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

Gen1 Saga Continues...

Discussion in 'Generation 1 Prius Discussion' started by VOR, Sep 27, 2016.

  1. VOR

    VOR Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2015
    26
    0
    0
    Location:
    Oregon
    Vehicle:
    2001 Prius
    Model:
    I
    Hi Everyone,
    I'm back with more Gen 1 fun. Thanks to some help from a kind relative I got the MG2 Replaced (P3120) and it has been running fine for about 3 months. However, today after picking up gas, my wife started the car to leave and we got the "Triangle of Doom" again. Of course I was away from home and my reader (Torque & OBDLink MX) so I just sort of looked under the hood for anything obvious. Oil level was fine and I could see some movement in the inverter coolant reservoir. I suspected the 12v auxiliary battery as I've been having to give it a jump from time to time to get the computer to boot and start the car but the computer seemed to be working this time (got the Toyota logo instead of the white screen I've been seeing - I'd love some tips on the 12v battery issue as well). Anyway, everything under the hood sounded pretty normal (P3120 made the engine rev up funny) so we decided to drive it back home so I could get the code(s).

    Code is P3130. A quick Internet check revealed Inverter System Cooling Malfunction. Of course that leads to questions about the coolant flow and the inverter coolant pump.

    Checked:
    1. Level in the reservoir is a bit above the Full line.
    2. Checking for flow at home there doesn't seem to be any flow.
    3. I checked for air pockets in the coolant lines by flexing/squeezing the lines along much of their length. During the massaging of the lines I could see the fluid moving but no air bubbles.
    4. Checked for vibration of the inverter coolant pump (located behind driver's side headlight) but couldn't feel any vibrations beyond the normal vibration of the car when the gas engine was running.

    Some Other Info That Might Be Useful (from sensors as read in Torque):
    > Aux. Battery Voltage = 136.47dv
    > INFO. CODE 1 (what are these "INFO." codes???) = 101
    > INFO. CODE 5 = 346
    > MG1 Temp 65 Celsius
    > MG1 Inverter Temp 73 Celsius *
    > MG2 Temp 59 Celsius
    > MG2 Inverter Temp = 65 Celsius *

    * What's the difference between MG1 & MG2 Inverter Temperatures. Is this just a redundant reading?

    Let me know if there are any other sensor readings you'd like to have!

    I think the pump is probably dead. Any tips on checking the pump? Also, any tips on where to buy? I'd like to get it for a good price but I don't want a junky part. Maybe someone could supply the part number to search for?

    Thanks,
    Vance
     
  2. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    23,072
    14,975
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV


    I don't have my Gen 1 any more, but I still have the manual. For some of the diagnostic codes, there are also INF codes that tell you more about what the trouble is. For P3130, it doesn't contribute much, because (in my 2001 manual anyway) there is only one possible INF code that goes with P3130, namely 346, indicating a problem involving the water pump, IG2 relay, or wire harness.

    That leaves the question of what other diagnostic code that 101 INF code goes with. It seems you might have more than one code that is set.

    I bought the paper manual for my Gen 1, but anything that's in there you can also find online at techinfo.toyota.com.

    Inside the big inverter housing, there are separate inverters dedicated to MG1 and MG2, each with a temperature sensor; that's why you see two temps reported.

    Lots of Toyota dealers sell online now and have part catalog searches that will give you the part number. I often use Village Toyota or Metro Toyota, mostly out of habit/loyalty, because they were among the first I found that would show the part number, when a lot of other online dealers would only let you search and order without showing it. But now most online dealer searches work that way.

    Often if I find the part using some dealer's online catalog, I'll go ahead and buy it from them, even if knowing the part number lets me find it a few dollars less elsewhere—because I like the catalogs that don't play the hide-the-part-number game, so I don't want to penalize them for it.

    -Chap
     
  3. VOR

    VOR Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2015
    26
    0
    0
    Location:
    Oregon
    Vehicle:
    2001 Prius
    Model:
    I
    Checking the power connector that goes into the pump we are getting around 12 volts. Does this sound about right? Also, after testing we turned the car back on to see if maybe the power connector had been loose or something. I saw the level drop to between the Full and Low lines but still couldn't really see any real flow. Does this dropping of the level mean anything to anyone?

    Anyone know what the 101 INFO code goes to?