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OVERHEATING AFTER WATER PUMP REPLACEMENT

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Allison Meggison, Nov 11, 2019.

  1. Allison Meggison

    Allison Meggison Junior Member

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    My car was going through a lot of coolant before and seemed like the water pump was bad so we replaced it and all was good for a while. Then recently the overheating light started flashing again and will stay solid for a few seconds if I don't slow down or pull over quickly. It's going through coolant really fast again. Idk what the problem is. Looks like coolant is everywhere when I look around the reservoir but I can't tell where it's coming from. Before the water pump replacement I had misfire codes here and there also, even after replacing coils and plugs. There was a water pump code before the replacement. Now no codes pop.
     
  2. mjoo

    mjoo Senior Member

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    What mileage? Have you replaced the thermostat? Done an EGR system cleaning?

    Pixel XL ?
     
  3. Allison Meggison

    Allison Meggison Junior Member

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    it has 252k miles and no I haven't replaced the thermostat but it was blowing a lot of steam today when I pulled off the interstate after the warning light started flashing. I replaced the cap and the warning light didn't come on for a few hours. Now idk what the problem could be. I don't think I have done the EGR system cleaning.
     
  4. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Anytime you replace the water pump, you should replace the thermostat.
    But it sound like you have a blown head gasket since you state you have steam blowing.
    Depending on where the gasket gives out, the exhaust will blow the coolant back to the overflow tank.
    Had a ford aerostar that did that.
     
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  5. Greenteapri

    Greenteapri Active Member

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    Steam in the ICE machine is not good.

    How long have you owned the vehicle? How many miles have you put on her?
     
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    maybe you didn't get all the air out
     
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  7. Allison Meggison

    Allison Meggison Junior Member

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    I've had the car a little over a year and I've put about 70k miles on her. She blows steam from the overflow spout on the coolant reservoir near the cap and there's always coolant everywhere but idk where it's coming from. What's the best way to find out where it's coming from? Couldn't I use something to help detect the spot its leaking from?
     
  8. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    What are you replacing the lost coolant with, toyota SLLC or something else?
    Which OBD2 scanner are you using to retrieve stored DTCs?
     
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  9. Greenteapri

    Greenteapri Active Member

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    When in doubt, rev up your engines!
     
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  10. Allison Meggison

    Allison Meggison Junior Member

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    No I was bad and used water a couple times and last time I got the coolant from Auto zone they told me what was best but I haven't gotten it from the dealership in probably five months. I'm using the cheapest scanner tool that you get from walmart that costs $13. It's a tiny little red scanner.
     
  11. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    Water will lower the boiling point.

    A cheap scanner may not pick up all of the codes that are stored.
     
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  12. Allison Meggison

    Allison Meggison Junior Member

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    Dang I clicked on those links about oxyclean idk how to even get to the point of cleaning it with oxyclean. How do i know if the thermostat should be replaced? Should I try cleaning it first?
     
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  13. mjoo

    mjoo Senior Member

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    At your mileage I would just replace it with a new OEM part. They're around $40

    If you're not getting coolant out the exhaust or misfire codes - a thermostat and EGR cleanse may be all you need.
    Pixel XL ?
     
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  14. Allison Meggison

    Allison Meggison Junior Member

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    What is Pixie XL" lol I'm not sure. What is the best way to clean the EGR
     
  15. mjoo

    mjoo Senior Member

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    @Raytheeagle would say pressure washer.

    Pixel XL ?
     
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  16. mikey_t

    mikey_t Active Member

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    I think it's a phone that he's using to reply on the forum with, and it auto creates a signature. Like iPhones used to do in emails.
     
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  17. Maximay

    Maximay New Member

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    You have a blow head gasket. Your coolant is leaking to the combustion chambers causing misfires. Then blowing out the tail pipe. Exhaust pipe. Need to get a used engine from a donor prius that was in a wreck with low mileage on engine. This happens a lot. And get 2013 and up so the oil ring issue of oil consumption should not surfice
     
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