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2010 Prius inverter pump, sc light, abs light, break light

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by CrniMilorad, Dec 25, 2015.

  1. CrniMilorad

    CrniMilorad Junior Member

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    IMPORTANT; I am not licence mechanic and this post is for education purpose only. I take no responsibility if something goes wrong.
    I replaced inverter cooling pump on my 2010 prius. It is lot harder than what it looks like on gen 2 model. Pump is moved in front of and under the inverter. After installation i had warning lights gone (sc light, brake light, abs light). Will let you know after couple days if warning lights are coming back. Note; old pump connected to power supply has motor spinning but i can hear by the sound that seals are gone.
    I followed procedure from youtube to uninstall inverter.
    IMPORTANT-removing inverter can cause sirius injury and can be fatal if proper procedure is not followed. Proper procedure and safety measures are important because of high voltage.
    Air filter and inlet manifold box are removed.
    Cooling fluid is drained.
    Drain plug. Mine one is 10mm hex.
    Removing hoses from the inverter. Pull out (1/4 inch, not all the way, as shown on image) green ring and slide hose off.
    Pump is mounted under the bracket that is holding the inverter.
    Bracket removed with 5 bolts M14.
    Pump has one bolt mounted from top side.
    There are two screws mounted from underneath and tightened into the bracket.


    For the air bleeding there is purge valve under the vipers pan. It is hard to reach, but when engine plastic cover is removed it is doable. Opening valve might be tough, i used dull knife, just to start. I have seen somewhere on the forum that metal plate can be bent and used. However, slot is deep and it helps. closing valve is easy, i used just fingers.
    Image shows connected clear hose 5/16 id ( i had to use two screwdrivers to make hose end wider so it will easy slide on the valve). Red color shows cooling fluid. Other end of the hose is dipped into coolant reservoir. I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THAT FLUID IS GOING FROM THE RESERVOIR TO INTO THE VALVE. I WAS EXPECTED THAT FLUID IS DISCHARGED INTO THE RESERVOIR, NOT SUCKED IN FROM RESERVOIR.
    I let the engine run couple minutes after i saw there is no more air bubbles in the hose.
    For the inverter coolant someone posted on the forum that you run engine for 2 seconds and turn off, fill in fluid and repeat until fluid level is stabilized.
     
    #1 CrniMilorad, Dec 25, 2015
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2016
    Andyprius1 likes this.
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    welcome, and thank you for the great write up and pics!(y)
     
  3. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

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    it would be great if one will be able to expand the pictures, thumbnail pictures don't tell the story
     
  4. Andyprius1

    Andyprius1 Senior Member

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  5. Andyprius1

    Andyprius1 Senior Member

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    After you have replaced the pump you have to make sure there is no more air in the system.
     
  6. CrniMilorad

    CrniMilorad Junior Member

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    thanks for advice. I drained both liquids (from engine and from the inverter). There is only one air purge valve. Is it ok to do only one branch through this valve assuming that another branch will have pushed out air by pump.
     
  7. Andyprius1

    Andyprius1 Senior Member

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    The purge valve used to be on the left corner of the radiator, I don't remember another. After purging, you let the car idle with the cap off the inverter refill glass, you may see bubbles, that's air escaping still, continue to keep glass filled. When you see no more bubbles it's finished. You should only see normal turbulence which indicates the pump is working. It is difficult to define bubbles or turbulence. I believe also the cap of the glass refill bottle is vented, to relieve pressure, so my last descriptions may be superfluous . Keep me nformed, I may have to do it. TY
     
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  8. CrniMilorad

    CrniMilorad Junior Member

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    Andy, i updated post, see above for air bleeding.
     
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  9. Colemankid

    Colemankid Junior Member

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    Hi CrniMilorad,
    Thanks for the great writeup! My prius was in an accident, and the code thrown says the inverter coolant pump is malfunctioning. I'm assuming it was cracked or hurt in the accident. Now that you've taken yours out, can you see any other way to get to it other than removing the inverter? For example, one of your pictures seems to show it from below. Can I get to it that way from below, or from the front by taking off the bumper, for example? What did you remove to take the picture that shows it still installed, I think from below?
    Thanks for any help! I'd like to look at it first to see if I can see damage, then replace it only if necessary. Any insights you could give me would be great!
     
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  10. CrniMilorad

    CrniMilorad Junior Member

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    I would say there is an option to take it off from the front if you remove bumper, radiator and fan. When i started i took off bumper first. Then i had two options; take radiator and fan off or take converter out. I choose converter and it worked. Not sure if option with radiator and fan would work. I assume it should work, you can try and let us know.
    Access from bottom was not and option at least for me. You can see pump from the bottom and possibly take screws off, but you need full access to pump to take hoses off.
     
  11. Andyprius1

    Andyprius1 Senior Member

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    On my 2005, Iwas able to remove the inverter pump w/o removing anything else.
     
  12. CrniMilorad

    CrniMilorad Junior Member

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    Gen 2 prius (2003-2009) has pump on the accessible spot, on the side of the converter. On the other side, pump on gen 3 model (2010) is moved under and in front of the inverter. It is even hard to see where it is.
     
  13. lunacyworks

    lunacyworks Member

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    Anyone doing this job ever use the AIRLIFT system to vacuum down and inject the cooling fluid to avoid air in the system?