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Coolant inverter pump stopped just replaced unplugged and plugged back in and runs again

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by 2006_priusAMG, Jun 7, 2022.

  1. 2006_priusAMG

    2006_priusAMG New Member

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    I just replaced my inverter coolant pump. I have 161k miles on my 2006. I was driving home today three days after and the pump stopped working again. So I unplugged it and replugged it and it worked again when I turned the car to accessorie mode. What could cause it to just stop fuses were all good. Check engine light red triangle and vsc and low tire light showed up today on my way back from work
     
  2. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    Welcome to PriusChat!!
    Was the OEM replacement purchased at a dealership, or from a known online Toyota dealer?
    Was there a related code (DTC P0A93) that told you the pump was failing, or had stopped working again?

    FYI : you're moderated until you've posted 5 times.
     
  3. 2006_priusAMG

    2006_priusAMG New Member

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    It was a rock auto part brand skp the pump just stopped making turbulence and noise on accessorie mode. So I had unplugged it and plugged it back in and it worked again. I need to get it to my shop in the morning and then I will pull codes and give an update
     
  4. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    I have a few cars when I see the turtle come on I get out unplug the inverter pump I have a long thing connected to do this and plug it back and it immediately starts working again and may work for 6 months 9 months whatever doesn't seem to make any difference whether it's cool or hot out they're very similar to modern washing machine drain pumps they're magnetic and work through plastic there's no direct connection of the impeller to the motor assembly one car I've given up I've replaced so many pumps I put the one from my motorcycle scooter on the car and it's actually never coded I'm thinking about taking one of the other two or three pumps on the car and moving it to inverter duty so in other words like the one under the inverter pump get one off of one of my other cars and move it up top and use it as an inverter pump it already has the right plugs on it it's just a different type of pump and why are we never replacing these other pumps on the Gen 2 because there may be made better. The one underneath my inverter pump looks like an iron might tiny spa circulation pump almost I use those in my business and they last for years
     
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  5. pasadena_commut

    pasadena_commut Senior Member

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    Did you use an OEM pump? The first time I replaced one I used a Dorman and it did exactly that - every once and a while it would fail to start and the inverter would get too hot. Just turning the car off and back on was sufficient, I didn't need to mess with the wiring. Long story short, only use an OEM pump, the small amount of savings are not worth these sorts of hassles.
     
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  6. 2006_priusAMG

    2006_priusAMG New Member

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    I appreciate all the feedback it seems to have been that my 12v battery had a dead core and was causing a low voltage issue. Havent had any issues since I replaced the battery last night will update at the end of the week
     
  7. RT6

    RT6 New Member

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    I'm glad I saw this thread, I just got a Dorman in the mail today and was going to put it in. So, I guess I return it and get the Toyota OEM pump? Anyone know who has the best price?
     
  8. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Toyota doesn't make their pump I doubt if Toyota even has a quality control say in the manufacturer of that inverter pump the manufacturer may be Asian or whatever has control over that. I bet there's two or three factories in Asia making these things there's several variations on the theme for several different manufacturers of different type of vehicles and engines they all look the same and I would imagine behind the circuit board cover pretty much look the same maybe some little sloppier than others in the soldering and building but from the outside none of them have any marks or part numbers nothing just a black plastic case the impeller you can hear it if you shake it a little and the hose barbs and the plate to mount it to the car so I can't see how there is such a wide range of failure rates etc but I guess there is. I'm not paying over $100 for one of these things I'll just use one from another engine that I know works a long time like my scooter pump it is a known not to break electric water pump and the pump sizing impeller size and hose size looks correct and it takes the same plug so to me it's a no-brainer
     
  9. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    Would try McGeorge first, assuming the shipping is affordable.
     
  10. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    The dorman products are usually known for quality control and decent product always has been anyway unless that's changed recently I just don't like their prices they're very expensive right up there with the dealer practically sometimes even more than the dealer that's why I say you have to be careful with some of these parts this is a very basic pump nothing to it and getting ready to bust a few of them open today and look at them and see if I can see anything that makes any sense as to why the quality vary so much there's nothing to this type of pump yes literally only a few pieces
     
  11. mr_guy_mann

    mr_guy_mann Senior Member

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    I have tried many different dorman parts over many years, and have been disappointed by failures time and again. Dorman has consistently proven that they can't make reliable parts- period.

    This is a dorman oil pan for a Nissan. The drain plug leaks- why? Because the hole for the drain plug is about 2 degrees off from perpendicular. So tightening the plug crushes only one edge of the gasket. Another pan from dorman has the exact same fault (because mass production means they make thousands of bad parts).

    If they mess up parts that don't move, then I have zero faith in an electronically driven coolant pump. IMG_20220518_103826523_HDR.jpeg

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  12. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    I didn't think doorman mfgd anything just branded items . Denso and asian and the like are similar today seemingly . 3 plants mfgr. And millions of dealers get parts in order of how they've been marketed to .
     
  13. mr_guy_mann

    mr_guy_mann Senior Member

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    Whether Dorman actually makes junk or just sells rebranded junk doesn't matter to me- it's still junk.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  14. pasadena_commut

    pasadena_commut Senior Member

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    Other than the serious problem of it sometimes not starting, the Dorman was actually quite a nice pump. It appeared to move more fluid than the OEM pump did. (Judged by the amount of fluid movement in the reservoir.) However, I won't use one again, for the same reason I would not accept a pacemaker which worked reliably for all but 5 minutes a month.