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Dealer told water pump was leaking need help/advice.

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by TOY0TA FAN, Dec 12, 2015.

  1. TOY0TA FAN

    TOY0TA FAN Junior Member

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    I gave up because i could still hear bubbling, i took it to the dealer for a coolant flush. It ended up getting worse, the bubbles/gurgling is super loud now. The heat works fine. I'm literally screwed, i have no idea whats going on, the water pump isn't leaking and i left the car overnight on the driveway and couldn't find any puddles. I now have to go back to the dealer and let them diagnose the real problem $$$$$$$$.
     
  2. TOY0TA FAN

    TOY0TA FAN Junior Member

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    I ended up giving it to the dealer to figure out whats going on, the bubbles would not go away. Thanks though.
     
  3. Andyprius1

    Andyprius1 Senior Member

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    Good advice.
     
  4. TOY0TA FAN

    TOY0TA FAN Junior Member

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    When i took the water pump out it had that pink stuff all over the place. I'll upload a picture as soon as i can, to see if it was normal or leaking.
     
  5. Andyprius1

    Andyprius1 Senior Member

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    It's actually mineral residue or salt/ other minerals. Years ago I worked on large boilers and would see this residue all the time. Think of it as a stalactite or stalacmite. We never did any maintainance On this type of seepage. You can check the nuts/bolts and tighten them , a bit. Or use a steel brush and clean the cracks, again, a bit only. You don't want to make it worse. Just keep tabs on your water/ coolant levels.
     
  6. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Did you rev up the engine for at least 10 minutes after the engine thermostat opened, with the heater temp control set to MAX HEAT and the cabin fan turned to the highest speed? The bubbling that you can hear in the heater core should go away if you do this. Do NOT be afraid to floor the accelerator pedal and rev up the engine as fast as it can spin, that is not a very fast speed when the car is sitting on the driveway.

    After the engine cooled down, did you check the coolant level in the radiator and the overflow container and top off both? Each time the engine goes through a heat/cool cycle, you need to check the coolant level in both places until you find the coolant level is stable at full.
     
  7. TOY0TA FAN

    TOY0TA FAN Junior Member

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    Thanks for the tip, i guess its too late now i went ahead and replaced it, i'll call it preventive maintenace to make myself feel better.
    Before i went to the dealer i did, and the level did not drop nor did the sound go away, i gave up and went to the dealer.I have not yet done this after i got back from the dealer. Should i rev it up again and see if it goes away? I'm not sure how big of a factor heat is but it works well both before and after the dealer.
     
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  8. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Yes.
     
  9. Andyprius1

    Andyprius1 Senior Member

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    What Pat is saying is right on the ball, before running off to the dealer give the radiator, overflow, inverter a good workout. Buy a infrared temp sensor gun and monitor temps around the engine and inverter. Think about what might be normal temps. Radiator thermostat opens up on most cars at 180/190 F this allows engine cooling water to circulate and cool thruout the radiator. The inverter temps are very cool, 100-115 F I was amazed with my 2005, I could put my hand on the inverter. To return to the pump, where it is mounted, flush, that is a point of changing temps and some pressure. Because of this these surfaces are constantly expanding and contracting, every time this happens a bit of condensate seeps out along with the anti-freeze chemicals, hence, that pink, powdery residue on the outside.
     
  10. TOY0TA FAN

    TOY0TA FAN Junior Member

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    Ok i did it, I ran the engine for 10 min max heat, then took for a HARD drive around the block. I noticed the heat was way hotter burning hot than before my trip to the dealer.(EDIT: heat felt the same as before i replaced the pump). So far no bubbles or gurgling, i'll let the car cool overnight and then check overflow/radiator tank. I hooked up Bluetooth obd 2 adapter and the coolant temp it was showing was 63-66C or about ~150F. I'll skip taking it to the dealer for now. I have my fingers crossed. I will post back with a final update once i check again tomorrow for the bubbling. Once again i can't thank you enough with all the help you have given.
     
  11. TOY0TA FAN

    TOY0TA FAN Junior Member

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    I just got back form giving it a hard drive around the block, i hear no bubbles anymore hopefully it stays that way. I'll double check tomorrow. Either way thanks for the tip, i'll wait before going back to the dealer. Thanks again.
     
  12. TOY0TA FAN

    TOY0TA FAN Junior Member

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    I just checked it again i still hear it for 5 seconds and then it goes away :(. I'm tempted to call it quits and call this a failure on my part. I have no idea what else to do.
     
  13. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Can you record what you are hearing for five seconds?

    Also, if the car is not overheating and if the heater is good, then I am not sure why you are so eager to declare that you are defeated on the project. You may need to let the engine go through a few heat/cool cycles to make sure the coolant level is totally full.
     
  14. TOY0TA FAN

    TOY0TA FAN Junior Member

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    I'll record and upload as soon as i hear it again. I don't want to give up its just i'm really worried i messed up. Bleeding the coolant should not be difficult i have done way more complex tasks than this. Again thanks for your help, i'll see if i can hear it again if not i will upload as soon as i can.
     
  15. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    The engine thermostat has not opened yet. The opening temp is 82 degrees C or 180 degrees F. You need to let the thermostat open, then rev up the engine to get any remaining air into the radiator where you can later top off the fluid.
     
  16. TOY0TA FAN

    TOY0TA FAN Junior Member

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    Hmm, i would have thought it would have opened by them i'll rev it up again.
    I made a quick video, if you turn it up you can barely hear the sound for a sec, the mic couldn't pick it up well.



     
  17. TOY0TA FAN

    TOY0TA FAN Junior Member

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    Mini update i revved it up again and the max rpm was about 3k, once i hit 85C the car dropped to 1.1k rpm, i waited but the car would not respond to the throttle movement, a few minutes later the car recognized the input and went back to 3k while the temp was around 85-86C, heats set at max temp and speed, i'll rev it up some more and drive it hard once more now that i hope the thermostat has opened.
    IMG_2233.JPG
     
  18. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Yes, I noticed the engine control logic differs between my 2004 and 2007, where it is hard to get the latter's engine to rev up.

    It looks like you are on the right track now. If you can't get the engine to rev up while the car is sitting on your driveway, you may have to get on the freeway and rev up the engine as much as you can, consistent with your local speed limits.
     
  19. TOY0TA FAN

    TOY0TA FAN Junior Member

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    Just got back from the freeway i drove the car hard college student style ;). Simply put temp got up to 87/88C while the heat was on max. I slowed down on the off ramp and went back on the free way and got temp high up 87/88C then turned the heat on max and left it their. No matter what i did i could not get it past 89C. I drove the prius hard. So i have revved it up to 3k while in the driveway with the thermostat on (hopefully) and then did the freeway run. I'll let the car rest and double check for the sound in the morning as well as the level. For now i'll hold out on the dealer. Since the car gives great heat and wont go above 89C, is it safe enough to drive?
     
  20. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Yes.

    Since the ambient air temp is only 42 degrees F in your area at this moment, the engine's operating temperature is not going to get very high. 89 degrees C is very good.