Coolant temperature sensor blues

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Wrecit, Jul 18, 2026 at 7:47 PM.

  1. Wrecit

    Wrecit Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2020
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    Location:
    Pittsburgh
    Vehicle:
    2001 Prius
    Model:
    I
    I hope there is a special level of hell dedicated to the engineers that designed the engine bay on the 2010 Prius.

    Coolant temperature sensor went on my wife’s DoorDash car. A $28 part and should be a 20 minute job.

    Have half the engine bay dismantled and still can’t get leverage on the safety lock button on the plug end to get the frakin thing to disengage so I can get a socket on it and I only have the good non slip crows foot wrenches so I can’t even slip a crows foot wrench on to turn and expose the button.

    May a million sand fleas from a leapers camel infest their crotches for eternity

    anyone got any tricks on pushing the release button when it’s at 6 o’clock and crusty from 16 years of working? Can’t find my grinder or else I would cut the “safety tabs” off my 3/4 crows foot and just break it loose to better access
     
    PriusCamper likes this.
  2. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Mar 3, 2012
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    Location:
    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I'm just get used to a really cheap 2010 with similar thoughts... Every time I look into it I find more stuff that needs to be fixed. So different than Gen2 Prius that hardly has anything wrong with it.