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How to Replace the Inverter Coolant Pump

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Patrick Wong, Jul 12, 2009.

  1. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    It would be horrible to replace a perfectly good pump with a new but defective pump. Went from no problems to a problem you paid money to get.
     
  2. PriusToo

    PriusToo Junior Member

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    Wonder what percent are defective? And if the check engine code was to come on showing that pump might be a problem, how many more miles would I be able to drive, just a guess?
    Inverter coolant and atf fluid has currently been changed in transaxle assy.
     
  3. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    The percentage is very low that you may get a defective one.......very very low percentage. But there's the human factor involved too, humans make errors. It would be in the same category as new cars that become lemons. Most won't but there are a percentage of brand new lemons.

    If the pump fails, warning lights will come on and you won't be able to drive far.....your car would have been overheated.
     
  4. PriusToo

    PriusToo Junior Member

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    Thanks for the info, would still like to hear from other people about the mileage they have logged on a pump before failure.
    There are parts of South Carolina, off I-95 , where it would be hard to find that pump or somebody that would know what to do with it on a weekend.
    Don't get me wrong there are some more progressive parts of the state.
     
  5. PriusToo

    PriusToo Junior Member

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    [​IMG]Found this on a thread, may apply to extending life
    drh20s57.5 mpg one her 1st road trip!
    Start a Conversation
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    I wouldn't replace the inverter coolant pump until I note that the code appears when the inverter is not powering the A/C. Summer 2008 the DTC for the inverter coolant pump kept popping up in my '04. Georgia is hot and I always ran the A/C on "MAX."

    So, this summer I always set the thermostat on 75, 78 degrees, etc. Not a single DTC for the inverter coolant pump.
    drh20s, Oct 26, 2009 Report
    #20 Like + Quote Reply


    Read more: Inverter Coolant pump failed | PriusChat
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  6. PriusToo

    PriusToo Junior Member

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    I really believe that the inverter coolant pump may be one of the weakest links on the gen I and gen 2 Prius cars.
    From the info I gather you have a short notice with a code, and if you don't act fast, you overheat the inverter.
    No one on here has given anything definitive .
     
  7. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    I wouldn't say it's one of the weakest links, you rarely hear of failures on here, it would only be a handful if you search.

    At 100k miles, it would be reasonable to think of a replacement. At 50k miles, it's premature to do so. IMO
     
  8. PriusToo

    PriusToo Junior Member

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    That's a good point, wonder what the shelf life would be on the pump, say if you bought one and carried it in your car as a backup?
    Maybe I will just address issue when it happens, hopefully it will be in a populated area, hehe.
    I really try to see the upside of things, thanks for your help.
    Willing to try to run pump for 100k before changing .
     
    #128 PriusToo, Oct 15, 2014
    Last edited: Oct 15, 2014
  9. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    you don't want to buy parts in advance. if you buy them from toyota, it will come with a 1 year warranty. if you buy it in advance and not install until after 1 year, you'll lose out if it's defective.
     
  10. PriusToo

    PriusToo Junior Member

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    Good deal,
    I'm more worried about a truck on I-95 running me off the road two weeks ago.
    Some of these people in the big rigs pass with little hesitation these days.
     
  11. exstudent

    exstudent Senior Member

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    This thread has some mileage numbers to give you an idea. As all things in life, your mileage will differ.
    Inverter pump life? | PriusChat

    You have to decide if you want to be a Preventative Maintenancer (pick a mileage and just change it out, ie every 100K miles) or a "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" type. They latter could leave you stranded, as you recognized the limitations of mechanics and parts availability in your area. Perhaps start carrying an inverter pump and a gallon of SLLC as you break 100K miles? Then again, why carry unnecessary stuff?
     
  12. PriusToo

    PriusToo Junior Member

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    Good points, maybe I will just get AAA, wonder how far they tow under a yearly membership?
     
  13. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    7 miles, 100 miles, 200 miles....3 different levels of membership.
     
  14. PriusToo

    PriusToo Junior Member

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    That's good to know, wonder how much the 200 mile tow cost per year?
    Do you have AAA?
     
  15. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Visit aaa.com
     
  16. PriusToo

    PriusToo Junior Member

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    I just did, with a 10.00 enrollment fee, a 200 mile towing comes to about 119.00 Total a year, not bad at all, thanks. Guess maybe a lot of towing company's do AAA...
     
  17. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    200 miles is a lot. Like to another state lol
     
  18. PriusToo

    PriusToo Junior Member

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    That's cool, on a trip like I go on, I could either be towed back to my place of visit, or back to Charleston.
    May be other benefits too,.
    Off to sleep, getting late on the east coast.
     
  19. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Good opportunity to get replacement "lost" key fobs
     
  20. PriusToo

    PriusToo Junior Member

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    Joined AAA, For towing, did the 200 mile towing distance package for 119.oo for year, 10.00 is initial joining fee, one time only . I ask AAA about the best way to tow a Prius, AAA said it was safe either way, you would just have to come out of pocket 20.00 only if you wanted on a rollback. If it was a long distance, more than 30 miles. I'm assuming if they were towing with car on one axle, the preferred axle Lifted off ground would be the front .
    Any thoughts?