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

Help Plz, I’m stranded in Van Horn, Tx

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by BrianStranded, Apr 26, 2021.

  1. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    11,251
    15,476
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Sounds like the consummate National Lampoons vacation :).

    And it all worked out in the end(y).
     
    jerrymildred likes this.
  2. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2018
    3,124
    2,181
    0
    Location:
    Taylors, SC
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    Apparently, the two bolts that hold the pump to the upper bracket screw in from the bottom, and the tab or protrusion that sticks out of the bracket fits into a hole in the beam of the chassis. The last bolt is installed from the top to "lock" the assembly in securely.
     
  3. BZzap!

    BZzap! Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    1,607
    877
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    This story sounds like it could be potential script for a Quintin Tarantino movie.
     
    Raytheeagle, Mendel Leisk and bisco like this.
  4. BrianStranded

    BrianStranded Member

    Joined:
    Apr 26, 2021
    118
    74
    0
    Location:
    New Orleans, LA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    If only you knew dude, I’ll share the full story on my Prius when I’m parked...in New Orleans.

    I got the car running guys, currently in Baton Rouge, LA. Thks for the help yall
     
  5. BrianStranded

    BrianStranded Member

    Joined:
    Apr 26, 2021
    118
    74
    0
    Location:
    New Orleans, LA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I knew I should have ignored this thread until I was home free...check engine light just came on, then the “check hybrid system” then the limp mode oh muh gawwddddd. Back on the side of the road

    The inverter coolant pump is working, I suspect it is the engine water pump. I’m in Baton Rouge so I have resources here, I’m throwing in the towel and getting a tow.
     
  6. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2018
    3,124
    2,181
    0
    Location:
    Taylors, SC
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    Sorry to hear about your predicament. At least the engine water pump is easy to remove and install.
     
    BrianStranded likes this.
  7. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2018
    3,124
    2,181
    0
    Location:
    Taylors, SC
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    A good future purchase would be a Scangauge 2, with which I continually monitor 12 volt battery voltage, engine coolant temperature, inverter coolant temperature and HV battery temperature.



    It will also detect most all Prius OBDII trouble codes.

    The price of the Scangauge is often discounted to around $120.

    After I got mine in 2012, I will never drive a car without one. It gives me good peace of mind knowing how well the Prius' systems are functioning.
     
  8. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2010
    7,673
    6,492
    0
    Location:
    Redneck Riviera (Gulf South)
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Is that better or worse than Van Horn?
    :p
     
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,674
    38,214
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Prayers here. (y)
     
  10. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    7,569
    4,438
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    You can normally see the engine coolant moving into the reservoir at the bottom port after warm up, especially if a strong led light is placed on top.

    The good news is a bad head gasket won't bring up hybrid codes or limp home mode. Unless it was so bad you have no visible coolant left. The bad news is some counterfeit pumps have been reported with short lifespans.
     
  11. BrianStranded

    BrianStranded Member

    Joined:
    Apr 26, 2021
    118
    74
    0
    Location:
    New Orleans, LA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Man o man you must be in my phone, I was just looking up odb scanners and techstream? Thx dude!

    muuuch better


    Thx

    Yeah I’m pretty sure the head gasket is blown too and I’m thinking this water pump failing help cause that. I just drove this thing 1800 miles from los Angelas, I’m gonna tear it apart once home, if I get there.
     
    ASRDogman and Georgina Rudkus like this.
  12. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2017
    5,286
    4,225
    0
    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Unknown if there is a correlation between a failing inverter coolant pump and a failing head gasket.

    Does the engine briefly rattle upon cold start up, or have you noticed a drop in the coolant level in the coolant reservoir?
     
    Grit likes this.
  13. BrianStranded

    BrianStranded Member

    Joined:
    Apr 26, 2021
    118
    74
    0
    Location:
    New Orleans, LA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Does the engine briefly rattle upon cold start up, or have you noticed a drop in the coolant level in the coolant reservoir?[/QUOTE]
    To clarify I mean the main engine water pump failing (both pumps failed) causing the head gasket to blow. And yes I’m having all those issues (rattling, etc), the inverter is fine now that I’ve changed it..
     
  14. BrianStranded

    BrianStranded Member

    Joined:
    Apr 26, 2021
    118
    74
    0
    Location:
    New Orleans, LA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    It twas a fun ride, thanks guys again for helping me get home! I’ll be active here, stay tuned...
     

    Attached Files:

  15. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2010
    7,673
    6,492
    0
    Location:
    Redneck Riviera (Gulf South)
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    You have California plates, a 504 AC, and your journey terminated in NOLA.

    I'm just being nosey, but are you a refugee from the left coast? :D
     
  16. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2018
    3,124
    2,181
    0
    Location:
    Taylors, SC
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    His location states that he is in Van Horn, Texas. :rolleyes::eek::rolleyes:
     
  17. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2010
    7,673
    6,492
    0
    Location:
    Redneck Riviera (Gulf South)
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    The picture in the last post from the OP looked closer to New Orleans than west TX....
     
  18. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    23,277
    15,074
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Do you have the trouble codes yet?

    It's not like the Prius just has these two pumps and nothing else that could light those lights....
     
  19. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,105
    10,039
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    That is just where he was stranded on the day he signed up for this forum. Let's hope he updates that to a more settled location.
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  20. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2010
    7,673
    6,492
    0
    Location:
    Redneck Riviera (Gulf South)
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Hurricane season cometh......
    The OP may want to fix the car quickly and then get back on the road!!
    Much of the area around New Orleans is now 1½ to 3 meters (4.92 to 9.84 feet) below mean sea level, according to a 2003 study by the US Geological Survey. (Jul 11, 2019) :whistle: