Looks like Inverter problems

psycho_pete · 07-04-2007, 04:57 PM

My 04 Prius spits and error after I have driven it for a while on a warmer day.
I get a Triangle warning light, engine check light, (little circle in parenthesis) and a VSC error indicator.

I took it into the dealer and had a scan done on it - they said it looked like an inverter\heat malfunction.

I will probably just replace the entire inverter assembly but I noticed in the service manual it says that you should replace the "PCU box" along with the inverter as a pair.

Does anyone know what the PCU box is or were it's located?

Thanks in advance,

statultra · 07-04-2007, 05:54 PM

u should try a inverter coolant change see if helps to remedy the issue

Godiva · 07-04-2007, 05:59 PM

Shouldn't this be covered under warranty?

psycho_pete · 07-04-2007, 06:13 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(statultra @ Jul 4 2007, 02:54 PM) [snapback]473136[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

u should try a inverter coolant change see if helps to remedy the issue
[/b]

brand new and I blead the air out also.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva @ Jul 4 2007, 02:59 PM) [snapback]473137[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Shouldn't this be covered under warranty?
[/b]

Salvage car

statultra · 07-04-2007, 06:56 PM

sometimes there more air inside the system run the pump and shut it off and bleed it out, keep trying i got the same issue with two of my prius's 05 and a 01 .

psycho_pete · 07-04-2007, 07:29 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Crumple Zone @ Jul 4 2007, 03:13 PM) [snapback]473146[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

brand new and I blead the air out also.
Salvage car
[/b]

Is there a way I can run the pump without driving the car around?

At what location did you get more air out, the radiator or the valve at the end of the hose going to the electric motor?

Thanks again,

FL_Prius_Driver · 07-04-2007, 09:19 PM

Did you get from the dealer what DTC's were coming out?

Certainly don't want you to experience the frustration of replacing an inverter and find out it is an inverter cooling problem.

psycho_pete · 07-04-2007, 10:08 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FL_Prius_Driver @ Jul 4 2007, 06:19 PM) [snapback]473230[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Did you get from the dealer what DTC's were coming out?

Certainly don't want you to experience the frustration of replacing an inverter and find out it is an inverter cooling problem.
[/b]

I asked for the DTC's but all they told me was that it looked like the inverter was overheating.
I will take it back tomorrow and have them rescan like they were supposed too.

Mr.Vanvandenburg · 07-05-2007, 09:55 AM

Salvaged cars are included in the emission control warranty, according to the manual. In CA states it is 15/150 if I remember right. The inverter is one of the covered items. Of course if the inverter was previously damaged in an accident then that would make them question. Good luck.

FL_Prius_Driver · 07-05-2007, 05:42 PM

When hobbit was doing an inverter examination (http://techno-fandom.org/~hobbit/cars/ginv/), one thing he noticed was some gunk in the inverter cooling channels. Take a look yourself at his work. If your dealer is claiming an inverter cooling problem, then there should be some way to see what the flow is. The rest is physics and "physics" is not broken. Take a picture to the dealer of hobbits inverter picture (assuming he did this to help people like you). Ask "Anyway to remove crud like this?" can only lure the dealer into getting the smart technician involved. You want the smart technician.

I may be wrong, but the flow should be measurable if the car is running. Looking at the NHW11 service manual, there is a water temperature switch that closes between 118 to 131 F. It looks like this temp switch turns on the radiator fans. The rest of the design is a pump and a radiator.

If nothing else, make sure the radiator fans work and that the inverter cooling fluid flows.

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07-04-2007, 04:57 PM	#1
psycho_pete Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 6 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	My 04 Prius spits and error after I have driven it for a while on a warmer day. I get a Triangle warning light, engine check light, (little circle in parenthesis) and a VSC error indicator. I took it into the dealer and had a scan done on it - they said it looked like an inverter\heat malfunction. I will probably just replace the entire inverter assembly but I noticed in the service manual it says that you should replace the "PCU box" along with the inverter as a pair. Does anyone know what the PCU box is or were it's located? Thanks in advance,

07-04-2007, 05:54 PM	#2
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	u should try a inverter coolant change see if helps to remedy the issue

07-04-2007, 05:59 PM	#3
Godiva AmeriKan Citizen Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 10,008 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #1 Nominated 3 Times in 2 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 6	Shouldn't this be covered under warranty?

07-04-2007, 06:56 PM	#5
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	sometimes there more air inside the system run the pump and shut it off and bleed it out, keep trying i got the same issue with two of my prius's 05 and a 01 .

07-04-2007, 09:19 PM	#7
FL_Prius_Driver Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Tampa Bay Posts: 1,227 My Car: 2001 Prius Package: N/A Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Did you get from the dealer what DTC's were coming out? Certainly don't want you to experience the frustration of replacing an inverter and find out it is an inverter cooling problem.

07-05-2007, 09:55 AM	#9
Mr.Vanvandenburg Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 130 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Salvaged cars are included in the emission control warranty, according to the manual. In CA states it is 15/150 if I remember right. The inverter is one of the covered items. Of course if the inverter was previously damaged in an accident then that would make them question. Good luck.

07-05-2007, 05:42 PM	#10
FL_Prius_Driver Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Tampa Bay Posts: 1,227 My Car: 2001 Prius Package: N/A Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	When hobbit was doing an inverter examination (http://techno-fandom.org/~hobbit/cars/ginv/), one thing he noticed was some gunk in the inverter cooling channels. Take a look yourself at his work. If your dealer is claiming an inverter cooling problem, then there should be some way to see what the flow is. The rest is physics and "physics" is not broken. Take a picture to the dealer of hobbits inverter picture (assuming he did this to help people like you). Ask "Anyway to remove crud like this?" can only lure the dealer into getting the smart technician involved. You want the smart technician. I may be wrong, but the flow should be measurable if the car is running. Looking at the NHW11 service manual, there is a water temperature switch that closes between 118 to 131 F. It looks like this temp switch turns on the radiator fans. The rest of the design is a pump and a radiator. If nothing else, make sure the radiator fans work and that the inverter cooling fluid flows.