possible reasons for red triange/how to fix

JC91006 · Sep 20, 2019

jaw444 said: ↑

i tried to check the inverter fluid, it was hard for me to see and i'm not sure. Maybe the tank is getting a little opaque from aging. i couldn't see where it was coming up to. Started in READY mode. far from sure about the level. with the car turned off, i took the cap off and looked in with flashlight. i couldn't judge where the level was coming up to. i could see it there, it was up to the narrow part of the neck. i could see a pinkish clear liquid. From outside the tank, i would not have known it was pink. i thought maybe it's not pink because it's completely empty but a level can be seen in the neck of the tank at the top.

i watched a video about changing the inverter fluid on an 2007, the guy was just learning about the car, it seemed like his first Prius. When he was done changing the fluid, he then wanted to turn on the inverter pump to test if the system was working. He said you turn the inverter pump on by hitting the start button twice, it starts the pump. There was a bubbling sound from in the tank, and he pointed out you could hear the pump. is doing this useful? if i pushed the starter button twice and i could hear the pump, would the fluid likely be moving? Can that method be used to find out if the pump is working or could it turn on and still not be able to pump?
Click to expand...

1. Press the start button 2 times should turn on the inverter pump, or you can put the car in READY mode.

2. Open the cap to the inverter reservoir to see if there's movement, can't see with the cap on.

If there's movement in the fluid, then the pump is working.

I'll be heading up to the San Fernando area Saturday morning, if you're available, I can meet you somewhere and take a quick look over of your car. Make sure everything is in working order.

jaw444 · Sep 20, 2019

Skibob said: ↑

There is an app you can use on a Mac to run techstream. I don’t remember the name though. Perhaps the person that used it will see this thread.
Click to expand...

Thanks! i googled it and the only thing i could find was, you install a program like Parallels (i read this on a thread at the ih8mud forum, it was a january 2019 post. that would be worth doing, it's a windows emulation software. i want to research it and the post said that was just one example of windows emulation apps for Mac, so i am happy to look into that, the poster said TechStream would work fine. that sounds like a good solution, that product is $90 on their website, i think it's worth having with my car getting older. the only thing is, i would need to have my MacBook in the car with me all the time. so i need to keep researching it. at least i could run techstream at home if i didn't have my computer and it might see codes that don't get wiped off periodically, or the history.

Skibob · Sep 20, 2019

For 90 dollars you can probably get an old laptop that runs windows 7 and a mini VCI setup.

Here is a link to a version of techstream that will work fine
Free Download and install Toyota Techstream 12.20.024 on Windows 7 | OBDII365.com Official Blog
Only other thing you would need is the cable.

wjtracy · Sep 20, 2019

jaw444 said: ↑

i tried to check the inverter fluid, it was hard for me to see and i'm not sure. Maybe the tank is getting a little opaque from aging. i couldn't see where it was coming up to. Started in READY mode. far from sure about the level. with the car turned off, i took the cap off and looked in with flashlight. i couldn't judge where the level was coming up to. i could see it there, it was up to the narrow part of the neck. i could see a pinkish clear liquid. From outside the tank, i would not have known it was pink. i thought maybe it's not pink because it's completely empty but a level can be seen in the neck of the tank at the top.

i watched a video about changing the inverter fluid on an 2007, the guy was just learning about the car, it seemed like his first Prius. When he was done changing the fluid, he then wanted to turn on the inverter pump to test if the system was working. He said you turn the inverter pump on by hitting the start button twice, it starts the pump. There was a bubbling sound from in the tank, and he pointed out you could hear the pump. is doing this useful? if i pushed the starter button twice and i could hear the pump, would the fluid likely be moving? Can that method be used to find out if the pump is working or could it turn on and still not be able to pump?
Click to expand...

It is an amazingly powerful little 12v pump so you should see rather rapid swirling around. But I gotta admit the only time I checked was when the pump was not moving, and I needed a new one. They last approx 80k miles we figure it could go a little more but I am on pump#3 at 185k miles. The first repalcement was a recall.

jaw444 · Sep 20, 2019

JC91006 said: ↑

1. Press the start button 2 times should turn on the inverter pump, or you can put the car in READY mode.

2. Open the cap to the inverter reservoir to see if there's movement, can't see with the cap on.

If there's movement in the fluid, then the pump is working.

I'll be heading up to the San Fernando area Saturday morning, if you're available, I can meet you somewhere and take a quick look over of your car. Make sure everything is in working order.
Click to expand...

thanks !! good to know the cap is supposed to be off to see if the fluid moves.
i just checked it, it's moving, kind of sloshing around.

wjtracy said: ↑

It is an amazingly powerful little 12v pump so you should see rather rapid swirling around. But I gotta admit the only time I checked was when the pump was not moving, and I needed a new one. They last approx 80k miles we figure it could go a little more but I am on pump#3 at 185k miles. The first repalcement was a recall.
Click to expand...

i am really glad to be no longer be totally ignorant about this part of the car. i appreciate all the info and patience.

dolj · Sep 21, 2019

Just a bit more info for you on this.

jaw444 said: ↑

... and the only thing I could find was, you install a program like Parallels ...
Click to expand...

Other options are VMWare for Mac, or BootCamp. The former is paid for and competes with parallels; the latter is free and comes with macOS. I haven't used BootCamp myself, but I believe you partition off some of the HDD to create a windows bootable partition, then have to hold the Option (Alt) Key down as you start up so you can select the BootCamp partition from which to boot. You may need to get a friend to help you do that.

In all options you will need a licensed copy of Win XP or Win 7 to install into the virtual machine or BootCamp partition.

Skibob said: ↑

For $90, you can probably get an old laptop that runs Windows 7 and a Mini VCI setup. ...
Click to expand...

I would probably go this direction, and look for a small notebook computer (similar size to 11" MacBook Air) as the best option. Only, inasmuch as, smaller will make it more convenient. If it only had Techstream installed and was your dedicated code reader, it would also add to the convenience score.

Hope that helps.

possible reasons for red triange/how to fix

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possible reasons for red triange/how to fix

JC91006 Senior Member

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