Pour one out for my 2009 boys :(

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by T.S. Elliot, Jul 3, 2026 at 10:49 AM.

  1. T.S. Elliot

    T.S. Elliot Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2015
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    Location:
    Desolation Row (MN)
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I rear ended someone with my 2009. Ironically I bought this car from Copart with front end damage in the exact same location, but at first glance this looks way worse than what I can repair. I am going to tear into it now. Any thoughts? It's already leaking some coolant and the thermos pump sounds unwell. Can't tell if the A/C condenser is still holding Freon or not based off initial impression as was only running the car very briefly to get it on to the dolly and then into the garage.

    This is devastating. The car has 203k. It has the following new OEM Toyota parts installed at 155k (warning - this will be painful): A/C Condenser, radiator, mechanical water pump, serpentine belt, idler pulley w/ bearing, inverter pump, 3 way valve, and thermostat. The stealership has changed the brake fluid and charged the A/C. The worst part? The coolant and CVT fluid were both changed at 200k and it has a full tank of gas.

    [​IMG]

    p.s. just thought about how my set of FIAMM freeway blasters fared :(:cry:
     
  2. T.S. Elliot

    T.S. Elliot Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2015
    83
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    Location:
    Desolation Row (MN)
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Update: I'm going to need help with this one. I managed to get the hood open. There's a tiny chance the condenser and rad can be saved. The bad news is that the inverter took the brunt of the hit and the coolant leak appears to be isolated to the inverter loop, perhaps the inverter itself. I have yet to identify the source of the leak, but the reservoir was empty. The highest place I have found coolant is on the aluminum tube running underneath the coolant reservoir. Next step I am going to remove the inverter. I have never done this before. I hope that by doing this I will identify and pinpoint the actual source of the leak. Not sure what I'm going to find, but I am worried about something like a metal coolant nipple being broken. I have 2 spare inverters on hand so in theory I could do a swap if the damage was isolated to the inverter itself. Although I don't know the condition of either, I guess trying beats having a bricked car.

    p.s. the freeway blasters were spared thank god :DMostly because the damn bumper on these cars always misses and never does a thing!:mad:
     
  3. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2020
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    Location:
    Durham NC
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    Sounds like a pretty quick fix actually that's all that took the hit great .