1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Coolant system issues

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Schnitzelfiend, Apr 8, 2023.

Tags:
  1. Schnitzelfiend

    Schnitzelfiend New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2023
    1
    0
    0
    Location:
    New york
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    Hello,

    I had two codes on my 2008 Prius. The codes were p1116 and p1121. I heard that these codes are almost always related to low coolant levels and the coolant control valve. The coolant level was low in the engine coolant reservoir I had my coolant control valve replaced by my mechanic with an OEM part. I also gave the mechanic Peak Asian vehicle red/pink fluid coolant which he used to top it off. He used less than one full container of the coolant. It took them around 3 hours to get it done.
    After I got the car home, I checked the coolant levels and it was higher. After driving it a couple of times and on the highway, I thought everything was fine besides one sound that I wasn't sure if I was hearing right. I heard fluid moving as the engine started when I pressed the gas. The sound came from under me.

    I checked the coolant reservoir this morning after driving and it was completely empty (I checked because my heat worked for a few minutes and stopped blowing hot air completely.). It has been less than a week since I got the control valve replaced and it wasn't going down at this rate before. I also checked for codes again with my OBDII scanner and I still have p1116, p1121 as well as a new P1122. Any help that can point me in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.

    I'm not sure if this is related. The cat was stolen and my mechanic installed a generic cat. I heard that sometimes they could cut a coolant line. When I got the car the person who I bought it from had a long plastic black tube in the car and I wasn't sure what it was.
     
    #1 Schnitzelfiend, Apr 8, 2023
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    108,825
    49,437
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    have you seen any coolant on the ground?
     
    #2 bisco, Apr 8, 2023
  3. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2012
    7,645
    3,858
    0
    Location:
    Wellington, New Zealand
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Just a few comments as I read through your post.
    It may have sounded like that but it didn't. It was more than likely in front of you behind the dash.
    Can be but not always.
    Again most likely, but not always.
    This is not the place to inspect the coolant level. You should be looking down the radiator fill neck. (You will need to remove the black cover to access the radiator cap and remove it.) Caution: Do not remove the radiator cap while the engine and radiator are still hot. Pressurized, hot engine coolant and steam may be released and cause serious burns. Once you have added coolant over several days to the radiator at the filler neck and it does not require daily top-ups, you can fill the overflow reservoir to the full mark.
    This code is related to the measurement of CHS (coolant heat storage) tank output temperature not to specification. If the CHS tank was not bled properly, then that could make sense. When the system is completely bled and you still have a P1116 code, it could be the coolant heat storage tank outlet temperature sensor or clogging within the cooling system.
    This should not be a factor.
    The trouble with hearing things is that they can be subject to "Chinese whispers". The Gen 2 does not have any coolant line that can or needs to be cut. I'm not sure to what the source from where you heard this could be referring.

    My gut feeling is that the system has not been bled properly, so you should open the filler neck daily and check the level filling as required until it will take no more.


    PS, your next 3 posts will not be visible to the wider PC community until you have 5 posts or more on your profile. This is because your first 4 posts need to be approved by a moderator, a measure brought about by spambot attacks on the site.
     
    #3 dolj, Apr 9, 2023
    Last edited: Apr 9, 2023
    jerrymildred likes this.
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)