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Radiator Issue

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Prakash, Feb 13, 2007.

  1. Prakash

    Prakash New Member

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    I recently had an incident with my Prius 2004, and fortunately everything was covered by the Insurance Company. The repairs have been done, and there down to one last thing.

    My mechanic told me they had to replace a Canister in the front left; I believe it has something to do with the radiator. (I am not quite clear on what exactly the part is) In any case I assume the canister has something to do with the radiator. The mechanic told me he has to get air out of the canister to prevent the engine from overheating. He went on to say it has a sort of pressure cap on the top that he has to use to remove excess air in the engine which is causing the engine to overheat.

    Is anyone aware of what in the heck I am talking about? I will edit this post when I understand the issue more thoroughly. If any one understand this please h elp me out, thank you.
     
    #1 Prakash, Feb 13, 2007
  2. Tempus

    Tempus Senior Member

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    Sounds like the "Thermos" to me.

    I don't have the diagram handy but the NA Prius has an insulated bottle that stores hot coolant when the car is stopped and uses it on startup to decrease warmup time and thus decrease emissions.
     
    #2 Tempus, Feb 13, 2007
  3. Prakash

    Prakash New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tempus @ Feb 13 2007, 08:30 PM) [snapback]389852[/snapback]</div>

    Can air get stuck in it?(Thermos) And at the same I suppose be successfully removed.
     
    #3 Prakash, Feb 13, 2007
  4. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    it's a PITA to bleed air out of that coolant system... it's a bit tricky. so yes, what you're being told makes sense.
     
    #4 galaxee, Feb 13, 2007
  5. Prakash

    Prakash New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Feb 13 2007, 09:03 PM) [snapback]389865[/snapback]</div>

    That is the exact terminology used by the company, "bleeding out the air." Furthermore, he said it was indeed tricky. In fact, he said on one day he spent half a day just bleeding the air out because he had to turn on the engine, and what not -and at the same time not put too much stress on the engine, as a result of the process.

    Will this effect performance, or should I assume that once all the air has been taken out I won't have to worry about the potential of overheating?

    Once again I appreciate the help.

    -
     

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    #5 Prakash, Feb 13, 2007
  6. Prakash

    Prakash New Member

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    Will this effect performance, or should I assume that once all the air has been taken out I won't have to worry about the potential of overheating?

    Do any one know the answer to this question? (this is pertaining ofcoarse to the thermos)
     
    #6 Prakash, Feb 13, 2007
  7. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    It sounds like the thermos was replaced. Please do not drive the car until the system is properly bled by a Toyota hybrid-certified mechanic. You risk catastrophic, espensive damage to the inverter/converter and the gasoline motor.
     
    #7 jayman, Feb 13, 2007
  8. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    yep, once they get the air out of there you're back in business.

    but as jayman points out, the best people to do this would be the toyota techs at a dealership, especially since the guy already spent half the day messing with it and still hasn't gotten it.

    in fact, go ahead and *insist* that the toyota shop does it. it's the best way to be sure all the air is out. it's too complex and too important to not be completely sure.
     
    #8 galaxee, Feb 13, 2007
  9. Prakash

    Prakash New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Feb 14 2007, 12:12 AM) [snapback]389985[/snapback]</div>

    I guess I should have referred to my mechanic as the local Hybrid Toyota Tech guy at Toyota, same guy that spent half a day bleeding it.
     
    #9 Prakash, Feb 13, 2007
  10. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Prakash @ Feb 13 2007, 11:43 PM) [snapback]390008[/snapback]</div>
    ...oh. :unsure: sorry to hear that.

    realistically we're talking 20 min if you're lucky (or know Wth you're doing) to 45 min on average. in case of FUBAR... 2 hours.

    does the guy know where the valve is? there's a nice layout in the repair manual describing how to do this...
     
    #10 galaxee, Feb 13, 2007
  11. Frank Hudon

    Frank Hudon Senior Member

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    there is a procedure in the service manual that tells how to hook up the THHT and cycle the coolant pump to bleed the air from the system. There is a section in the manual that tells you not to remove the cover on the thermos.
     
    #11 Frank Hudon, Feb 14, 2007
  12. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Prakash @ Feb 14 2007, 12:43 AM) [snapback]390008[/snapback]</div>
    Oh geez, find yourself another tech. Pronto!
     
    #12 jayman, Feb 14, 2007
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