5 trouble lights but the car still runs?

Hi - I've been following threads like these for several weeks now but of course I think *my* problem is unique.

'09 Prius Touring edition, 31K miles but just past the 36 month warranty period...

3 times in the last few weeks while driving (each time has been a hot afternoon), the big red triangle, the ((!)) [braking?], VSC and generic "Check Engine" lights all come on, as well as the car icon w/ exclamation point on the center screen.

I may be crazy, but there doesn't seem to be any change in the car's driveability. After 1 ignition cycle the brake and VSC lights go out, and by 3 or 4 cycles, the other lights go away. But a day or two later (3 times in about 6 days' driving) the whole procedure repeats itself.

I HAVE had the 12v battery replaced - last fall. The car was just in to the dealer for 30k service in June. I can't sense any change in braking or performance, but I've so far not had the time to call the dealer to schedule an appointment. I'm going to do that next week, but does anyone think I should park the car until that time? I kind of need transportation....

Thanks.

 

Bingo, Patrick. It was the inverter coolant pump indeed. $427 later, and only 6 weeks past the end of the 3 year warranty. They tried to sell me a service plan, but I'm still not biting.

Funny how lights referencing the VSC and the brakes point to a water pump failure...

Thanks.

 

OK, Status Update:

I did send a letter to the Service Manager at my dealer, and copied Toyota's Customer Experience Center (took a while to find an address...). I boiled it down to 3 points:

-If the drivetrain and hybrid warranties cover all manner of pumps (fuel, water, etc), AND the inverter itself is covered under the hybrid warranties (all of which I'm still under; the car's just past 3 years, but only has about 31K miles)...then how come this pump isn't covered?

-If the failure of the pump can cause the car to start drawing a LOT more power from the 12 volt battery, shortening its life, then maybe THAT'S why I had to have my battery replaced last fall. Various warning lights were coming on, the usual symptoms, and the new battery made those go away. But my point is that maybe the pump was failing well before my warranty ran out?

-And if the previous model years' hybrid inverter pumps were part of a recall campaign, maybe they haven't fixed the problem?

The letter went out late last week. I haven't heard from my dealership, except for a call from a lady wanting to take a "short survey" on my experience. I think it's the kind of call everyone gets, but so far we've just traded messages.

But yesterday afternoon I did get a call from someone at Toyota Customer Experience Center. According to this guy, the inverter pump IS covered under a "5 year/60,000 mile warranty", and he apologized that no one at Fred Anderson Toyota seemed to know this. (Despite the fact that my tech said he checked several places, and when I called him back said the same thing...).

So I faxed them proof of payment and a copy of my registration (I had attached the service receipt to the original letter), and I'm told they'll send me a reimbursement check in "6 to 8 weeks".

I'm happy, but can't help but feel that either one of two things is true: 1) My dealership doesn't really do Due Diligence when researching warranty coverage, or 2) Someone at Toyota creatively invented an "inverter pump warranty" to make my problem go away. The guy who called didn't say that the pump was covered under the Drivetrain or Hybrid warranties. He kind of made it sound like it had its own warranty...which doesn't make sense.

But thank you Patrick for your advice to contact them. It seemed to work. Anyone else with an '08-'09 Prius and a failed hybrid inverter pump under 5 y/60k should be aware of this...

I just wish I had the $427 check in time to pay the credit card bill!

 

Yeah, well the guy from the Toyota Customer Mollification Center pointed out that my new inverter pump will still be under warranty for another 22 months...maybe they'll figure out a better solution by that time.

 

The TSB seems to be for 04-06 models; mine is an '09. I'd be interested to know if there was one that covered the later Gen II years. But it is interesting that the bulletin states clearly that the inverter pump is covered under the Powertrain Warranty...

 

Update: About three weeks ago I received a letter from Toyota's Customer Satisfaction Center. I assumed it was confirmation of the warranty coverage for my defective hybrid inverter pump. Instead it was a form denial of coverage letter, politely telling me that my issue was NOT covered under any warranty on my Prius. Have a nice day.

I was pretty pissed. I had been told on the phone a few weeks earlier that my pump WAS covered (see my post of 8/17 above). I also was given a case number. So even though it was Labor Day weekend, I called Toyota again. To their credit, the woman who answered the phone could not have been more empathetic, and she proved to be quite proactive as well. She knew the guy I spoke with a few weeks earlier who'd confirmed the coverage. She acknowledged that there was some confusion (I'll say), and with my case number she pulled me up in their records. I think she told me that I'd fallen under at least two case numbers...perhaps one for a yes and one for a no?
And that I'd received two different answers. She promised to follow up and get back to me.

A few days later, she called me back and left a message telling me (again!) that the pump WAS covered under the powertrain warranty (5 years/60k). I got a NEW case number, an apology for "all the back and forth", and assurance that my check was on the way.

So far, no check (no big shocker there). But let's talk about communication! Because apparently the folks at the Toyota Cutomer Confusion Center sure don't communicate very well. Anyway, figured I'd brighten your week with my postscript.

Thanks,

Tom