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Check engine light on, 650 mile move tomorrow - Michgal needs your help

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Michgal007, Jul 31, 2012.

  1. lovemyprius53

    lovemyprius53 Junior Member

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    I think you won your bet. if you are referring to the reserve compartment is just to the right of the radiator cap it looks bone dry. Is this normal radiator coolant?
     
  2. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    As Jeff wrote earlier, Toyota Super Long Life Coolant (SLLC). The eve of a long drive is not the time to get cheap. Buy the real thing and use it full strength; don't get a substitute and don't dilute it.
     
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  3. lovemyprius53

    lovemyprius53 Junior Member

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    thanks, my commute to work is 60miles, so i guess i best wait for the dealership to open in the morning. And i want to thank all that have to responded to my questions on this thread. you all ROCK.
     
  4. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Please be aware its empty becasue you are leaking coolant somewhere. Most likely the water pump on the front of the engine. You never mentioned how many miles on car.
    Also it may take quite a while to fill the rad up through the overflow tank. Don't bother with the overflow tank.... open the cap on the radiator itself and pour the SLLC in there first till its full. Then put the cap on and fill the white overflow tank to the fill line. To get to the tank you may have to take the black plastic cover off thats on the top of the rad. if so post back and we will tll you how to take that off. Its very easy.
    Then check that overflow tank again after a few miles of driving after the car warms up. The coolant may be quite low and it may need further coolant refills.
    Do not open the rad cap after its warmed up. It must be cool. The overflow tank is ok to open warm but not rad. You may get burned. And I bet that will hurt.
    Good Luck.
     
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  5. Michgal007

    Michgal007 Senior Member

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    Before buying a new gas cap, I noticed that the wire that connects the cap to the body (so it doesn't fall out while pumping gas), is tagging the mid part of the cap making it loose. So I unhooked the wire from the body for the time being. Two days later, I got in to the car to go buy a new cap and noticed that the warning light has disappeared. :p
     
  6. 2009Prius

    2009Prius A Wimpy DIYer

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    The tether should be free to rotate around the gas cap to allow some slack, but I also find it tend to tighten itself when I screw on the gas cap. Not the best design but sort of works.