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Red Triangle as I was driving home from purchasing :(

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Blind Dentist, Feb 6, 2018.

  1. MelonPrius

    MelonPrius Senior Member

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    Ha ha... these dealers always buy their cars from old ladies. Blind Dentist: you checked out the car, it had a check engine light, and you still purchased it? Is that accurate?
     
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  2. Blind Dentist

    Blind Dentist New Member

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    You are correct sir.
     
  3. MelonPrius

    MelonPrius Senior Member

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    You've come to the right place. Lots of good advice here. Good luck and keep this thread updated.
     
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  4. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    And good name!
     
  6. Andrew_Ph

    Andrew_Ph Junior Member

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    Prius uses electric heaters, not coolant based.
    I dont really see what the traction batteries have to do with it.
    Sometimes the VSC/assisted brake lights come on for no apparent reason, like when its wet.
     
  7. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    That is incorrect. The Prius uses coolant based heating. The Prime has a supplemental heat pump and I think some models have electric heat as a supplement only. On my Gen 4 in auto mode the fan does not come on for heat until the engine is up to temperature.
     
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  8. exstudent

    exstudent Senior Member

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    1) Talk is cheap! Were you there when NewMexico Grandma sold the car? You will never know, but that is what you want to believe.

    2) Why did you not pay another mechanic, who knows Prius', to give the vehicle a through examination? You know too little to be making expensive mistakes.

    3) Call Matt at Texas Prius Battery Replacement Solid reputation here on PC and know's Prius.

    Stop trying to diagnose/eliminate what you don't know.

    The code points to the temperature sensor on the CHRS (Coolant Heat Recovery System) tank.

    The "guy" could have replaced a different coolant temperature sensor part, OR, maybe he replaced the correct part, but the replacement part was bad? I am inclined to believe he didn't replace any coolant temperature sensor and just showed you the last coolant temp sensor part he had lying around. Before this visual display, did you even know what that part would look like?

    Sadly, you saw the parts. You should have kept the parts to verify these parts belong to a Prius and are associated with the DTCs. The removed parts were likely OEM, and would have Toyota part numbers that could be researched. IF the guy even did the work.​
     
  9. jm98

    jm98 Member

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    Also, this car was bought by the dealer from an old lady in New Mexico. El Paso is in far west Texas, no where near the hurricanes but anything's possible I suppose. I'd just like to rule out the "easy" fixes before jumping to ground faults


    You can verify this by registering VIN with Toyota Owner's web portal. Check all service records and see which Toyota dealer service performed.

    Now, When you add VIN and if VIN is not serviced from your zip code dealer, the URL will ask you for zip code which Prius was serviced as the web site assumes you owned Prius from day one or have some historical records of vehicle.

    Good luck and please tell us if the Prius was indeed from El Paso..
     
  10. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Maybe.

    Or maybe there is air in the part of the engine coolant loop associated with the coolant heat recovery system.

    Remove the large black plastic panel over the radiator, for access to the engine radiator cap. That panel is held on with six plastic fasteners. To remove the fasteners, rotate with a Phillips screwdriver while exerting upwards pressure on the panel, to pop each fastener out.

    Remove the radiator cap and look into the radiator. Is the fluid level full? If not, fill the radiator using the correct pink Toyota Super Long Life Coolant. (If the existing coolant is not pink, the wrong coolant was used.) Also fill the radiator overflow reservoir if needed.

    If you find that the radiator is not full, continue to check the radiator level each morning before you first drive the car. Continue the daily checks until you find the level remains full at the radiator neck and no longer drops down.

    The cabin heater is a traditional design heater core which uses engine coolant, supplemented by PTC electric heating elements.
     
  11. Blind Dentist

    Blind Dentist New Member

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    I appreciate all the responses, although some of you were a little less condescending than others :).

    Just a little update. The check engine light turns off every now and then for a day or two then comes back on with the same error code P1116. Not sure if that helps with the diagnosis.

    An update on the VIN for those who thought it might be a flood car. VIN checks out as being registered in Las Cruces (which is right next to El Paso) and the previous owner had an old lady sounding name :sneaky:.

    I'm probably going to take it into the dealership and have them check it out. I'll give more updates as I see them
     
  12. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Did she change her name as she got older?
     
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  13. Blind Dentist

    Blind Dentist New Member

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    Haha, no I don't think so but again anything is possible
     
  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Names evolve. Older ladies today have names like Margaret, Ester, never Krystal.
     
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  15. ericbecky

    ericbecky Hybrid Battery Hero

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    P1116Coolant control valve may have issues.
     
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