Coolant and electrocution (water pump / idler pulley)

Has the wp been replaced ever under warranty? How many kilometers on the car? I don't know why you would want to change out the wp if it's not giving you any grief. Assuming you aren't pulling my chain the answer is, no, you won't get electrocuted changing the coolant.

 

Just change the idler & belt if its noisy. You didn't list the most important thing the miles but I assume its over 100K so if so your overdue on engine coolant change-Inverter coolant change-and transmission fluid change.

The high voltage thing is ridiculous and now you know that Daves is a rip off place. Your lucky you know now and he didn't get his hands on your car.

There are relays in the Hybrid battery case the high voltage battery. When car is not in READY those relays are open and then nothing comes out of the hybrid battery assembly. 0 volts.
From the windshield forward concerning the engine its just a plain old Toyota 4 cylinder essentially.

When the car is in READY the relays close and present 200 volts DC to the back of the Inverter via big orange cables. Any big cable orange cable in a Prius carries high voltage. You can see the big orange cables on the back of the Inverter.

Btw, Welcome to PC!

 

I changed the idler pulley on my 05 Prius initially because my 92 Honda Civic VX had an idler pulley of the same design and it made a lot of noise before I replaced it, so I assumed that the Prius idler pulley bearing went bad too.

Much to my chagrin, the idler pulley wasn't the noise source. It was the engine water pump instead. For me, there was no easy way to discern which moving part was causing the noise. A flip of the coin, so to speak.

So, in the end, I have a new idler pulley bearing ($20), a new drive belt ($7), a new Aisin water pump ($45), and a fresh gallon of Toyota 50/50 SLLC ($22). For $100 plus my labor, I should be good to go for at least 100K miles or more before belt replacement.

I'm not sure if I would have replaced the idler pulley bearing if I had replaced the water pump first. Probably not since the noise would have disappeared. But since the bearing was inexpensive, I might have changed it out anyway.

$600 to replace a water pump? Not quite highway robbery - but close. You shouldn't pay more than $400.

It's a relatively easy DIY job with hand tools. Not for the faint of heart though. If you snap a mounting bolt in the block for some reason, you'll be in a world of hurt. That rarely happens so don't be afraid to attempt the replacement if you've done other minor engine repairs before (the Prius was my third DIY engine water pump - it was my first external one though, the other two water pumps were protected from corrosion by timing belt covers ).

FYI - to be sure the engine doesn't "accidentally" start when you've got your hands on the engine, make sure the car is turned off and the smart key system is disabled (if so equipped). If you're super cautious, disconnect the negative cable from the 12V aux battery - absolutely zero chance of the engine starting then.

No chance whatsoever of being electrocuted when draining and refilling the coolant.

 

i hope you place a review in all those great recommendation sites.

 

To add to edthefox5, if there was any truth to Dave's statement then you could get electrocuted adding coolant to the reservoirs with the engine running. Do you think Toyota would set themselves up to this type of safety issue?

 

Do you think Toyota would set themselves up to this type of safety issue?
Ummmm....really? That's like asking if Ford would set themselves up by designing and selling a car with a fuel tank outside of the frame. Or Chevy selling a car with an air-cooled pancake motor in the boot causing it to be uncontrollable.

 

Are you stuck in the 60's, the 70's or both?

 

My family had a new Corvair, first or second year they were out (1961-62?). We all survived. Never had any experience with the Ford Pinto. I assume that's the second mystery vehicle.