#4
hobbit Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bahstahn Posts: 2,989 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	wait a sec, even on the Classics the transaxle coolant and the inverter coolant are the same, aren't they? Sounds like you drained the coolant and the transmission lubricant -- they're both pink, but different consistencies ... but if you refill both those volumes with the same thing, you will be really hosed. . _H*

06-19-2006, 11:28 PM	#9
statultra uber-Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: cape coral, FL Posts: 575 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	hey bob i didnt drop the pan since ive been so busy lately, is there a lot of crud in the pan when you removed it? i could imagine there would me with mine since i ran it with a half a cup of type t, the fluid was so good looking dark red smelled pretty good too. i ran the car in a condition with no coolant on 2 90 degree days here in NJ going on 20 miles in traffic and such, im suprised it actually held up, matter of fact thankful .