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08 shut down while driving. What to do?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Kanulilewa, Jan 10, 2019.

  1. Kanulilewa

    Kanulilewa Junior Member

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    My 2008 was working fine, no strange behaviour or noises, then it just shut down while I was driving and I felt like something was burning. I had to tow it home (with front wheels lifted off the ground). the headlights go on alright, the key fob works. However, you put the key in the ignition, press brake, press start but nothing happens. No lights come on on the panel , nothing. Windows dont work, interior lights work though. What should I do? Where should I start looking? 117k. On the car everything was perfect. The tank is full.
     
  2. exstudent

    exstudent Senior Member

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    Is this a salvage titled vehicle and/or was this recently repaired from an auto accident?

    Smelled something burning = bad.
    Windows require IG-ON or READY to operate, assuming no issues w/ window motor and related wiring/switches.
    Reading codes require IG-ON or (preferably) READY.

    Check the 15amp AM2 fuse in "enginge compartment junction block/relay block." Test w/ a digital volt meter's continuity tester. Reference owner manual for location. If fuse is bad, replace with a quality 15amp fuse; cheap 15amp fuses from Amazon, ebay, Harbor Freight, are dangerous, as testing shows they do NOT blow when they should putting equipment and electrical system at risk. Inverter pump will most likely need to be replaced too.

    If fuse proves to be good, something else.

    Consider contacting Avi at Hybrid Fix, near USC.
     
    #2 exstudent, Jan 10, 2019
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2019
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  3. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Invert coolant pump probably shorted out and blew the fuse pretty common. 15 amp am2.

    Under the hood pull black fuse cover off and pull all the fuses one by one with ohmmeter. Checkit and put it back pull the next one.
    Take good pictures of there positions in that box before starting.

    if you find a blown fuse post which one it is before replacing it. It blew for a reason replacing it will just blow it again and may further damage the car unless you repair the shorted component.

    The inverter coolant pump is right behind the drivers side headlight look down for it its small round device with 2 hoses on it. Smell around in there if it smells burnt its that pump.

    Is the inverter coolant reservoir full?

    Was that pump replaced under warranty recall a few years back at the dealer?
     
    #3 edthefox5, Jan 10, 2019
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2019
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  4. Kanulilewa

    Kanulilewa Junior Member

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    I will definetely check the fuse and the inverter pump, appreciate your help! The car is super clean: no accidents, clean title, one owner, I paid a top dollar for it to be reliable because I drive for Uber.
    I'm not sure if it's relevant but the brakes started squealing a day ago: a sign to replace the pads, which I was going to do at the weekend, but.. this happened.
     
  5. Kanulilewa

    Kanulilewa Junior Member

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    The reservoir is full, to be honest, I don't know whether it was replaced or not. If you say it's pretty common, hopefully that would be the reason.
     
  6. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    go to toyota.com/owners and join the forum. Enter your vin and it will show every visit the car has seen to an authorized toyota dealer and should show the recall done if not the pump is probably the issue.
     
  7. Kanulilewa

    Kanulilewa Junior Member

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    I just checked that fuse and it was blown!!! So I'll start replacing the pump, maybe you guys know any links on how to do it best.
     
  8. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

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    Checking the fuse is free. Hopefully you have a multimeter if not you can at least visually check it.
     
  9. Kanulilewa

    Kanulilewa Junior Member

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    Do I need to bkeed the coolant before I can replace the pump?
     
  10. Dxta

    Dxta Senior Member

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    Replace the pump, then bleed the system.
     
  11. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    use the search forum button up op and search

    Inverter pump

    very easy to replace. Go to lusciousgarage.com and search there repair blogs there's a good video of a tech doing it well actually she's the owner. You basically unbolt a few bolts on each end of the bumper you pull the bumper cover down far enough to get the drivers side headlight assy out and the pump is right there in the wide open.

    Take pictures of the pump set up before you touch it.

    I have pulled the bumper down many times its fast and easy. Also the added benefit is you can take the headlights out there 3 bolts very very easy and you can get to the headlight bulb. Now is the time to replace the headlight bulbs while in there.
    Buy the factory bulbs online as well as the factory pump. After market sylvania bulbs are much brighter but do not last long at all and bulb replacement without the bumper trick is a real pain.

    I guarantee you if you don't do the bumper thing and catch the bulbs too 2 weeks later a headlight bulb will go out. That's how it goes lol.
    At least for me.

    Headlight bulbs is basic car maintenance. When a headlight bulb goes out I re-bulb the whole car. Done.
     
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  12. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Oh you have never done anything like this before. Do you have tools?
     
  13. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    You can bypass the pump if you need to move your car, unplug it from where the picture is pointing and replace the fuse. In cool weather, you should be safe in driving the car 10 - 15 minutes without the pump.

    Brake noise does not mean you need new brakes, might just have dirty pads after the rain. Brake while in neutral a few times and it should be fine (this will clean them)
    Screenshot_2018-06-16-13-14-02.jpeg
     
    #13 JC91006, Jan 11, 2019
    Last edited: Jan 11, 2019
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  14. Kanulilewa

    Kanulilewa Junior Member

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    Guys, thanks to everybody who contributed to this thread, I finally replaced the pump! The car was sitting for almost 3 months in the garage - I did not have time to fix it. A couple of days ago I took off the driver side heaadlight, replaced the ballast on it (it all started after driving in heavy rain: water got into the headlight, messed the ballast and the pump eventually.) , the pump fuse and the inverter pump. The whole procedure took me about 3 hours (watching and reaading how-tos included). By that time the battery had died. So I jump started my car and voila - it was working! Then I shut it down. About an hour later I wanted to start it again - the lights came on in the interior, on the panel, the smart key worked, but the battery was probably not charged enough and it could not start the engine and died again. Somebody told me I should replace the battery in the back (NOT the hybrid battery which is OK) but they go for 200+ bucks, which is too much. What do you guys recommend - do I jump start it again and just take it for a ride to charge it or do I get a new battery?
     
    #14 Kanulilewa, Apr 8, 2019
    Last edited: Apr 8, 2019
  15. Kanulilewa

    Kanulilewa Junior Member

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    Guys, thanks to everybody who contributed to this thread, I finally replaced the pump! The car was sitting for almost 3 months in the garage - I did not have time to fix it. A couple of days ago I took off the driver side heaadlight, replaced the ballast on it (it all started after driving in heavy rain: water got into the headlight, messed the ballast and the pump eventually.) , the pump fuse and the inverter pump. The whole procedure took me about 3 hours (watching and reaading how-tos included). By that time the battery had died. So I jump started my car and voila - it was working! Then I shut it down. About an hour later I wanted to start it again - the lights came on in the interior, on the panel, the smart key worked, but the battery was probably not charged enough and it could not start the engine and died again. Somebody told me I should replace the battery in the back (NOT the hybrid battery which is OK) but they go for 200+ bucks, which is too much. What do you guys recommend - do I jump start it again and just take it for a ride to charge it or do I get a new battery?
     
  16. AlohaSpirit

    AlohaSpirit Junior Member

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    Sounds like you just went through what I went through a few months ago. (Car towed, AM2 fuse and inverter pump)

    I posted here too and everyone was really helpful.

    The battery wasn't that expensive. I got the optima (which isn't needed and is actually not recommended here)

    So if I had to do it again I would go with the standard replacement which was $100-150
     
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  17. Kanulilewa

    Kanulilewa Junior Member

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    Do you have a smart key ? They say with smart key it's supposed to be optima for some reason, what brand did you get?
     
  18. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    A non sks car uses a smaller battery with a smaller mounting bracket than a car with sks.
    With sks there is slightly more current draw.
     
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  19. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    The factory battery is much more expensive than $150.
     
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  20. AlohaSpirit

    AlohaSpirit Junior Member

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    Sorry, checked my receipts.

    My optima was about 240

    so the other battery was 190-200
     
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