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Reservoir/Overflow Inverter Tank Leak??

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Reckstar, Apr 19, 2016.

  1. Reckstar

    Reckstar New Member

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    Hi All,

    Aside from other issues I am having with my prius, this was one lurking. I orginally thought the prius was "using" the coolant insufficiently. Anyhow, I bought this prius from a private dealer....(know how that goes)......

    I would like to fix this asap, I removed thee cowl and beneath from an awesome tutorial from Patrick & company... Thanks :)

    Now I see this little black hose that is dripping the coolant out of the reservoir . Its the skinny black hose which is clipped usually down by the tank.

    MY assumption is that its supposed to be connected to the inverter? or a hose leading to an inverter..because this thing drips out all the coolant in less that an hour or so.
     

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  2. northwichita

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    That little black hose is just for overflow, that all the inverter coolant is being pushed out of it in an hour drive is very odd...., how much do you have to add to get the fluid back to the fill level on the reservoir?
     
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  3. andrewclaus

    andrewclaus Active Member

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    If you're talking about the small black hose that's bent up from the neck of the tank, that's just an overflow and it should only see coolant if the tank is overfilled. You may be sloshing a little down the hose as you pour. You can wrap a rag around it to keep from making a mess, but that's not your leak.
     
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  4. Reckstar

    Reckstar New Member

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    Thank You!

    I have to rule it out now, I feel like such a rookie. Wow, I have never noticed this type of setup on a car before lol. Okay that will be ruled out.I m looking for a leak and it seems like its coming from somewhere behind the middle or underneath the inverter. ..So frustrating
     
  5. andrewclaus

    andrewclaus Active Member

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    You may have to do a tank-ectomy. This eBay post shows some good photos of the three bolt locations. They look hard to access--good luck with it. Note that a new seal is needed where the tank feeds into the inverter. Hopefully you don't have to lift the whole inverter.

    It's hard to believe the inverter itself is leaking, but I suppose anything is possible.
     
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  6. Reckstar

    Reckstar New Member

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    Thank you @andrewclaus.

    I also find t hard to believe the inverter is leaking. I feel I may have to pull or have the inverter pull out for inspection. Not really sure if I want to pull it out myself. I am almost there but I don't have the time. I'm inspecting this vehicle with my two children constantly trying to intercept me.

    On second though I don't think the inverter itself is leaking, or at least I hope not. Either today or sometime this week I plan to inspect the location again. The disturbing part is how the leak is very fast.

    Thanks for the tip on the seal. I will be checking it very very soon
     
  7. Reckstar

    Reckstar New Member

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    When I pulled out the tank I noticed there was no seal. I very slowly pulled it out to make sure I cold see if the seal was damaged. Before I pulled the tank out I listened for the drip. It sounded like it was coming from the area where the tank feeds into the inverter. I placed my fingers in the area and the dripping stopped. I removed the tank and the dripping completely stopped. I plugged the inverter so nothing more than whatever leaked out wont again and now I placed a cardboard under the prius to see if the leak has been pinpointed.

    Right now I'm praying it is just the seal. Do you know what the part number is?

    @andrewclaus


    To be continued.....
     
  8. Reckstar

    Reckstar New Member

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    It has to be coming from somewhere near the tank because the tank itself empties out. Not the entire coolant system. I believe they share the same coolant??? or are the systems separated?
     
  9. Reckstar

    Reckstar New Member

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    upload_2016-4-20_22-19-16.png
    Does a seal go here? it seemed to be missing or broken I think....
     
  10. andrewclaus

    andrewclaus Active Member

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    Yep, that's the place. The seal part number is 96761-24018. I use this site to find part numbers.

    Be sure the seal isn't stuck in the reservoir housing, but it sounds like you may have found your leak.
     
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  11. Reckstar

    Reckstar New Member

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    @andrewclaus

    Thanks for the tips! & Oh I really do hope so... either way, I will confirm here results here, Also do you think a local auto part store will carry it?

    Like one of those NAPA stores? I also know another place which probably supplies thousands of mechanics.Thanks a million!

    P.S. That is a super helpful graphic!
     
  12. andrewclaus

    andrewclaus Active Member

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    You're welcome. I use the parts site a lot to figure out how things are put together before I take them apart.

    I think you'll only find the seal through Toyota. I doubt it's stocked locally. At least it looks cheap enough.

    I'm having a hard time seeing how that seal could fail.
     
  13. Reckstar

    Reckstar New Member

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    I'm having a hard time as well trying to figure out how it could be leaking through that seal. It makes no sense to me. Unless I dropped the deal somewhere in the engine bay when I took it off. (My 2 year old was pulling on my leg while I was doing this)

    Another scenario I can imagine is the inverter itself where the coolant flows(bottom casing). I was looking at an inverter teardown from the member hobbit & and he explained how some 2nd hen Pri may possibly be victims of corrosion of the metal. This is very rare I believe. ( I will return with a reference to his page)

    The only way for sure is to just replace the seal and cross my fingers.... lol. I still havent ordered the part by I think I will be so today.
     
  14. andrewclaus

    andrewclaus Active Member

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    I agree. The seal is cheap, and I can't see any other way to test the inverter housing without a good seal.
     
  15. Reckstar

    Reckstar New Member

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    @andrewclaus

    Okay, problem has been solved. If it wasn't for your suggestion I wouldn't have found out the problem. However, I took a huge risk since I needed the car for work and I needed a o-ring from Toyota. I instead used a dermatex gasket maker for coolant systems.. It worked like a charm. I have driven about 212+ miles and the pri is not throwing any hv control codes. It has been 3 days and I have no leaking or overheating!

    Solved for now. When I replace the brake actuator I will have the oem gasket so this is most likely a temporary fix.

    thanks :)
     
  16. andrewclaus

    andrewclaus Active Member

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    Well done! Great relief it's the cheap part.
     
  17. [H]ackerK

    [H]ackerK Geek

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    Sorry to bring back this old thread...

    Recently I have the same problem, inverter coolant was leaking at the connection between the reservoir & inverter block. Thanks to this thread I was able to 'see' behind the inverter to pin point the leak. The problem is, taking it apart to reach where the leak is.

    My local garage was hesitate to do the job, he just topped up the coolant and ask me to see if it leaks again. (of course it does!)

    Dealership confirmed it is the same area as Post #9 pointed. But the part was on the other side of the country... So now I have to wait, meanwhile if I do have to drive, will need to keep an eye on the inverter temperature not to blow it.

    Service adviser said he never see leak like that... Am I and OP the only one has such an experience?
     

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  18. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Some questions:
    • Have you checked with another shop for a second opinion?
    • Where in the great white north are you located?

    If we have a better locale, there might be members or shops that we might be able to recommend:).

    The leak needs to be fixed, or eventually you’ll run the loop dry;).

    Keep us posted (y).
     
  19. [H]ackerK

    [H]ackerK Geek

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    Yes. I am going to get it fix for sure. Just waiting for parts. Toyota tech said the 'joint' have some wear and not fixable, need a new tank.

    I was wondering how it could have wear, that is not a movable part. But clearly the leak is coming from there. I was thinking if Teflon tape will do the job (like pluming, you use teflon tape between metal and plastic parts) But who knows how it will react with SLLC in the long run.

    Tech from the garage slipping from his mouth saying the tank maybe cracked (the same dude replace my AF sensor 2 months before).. But now he denied he touched that part...

    Anyways will wait for the part to arrive and see what happens with the old one.
     
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  20. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    You could always get a new tank from a salvage yard ;).

    But maybe that’s where you are getting it from:whistle:.

    Teflon tape works for threaded connections, where this wouldn’t apply for this hose to plastic fitting based on the picture ;).

    Good luck and keep us posted (y).