Am2 blown and bad smell 2005 Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Meeker128, Aug 9, 2025 at 5:27 PM.

  1. Meeker128

    Meeker128 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2022
    2
    0
    0
    Location:
    Tucson, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    Tldr: How do I disconnect the inverter pump so I can get my car home and then what?

    I know there's a lot of information on this out there, and I apologize, but I'm having a really hard time mentally because this is the third problem in a few months.

    I had my car running and I ran inside a store and when I came back I had the red triangle of death. I don't remember how I touched it but as soon as I did it turned almost off. I assume that was the am2 fuse blowing.

    There was a horrible plastic smell, and when I would try to turn it on, the dash would flash squares around the transmission position indicators, and the power would flash amber. I tried unhooking the 12v for a while, nothing changed except my clock :{

    I have a code reader, but the only info I could get with the state it would turn on in was to tell me that the 12v battery was at 12.6-7v. That was with Hybrid Assistant.

    I remembered from other problems to check the am2 fuse and saw it was blown. I cannibalized one and put it in and turned on the car and it came on with the red triangle for barely 2 seconds and popped again. I then decided to go home.

    I read somewhere to unplug the inverter pump to see if that keeps the am2 from popping. If it does, I don't know if it's safe to limp home after that. I didn't look specifically for instructions to unplug the pump yet.

    I just replaced the hybrid battery a month ago (it's very poor. My old one was healthier except for one cell), and cleaned the battery fan. Then my car wouldn't start reliably, so I put a new 12v from Walmart in there.
    I was low on inverter coolant so I topped that off and saw turbulence inside when the car was on.

    I was checking everything with the hybrid assistant app, and everything seemed fine except the battery running a little hot. Like 125 f. But after reading that the fan doesn't come on full speed until 134°, I decided to stop worrying. My car ran for about 3 weeks before this happened.

    My car is about a mile and a half away. I can take back streets home. I only have to cross 2 major streets.

    I am comfortable replacing the inverter coolant pump and burping the system, but not the harness or anything else this could be. I used to replace parts on my 85 Toyota Celica and 88 suzuki samurai, but the troubles in past few months are the only things that I've done with this car. I didn't even change the oil myself. My dad just showed me 2 months ago. I thought there was some hybrid magic involved for some reason.
    I went to my dad because my dash panel was going black and the car wouldn't turn off. A friend of his added another capacitor to the circuit board, which seems to have solved that.

    I'm concerned about the bad plastic smell and could use some reassurance. I don't have much money on my own and am borrowing from my parents. I'm a Doordash driver and a bit neurodivergent. I've had the car 7 years and my dad had it for maybe 9 years before that.

    Assuming I can get it home, I'm considering ordering the pump (from Amazon?), and taking out the headlight to replace it myself. With everything that's happened though, I'm getting concerned. I don't want to spend money on towing(especially) or mechanics unless it will be very helpful. I don't have a backup car.

    Thank you...
     
  2. Brian1954

    Brian1954 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2021
    1,876
    739
    0
    Location:
    South Central PA, USA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Picture posted in another thread on this forum.
    View attachment 268905

    Do yourself a favor and do not buy a cheap aftermarket inverter water pump. They will only last about one year. Buy the Toyota OEM inverter water pump and do the job right the first time so that you do not have to do it again later.
     
    #2 Brian1954, Aug 10, 2025 at 9:04 AM
    Last edited: Aug 10, 2025 at 11:06 AM
  3. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2020
    12,384
    2,194
    0
    Location:
    Durham NC
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    Undo that black plug at the very top of the fuse box there's nothing else there except that silly black plug in the picture in the blue . Unplug replace Am2 and drive .
     
  4. Meeker128

    Meeker128 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2022
    2
    0
    0
    Location:
    Tucson, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    How do I delete this? It took so long to get approved that it's not relevant anymore.