Inverter Overheat

I had the recall done early last winter, and just before that they replaced the engine mechanical coolant pump on warranty.
So two days ago I'm under the car changing the oil and notice most of the undertray bolts are loose or gone! Lazy mechanics! To -properly- tighten those bolts you have to reach over the tray and hold the "nut". They didn't. I had a bunch of Toyota fasteners left over from my bumper install on the FJ Cruiser so I was able to fix Pearl up right away without having to go to the dealer. Lucky for them! I was pretty mad!
And people wonder why my cars almost never go back to the dealer for service!

 

Slight aside.
My inverter pump-2006 Prius 55,000 miles- died on 6-26-11.
Dash lit up-code P0A93.
The dealer replaced the pump 6-27-11 no charge.
But the writer said the belt driven WP "was leaking"
They wanted $387 to replace it.
I said I would have it done in a few weeks when I had the $$.
Brought it home-engine radiator reservoir was 15 ounces low.
BUT I CAN'T FIND A LEAK-despite looking pretty hard?
1)Carefully looked all over engine bay for drips/stains-especially under the WP on the cowling under the WP in the AC compressor.
2)Jacked up car and got a good look at the underside of the WP- NOTHING- no stains, no shadows, no build up of grunge.
3)Put paper under engine bay-nothing- no spots no drips.

I don't know what to think.15 ounces of coolant is missing.
I'll keep looking of course.I do live in south Louisiana-hot climate-and the car is black-so the engine bay is hot much of the time.Still 15 ounces is a lot to evaporate away in 5 years 55,000 miles.
Any ideas?
Thanks
Charlie

 

I'm not sure, 5 years is a long time. I like to check all coolant levels every service/oil_change and top off - even if only a very small amount is needed.

Assuming you added the necessary coolant I'd just keep an eye on the levels. If it just needs topping off a couple of ounces a year I don't see that as a problem.

 

uart

Thanks for the advice.
Yes I topped it up-plain water, but NOLA doesn't get terribly cold,so not too concerned about the raised freezing point.When I added the water I assumed I would easily find a leak,so I would be draining much of the coolant anyway to change the WP.I do wish I had some distilled water at hand, but...

Yes what you say is more or less my plan.Check it frequently-every few days-and see what happens. Like you say five years is a long time-0.25mls lost per day-3 drops- isn't much.Maybe it weeped/seeped/evaporated away.

Thanks
Charlie

 

Don't top up with water. It's not too expensive to just buy a quart of SLLC to keep for top up's. That's what I do.

 

actually, I'm cheaper than that, I just use the old stuff, filtered, of course!

 

Good advice.
I'll get a gallon.
Does it take the same coolant for the engine and the converter?
Is it Toyota specific or does WalMart/Autozone sell it?
$15/gallon or so?
Thanks
Charlie
PS Bigger aside-what is that clicking/pumping noise I've hear from the engine bay when I pop the hood.The vehicle has been off for 10 hours, but when I pop the hood I've heard 3 seconds worth of pumping clicking coming from near the back of the engine bay- on the driver's side??The motor isn't on-power isn't on- nothing is on- but click,click click for maybe 3 seconds or so?

 

Glad to hear it

By the way, the google calculator is really spiffy. It does the usual numbers stuff, and in addition has a fantastic units converter. It can even do compound (nested?) conversions.

 

The coolant is "special". You have to get it at a Toyota dealer. And it's a lot more than $15.
Why not use water? Because there are corrosion inhibitors in the coolant. You need those. Well, the car does anyway.

As far as the sounds, probably the brake booster. If the car sees the FOB nearby, and especially if it sees it in the drivers area, it "gets ready" to drive. Part of that is pumping up the brake system.

Oh, and a Prius is never really "off". Unless you disconnect the 12V battery and discharge the brake capacitors.

 

No - it's not a bigger aside ... it's smaller. The Prius has an electric brake pump/accumulator. It makes that sound when it's creating pressure for the system. Go ahead & step on the brake for a few seconds (regardless whether the car is on or off), then repeat once or twice ... and you'll hear the system recharge - make the noise. The question has been asked innumerable times here on PC.

 

Yes it's the same pink coolant for both the engine and the inverter coolant loops.

It's called "Toyota Super Long Life Coolant" (or SLLC for short). Yes it's best to get the right stuff from Toyota because they all contain corrosion inhibitors, and you need these to be compatible with what's already in there.

It's not cheap, but you don't really need a whole gallon just for top-offs. I expect a single quart will last several years easy. Anyway $15 will get you a small bottle of about a quart or a quart and a half or something like that.

 

I hope to get in next week. It would have been earlier, but work and now the holiday weekend got in the way.

Tom

 

David Beale, Hill ,Uart
Thanks for the info.
Sorry about the brake booster question-I was feeling too lazy to search.
I'll get a quart.It will last a long time.
No leak this am-no drop in any levels.
The WP leak the service person wanted to repair is a mystery for now.
Thanks
Charlie

 

Hey Everyone,

This just happened to me on the way to Vegas. Does anyone know if the Master Hybrid Triangle light will go off after the pump is replaced? Or, can the Scangauge reset it? Thanks and I will be going to the stealership right now.

 

So red triangle of death and the car icon with the spike through it on the display screen. Do not try and drive any distance with this. You could potentially damage your hybrid drive system. Pull over and get a tow.

If it is the hybrid coolant pump (mine was warranty) this should fix everything. The dealer will reset all the codes.

 

As far as how hot the inverter can get before you have to worry, a good rule of thumb is if you can hold your hand on it without being burned it's ok. If not, worry! As an electronics tech this is how I determine if I need to take cooling action on equipment, when I don't have my gauges/meters with me.

 

That is really interesting and "should" assure many people. lane:

 

Well the OP said his inverter temperatures peaked at over 200F so I don't know how reassuring that's going to be for him. Try holding your hand on metal at over 200F and see how long you last.

I agree that's too hot though.

 

I've said thei before, the Toyota SLCC pink stuff is a rip off. Prestone, as I described before, and copied below, meets all of Toyota's requirements for a fraction of the cost:
Prestone extended life is non-silicate, non-amine, non-nitrite, non-borate, is yellow, not green. I don't know what HOA (sounds like Toyota marketing) is, and but I can't see any technical reason why Prestone should cause any problems. I didn't look at other brands, the Pretone was on sale, and the cheapest thing in the store after the rebate, although I wouldn't trust any brand, any name brand for modern engines should be fine. The invertor should be even less stressful on the antifreeze then the engine. Just a bunch of tubes in the case with fluid flowing in it, with a much lower heat load then the engine.
I've been using this stuff for the last 2 years in the engine & the invertor cooling system. All is well with both, nice clean yellow antifreeze.