1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Coolant Pump TSB - Rig code?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by LuvMy2010, Mar 23, 2012.

  1. LuvMy2010

    LuvMy2010 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2010
    33
    6
    0
    Location:
    Wichita
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    So I am nearing the end of my warranty and have been trying to get TSBs taken care of before I'm out of warranty. There is one TSB that is particularly concerning to me. It's T-SB-0143-10 for replacement of the coolant pump. From the looks of it, its just a matter of time before my coolant pump will go out, since my vin # falls within the TSB noted vins. It will be luck that 1 mile over my warranty is when it will happen. I would love to get this costly repair done before the warranty is up so Toyota will pay for it, but they won't fix it without the computer showing the code P261B- Engine Coolant Pump "B" Control Malfunction or P261C- Engine Coolant Pump "b" Control Circuit Low. Is there any way to create a situation where the check engine light would come on and the computer show one of these codes, even just for a few seconds? Then, I could take it to Toyota and they could pull the computer history, see the codes, and replace the coolant pump. Any ideas? I'm not against opening the hood and rigging something just for a couple minutes in order to pull one of those codes.
     
  2. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2010
    3,524
    981
    8
    Location:
    US
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I don't think sabotaging the car is the way to go.
     
  3. trentofdestiny

    trentofdestiny Master Finagler

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2011
    1,104
    225
    0
    Location:
    Harrisburg, PA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I don't know if the forum rules allow us to tell you how...but there is a way.
     
  4. toyotechwv

    toyotechwv Toyota Technician

    Joined:
    Nov 16, 2007
    474
    251
    0
    Location:
    Princeton, WV
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Wow, and you guys talk about dealers being dishonest.
     
    2 people like this.
  5. ChipL

    ChipL Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2012
    585
    85
    0
    Location:
    Reston, Va
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Your post is one of the reasons I would buy an extended warranty that covered TSB's beyond the warranty. One of the weak links in consumer protection laws here in the US.... :(
     
  6. trentofdestiny

    trentofdestiny Master Finagler

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2011
    1,104
    225
    0
    Location:
    Harrisburg, PA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Some are, but most just refuse to spend any of their own money on customer satisfaction. It's an age-old problem. They will spend Toyota's or the customer's (or whomever) money but not their own. They save their own money and don't fix our problems with our cars just because we say...they have to see it with their own eyes.

    This is a good way to be in general because most customers' diagnosis can't be trusted; neither can a mechanic from another shop. However, for those of us who know what we're talking about, and know how things work, it's very frustrating.
     
  7. adamace1

    adamace1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2009
    1,403
    191
    0
    Location:
    Charlotte, NC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    So Toyota should replace our working water pumps with a newer working water pump. Sounds like a waste?
     
  8. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2005
    3,193
    2,322
    0
    Location:
    CA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    There is no change in part #, so what's the point?

    TSBs are merely used as a diagnostic aid.
     
  9. trentofdestiny

    trentofdestiny Master Finagler

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2011
    1,104
    225
    0
    Location:
    Harrisburg, PA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Well if there's no change in part number, that's different. Just prolonging the inevitable, coolant pump failure. Unless there was a running production change, or a fault in manufacturing the early units, there's no reason to get a new one now "just in case".