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Probably diving into the engine coolant thermos soon

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by jerrymildred, Jan 15, 2019.

  1. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    About a month ago, my wife's '07 threw a P1116 code. No other codes came up on Techstream. Radiator is topped off and the overflow tank is at the cold line with a cold engine. I reset it and it's been gone since then. Until yesterday. She got a check engine again. After she got home, the light was gone, but the code was in history. AFAIK, it's the original coolant and it has about 127k miles, so it's overdue for a coolant change. Coolant still looks clean and pink, but I'm guessing it's either an intermittent clog at the coolant tank valve or the valve itself is sticking. Does that sound reasonable to those of you who've delved into it more?
     
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    From what I've encountered on the gen 2, the common issues with check engine light are:

    Failing catalytic converter and/or sensors
    Coolant 3 way valve
    And for some reason when my inverter pump failed, that check engine light came on too (along with the triangle)

    If the check engine light is not flashing.....just keep on driving. It's an emissions light. No immediate danger
     
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  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    specially in florida...
     
  4. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    1. When this issue first occurred and you topped off the radiator, how much fluid did you have to add?
    2. What condition is the engine coolant pump in? Has it ever been replaced? Is coolant seeping out of the pump bearing? Do you see dried antifreeze (pinkish or whitish stain) deposited on the pump pulley interior and/or the air conditioner compressor housing?
    3. Consider the possibility that if the pump bearing is leaking fluid, then air can enter the system and topping off the radiator may not get air out of the coolant heat recovery system portion of the engine coolant loop. That will cause P1116 to be logged.
     
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  5. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    Thanks for the tips, @JC91006 and @Patrick Wong. I also talked to Todd over at Tampa Hybrids. He agrees, based on my description, that the valve is a likely candidate. I'll know more Friday when I can dive in. It'll be the first time I've explored that part of the car.

    When this issue first occurred, there was no place to put more coolant. Everything was full. I check it every couple months and there was one time I added about a half cup. That was the only time. I think it was almost a year ago.

    I'll have to double-check. Last I looked there was no sign of leakage at the water pump. I just rotated the tires the other day and checked the boots and looked for anything loose while the wheels were off. Saw no pink stuff when the right front wheel was off. We bought it with 98k miles. There is no record of it having been changed.

    I'll know more Friday when I can be at home in the daytime.

    Yup. That's what I told my wife when it happened the first time and I read the code. I need to fix it because I'm anal about that stuff, but I don't need to miss work for it when I have 3-day weekends. ;)
     
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  6. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    When you mentioned diving into the engine Thermos, I thought you were getting desperately thirsty. :eek::rolleyes::oops:
     
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  7. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    This will be an easy job if you drain the coolant at the same time. You won't even need to get under the car (just drive the driver's front tire up on a curb to give access to the coolant drain plug)

    Since you're diving in, you should check if your inverter pump is nearing 100k miles since the last recall replacement. It's a good time to get that out of the way since you're already there (nearly same location)
     
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  8. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    I do want to change the engine coolant while I'm at it. I did the inverter coolant in Sept. 2017 at about 119k miles. I've been looking for a good video on it, but haven't found the one I remember seeing months ago and liked.
     
  9. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    To change the engine coolant, you won't need a video. Just take off part of the engine splash shield under the car, on the driver's side. Right in front of the front tire ( where the thermos is located), there's a drain plug there. Similar to drain plugs on radiators, you just turn it to loosen and it'll drain. No tools needed.

    After you drain the coolant, then you can remove the 3 way valve without having to pinch any hoses. I've done this without jacking up the car, but it might be easier to have access underneath the car to get to one of the hoses. Reinstall the new 3 way valve (pay attention not to mix up hoses) and fill the radiator. Make sure you have heat in the cabin afterwards (so you know the air is out of it). You'll need to check the coolant level for the next few mornings (after you've driven the day before), to make sure it's full, fill as needed.
     
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  10. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    Sweet! Thanks my friend. I'll probably just let her drive my car for a few days when i do this and I can use hers and check it at work and at home till it's clear full. It's about 10 miles each way.
     
  11. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    You should only check it in the morning, as the radiator cap cannot be opened when the engine is hot.
     
  12. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    The engine wouldn't have cooled after 10 hours at work? I was planning to check it right before starting, not right after parking. :D
     
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  13. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    The deed is basically done. Got it mostly refilled. Drove it a while. No codes yet. Will top it off again in the morning after it cools. I think I still need to add the better part of one quart based on what came out. I hope to do an autopsy on the old valve tomorrow.
     
  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    @NutzAboutBolts video? Either way, it's pretty good, pinned in 3rd gen maintenance sub forum
     
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  15. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    All I could find was 3rd gen videos. Not much help on an '07. :) I took @JC91006's advice. It was pretty easy. The only hard part was getting the valve out of there. No place for big hands or for blood thinners. Even with lifting the inverter as far as I could and wearing mechanic's gloves, the back of my hand and my lower arm show lots of evidence of the latter. :eek: [Edit to add: glad my hands are fairly small.]

    But well worth it to me compared to the prices I've heard about here from dealers. Remember, if you're not bleeding, you're not trying. JK - I'm actually a bit of an industrial safety nut after 23 years of making beverage cans.

    IMG_9847 copy.jpg
     
    #15 jerrymildred, Jan 18, 2019
    Last edited: Jan 18, 2019
  16. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Battle wounds
     
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  17. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    In the distant past I owned a 1997 Ford Explorer with 5L V8. Spark plug access is via the front wheel wells, after removing the front tires.

    The spark plug wire connectors had bonded to the plugs after 100K miles. I was yanking hard on one of the wires, slipped, and lost a few inches of skin off my arm as it scraped against the steel wheel well opening. So the lesson was to wear a long sleeved shirt and be careful about applying that yanking force.
     
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  18. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    OUCH!! I know what you mean. Another thing to watch for is when using a wrench or ratchet on a very tight fastener. If you're pushing, don't wrap your fingers around it unless you know they won't slam into something nasty when it breaks loose. I saw several guys go to the ER for stitches that way.
     
  19. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Although the title of this string mentions the CHRS canister: so far you've replaced just the engine coolant valve, and that seems to have solved the issue?

    Pls post a photo of the valve.
     
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  20. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Jerry, apologizes, lost track of of the topic.
     
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