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Check Engine Light

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Lona_NP, Mar 13, 2010.

  1. Lona_NP

    Lona_NP New Member

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    I had an appointment yesterday at my local dealership to have the recall update completed on my new package V Prius. The night before, my check engine light came on. So, when I got to the dealership yesterday, they told me they'd try to get to that too. We waited for about 45 minutes, and then they came to tell us that Toyota was very interested in my car, apparently the water pump is also computer controlled, and was malfunctioning. So, they have to order a new part, and it will be Tuesday before I likely get it back. If anyone elses light comes on, this could be the reason. Hopefully it won't mean another recall, and it was just something funky on mine that won't happen to anyone else. I'm driving a Camry right now, but I sure miss my little pearlie Prius!
     
    #1 Lona_NP, Mar 13, 2010
  2. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    Yes, the water pump is electric on the 3rd gen Prius now. There are no more belts.

    As for "this could be the reason", yeah but there are also hundreds if not thousands of other reasons for the check engine light to come on. Only way to know what the light is telling you is to pull the codes.

    Please do let us know what code(s) the dealer found.
     
    #2 cwerdna, Mar 13, 2010
  3. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    I'd be more concerned over the idiot light thn the recall notice. At least you only had to make 1 trip to the dealer. I doubt Toyota is "very interested" in your car but it is a nice thing for the dealer to say to make you feel better. At least they didn't ask if you had an appointment for your CEL.

    Always ask for the codes and do the research. If the repair sounds reasonable, ok. If not, ask questions.
     
    #3 JimN, Mar 13, 2010
  4. Lona_NP

    Lona_NP New Member

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    Hopefully the fix will work and the light will go off. They were really busy that day, one salesman was working the maintenance counter because they had three people call off that day. I felt kinda bad for him. lol Lots of people there that day besides myself, one man had waited since 1 o'clock and it was 5 in the evening. So, I'm glad that they even got around to checking why the engine light was on instead of just fixing the recall and sending me home. I knew there could be lots of reasons why the light was on, just hope that the computer told them the right one, and crossing my fingers for no more overnights at the dealership with a different car in the driveway.
     
    #4 Lona_NP, Mar 13, 2010
  5. pakitt

    pakitt Senior Member

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    The only reason that Toyota is "very interested" in your car (BTW, who said that?) is that if the water pump is defective, they want to know immediately why so that they can ask their supplier to look into it and prevent any further failure and improve production.
    Also, Toyota is a maniac of quality, so, contrary to what media in the US wants you to believe, they do take into high considerations failures like this one, especially on a brand new model. Toyota needs to learn as well regarding the reliability of all the new parts used in the Prius.
    Plus, based on what they find out, it might be that they:
    1) simply replace it because the pump went broken for a trivial reason that happened on your car only
    2) check into it and ask the supplier to change something or check in detail some production process
    3) find there is a true bug and issue a recall or ask all dealers to change the water pump when people come in for a planned check

    (BTW: if the water pump does not work correctly or does not work at all, your car will not accelerate suddenly or not brake anymore - it simply will not work like any other car due to re-cycling of the coolant - a big annoyance for the driver, but not a big deal in terms of safety at all).
     
    #5 pakitt, Mar 14, 2010
  6. Jim Clark

    Jim Clark Member

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    They should have pulled the codes. Is that what showed the water pump problem? Were there any other codes reported?
     
    #6 Jim Clark, Mar 14, 2010
  7. Lona_NP

    Lona_NP New Member

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    They didnt' tell me if there were, there was a computer sitting in the drivers seat when I went to get my stuff out.
     
    #7 Lona_NP, Mar 14, 2010
  8. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    They didn't give a rat's nice person about my shifter.
     
    #8 JimN, Mar 15, 2010
  9. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    Does your receipt indicate any codes? Should be something like DTC Pnnnn.
     
    #9 cwerdna, Mar 15, 2010
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