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2010 Prius Check Hybrid System message

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Technical Discussion' started by 2010 Prius owner_, Aug 19, 2016.

  1. Piotrus Pan

    Piotrus Pan Member

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    I'm not saying this is a confirmed information but for me it would make no sense to waste energy on a pump that doesn't need to be running since electronics in the inverter can operate in a high range of temperatures.
    Thyristor - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
    Operating temperature - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
    It should be ok at least in temperatures in between 0 ° to 70 °C
     
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  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i wonder how many people have replaced perfectly good pumps because of my bad advice.:oops:
     
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  3. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    At least your advice keeps the aftermarket parts suppliers in business :).
     
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  4. CR94

    CR94 Senior Member

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    Are you sure it was bad advice? Don't admit to errors you didn't make! My inverter pump seems to run all the time the car is "READY," even when nothing is hot. Whether it speeds up when temperatures in the inverter increase, I don't know. That would seem reasonable.
     
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  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    A brand new battery at 11.93 is defective or return or sitting around way too long. A new conventional battery should be around 12.6, an AGM 12.7~12.8.
     
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  6. Piotrus Pan

    Piotrus Pan Member

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    I checked my 2010, 3rd gen Prius and the pump seems to be working all the time. The fluid in the reservoir was moving a bit and the pipes vibrating a bit too.
    Looks like you were right. I did found for sure that 1st and 2nd had the pump running all the time but didn't find anything about 3rd gen. The misleading thing is that the technical specs say the speed of the pump is regulated by the on board computer so the pump runs all the time at minimum and speeds up when needed.
    This absolutely makes no sense to me. Toyota uses there own developed Insulated-gate bipolar transistor with work temperatures from -20 degrees C to 150 degrees C.
    So since the ECU controls the pump speed it has to do on some basis and I would guess it's temperature. If they measure temperature, have control over the pump speed and the working temperature of the transistors is so high then for me at least there is absolutely no reason to have the pump running all the time.

    I also found something very important while researching this!
    Turns out the 12V battery is charged by the inverter from the traction battery so the petrol engine does not need to be running to charge the 12V battery.
     
    #26 Piotrus Pan, Aug 21, 2016
    Last edited: Aug 21, 2016
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  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    the only thing i'm sure of is, i'm not sure of anything.:p
     
  8. 2010 Prius owner_

    2010 Prius owner_ New Member

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    Ok, so I have charged battery and when I try and start I do not see fluid movement or feel any vibration in the hose. I am about to dive in and take out the pump. After removing I plan on testing the pump with an 12v source to see if it will turn on. Any advice before I disassemble?

    By the way I appreciate all the responses on this. I really like this forum.
     
  9. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    How many miles on her?

    It sounds like the fluid is not moving or vibration in the line, but Do you hear the pump turning on? A blown fuse possibly?

    If you are going to remove the pump, might as well do the coolant change. A good video posted here on PC for doing it:).

    Is the coolant level normal, or have you seen the level drop? Ever have any damage to the front of the car where the pump may have been impacted?
     
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    what is the battery voltage, stone cold, now that you've charged it?
     
  11. 2010 Prius owner_

    2010 Prius owner_ New Member

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    117k on the miles. Good point on coolant change. coolant level is right below the full mark. I will check out the video. I checked all the normal fuses wasn't sure how to check the others. There was a humming noise coming from the middle area toward the front under the hood .

    There has been no wrecks or anything.
     
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  12. 2010 Prius owner_

    2010 Prius owner_ New Member

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    12.6v stone cold.
     
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  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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  14. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    By normal fuses, you mean under the hood in the fuse box and all fuses looked good? From humming in the front of the car, probably means the pump, was trying to run ( pump is located between the drivers headlight and the just below the inverter).

    You might have a problem with the impeller in the pump if there is no fluid movement seen on the reservoir. If at the full mark, I would not suspect that the pump got starved or had air suck into it going around a sharp turn causing the pump to momentarily run dry.

    Not many problems reported with the gen III inverter pump that I remember, so I am curious what you find as I am currently at 138 k and going to change my coolant out in a couple of weeks at 140 k. Might expand my plan:). Keep us posted(y).
     
  15. Piotrus Pan

    Piotrus Pan Member

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    Fuse box location is in PDF manual on 485 page, 462 on paper manual. Fuse box layout is on 488 in PDF.

    There is no specific fuse marked as "inverter pump" so I'm not sure if one those is the right one:
    5 ENG W/P 30A Cooling system
    9 IGCT 30A PCU, IGCT NO.2, IGCT NO.3
    10 DC/DC-S 5A Inverter and converter
    25 PCU 10A Inverter and converter
    26 IGCT NO.2 10A Hybrid system, parking control system, power windows, inverter and converter
    34 IGCT NO.3 10A Cooling system
    fuse.png
     
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  16. Piotrus Pan

    Piotrus Pan Member

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    Before doing anything disconnect the 12V and the traction battery (the orange safety plug) just to be safe. You don't want to touch something by accident and have 200V on your hands :D
     
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  17. 2010 Prius owner_

    2010 Prius owner_ New Member

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    Well after I replaced the battery and the inverter pump it didn't fix the issue, so I had it towed to a Toyota dealership. Issue ended up being in the IPM module like the recall that they came out with in Feb 2014. I had my recall done in May 2014 but I believe it was only a software update, Since Toyota came out with the 15 year warranty enhancement ZE3 my repair was completely covered under it. Service rep said it was going to be about 2k in parts and about 6 hrs of labor. Thank goodness they came out with the WE ZE3 to stand behind there product, saved me a ton of money. Glad to have my car back. (y) to you Toyota
     
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  18. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    congrats!(y)
     
  19. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    To-do item done: it works great. I'll definitely recommend, with the caveat that they face a counterfeiting challenge too; the sure way to avoid that is to buy from their web store, even if something else looks like the same product with a fabulous price.

    -Chap
     
  20. RobinO

    RobinO New Member

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    Hi - I am having the same 'Check Hybrid System Warning'. I replaced the battery about a year or so ago. We use this as our primary vehicle, so it should stay charged. What might be causing this message? Thanks!