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

Triangle of Death Round 4

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by fandl, Aug 9, 2020.

?

Time for a new hybrid?

  1. Yes

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  2. No

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  1. fandl

    fandl New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2020
    4
    0
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Hi Everyone,

    First time poster - long time lurker hoping you can help.

    I'm on round 4 (!) of my Triangle of Death coming back on after getting it back from the shop and wanted to see if anyone has any insights on what could be wrong. Usually it's the triangle of death, VSC light, brake system light and check engine, and then after I turn off the car and turn it back on it's just the triangle and check engine line.

    168,395 Miles
    Hybrid battery was replaced about 2 years ago around 150K miles

    In the last 5 months the following has been replaced:
    Inverter Coolant Pump
    Hybrid Pump
    Coolant Temp Sending Unit
    12V Battery

    It currently seems to be driving fine so I haven't taken it in yet. The second time the triangle came on it stopped accelerating (on a freeway no less). This time it seems normal other than the warning lights.

    Is it time for me to retire my baby?
     
    #1 fandl, Aug 9, 2020
  2. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2017
    5,286
    4,225
    0
    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Welcome to PriusChat!!
    Without you first posting the OBD2 trouble codes (DTCs) here, it would be premature to come to such a conclusion.
     
    #2 SFO, Aug 10, 2020
  3. fandl

    fandl New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2020
    4
    0
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I don't have an OBD2 reader...guess I'll have to go get one.
     
    #3 fandl, Aug 10, 2020
  4. fandl

    fandl New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2020
    4
    0
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Code says P0A93 Inverter Cooling System Performance. The Inverter Coolant Pump has been replaced twice already. Thoughts anyone??
     
    #4 fandl, Aug 10, 2020
  5. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2017
    5,286
    4,225
    0
    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    The gold standard for retrieving OBD2 codes (DTCs) is a 'mini-vci' cable and a copy of techstream (same software the dealer techs use). Some get by with just an OBD2 bluetooth adapter and an app like Dr Prius or Torque.

    Many OEM inverter pumps last between 60k and 100k, none will last forever. Have you checked or bled the inverter coolant lately?

    When was the last time the inverter pump was replaced? (years/miles)

    Some aftermarket pumps will fail faster, and some that come with a "lifetime warranty" will cost more at the auto part chain stores.
     
    #5 SFO, Aug 10, 2020
  6. fandl

    fandl New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2020
    4
    0
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    The inverter pump has been replaced twice in the last 5 months, around 167-168K miles for each replacement - the second time I wasn't charged for it since it was under warranty with my mechanic. Very odd that this is what's coming up again.
     
    #6 fandl, Aug 10, 2020
  7. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2007
    10,096
    4,795
    0
    Location:
    Clearwater, Florida
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Real easy to check. Start the car.
    Open the hood take the cap off the inverter coolant plastic reservoir and with a flashlight look inside that container for fluid movement. A healthy properly bled inverter coolant loop looks like its boiling if yours is not moving the pump died or it blew the AM2 fuse. if the fuse blew its becasue the pump shorted out.

    Btw, the dealer never changes the fluid when a pump is replaced they duckbill off the hoses and slap a new pump in. Dont have to bleed it but your basicly running on 160,000 mile fluid which can eat a new pump up.
     
    #7 edthefox5, Aug 10, 2020
    fandl likes this.
  8. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    23,270
    15,068
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Occasionally people have reported blobs of glop in the fins inside the inverter.
     
    #8 ChapmanF, Aug 10, 2020
    fandl likes this.
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)