1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Need a siphon or pump to bleed inverter

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by newtothisprius, Feb 3, 2023.

  1. newtothisprius

    newtothisprius Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2022
    59
    12
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Yea, sorry I did do it twice. So that's the right one. I mixed-up the name.
     
  2. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2012
    7,818
    3,952
    0
    Location:
    Wellington, New Zealand
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    The next thing would be the rule in/out that the pump is faulty by applying power directly to the power input positive and negative on the pump and seeing if it runs then.
     
    #22 dolj, Feb 6, 2023
    Last edited: Feb 6, 2023
  3. newtothisprius

    newtothisprius Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2022
    59
    12
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Two


    When I screw the valve back, a little bit of coolant shows up but it seems like there's drip happening on the bottom.
     
  4. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2012
    7,818
    3,952
    0
    Location:
    Wellington, New Zealand
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    It is hard to tell because you blocked the view with your hand but it does not look like you opened the valve nearly enough. I also do not hear any pump noise, but your camera could just be too far away.

    Looking back at your previous post you need to do more than look at the reservoir. You need the touch the pump with your hand and see if you can feel it vibrating. Using a mechanic's stethoscope (or a long screwdriver or dowel to improvise one) would be better. Then you can hear if the pump is working.
     
  5. newtothisprius

    newtothisprius Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2022
    59
    12
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Sorry about that but I have really unscrewed it previously to the point where its practically off.

    I can feel it vibrating. Unfortunately I don't have a stethoscope or something to measure power.

    If I disconnect the plug above the fuse box, can I start the car to get this car towed to Toyota in case?

    I'll try really loosening the bolt again and trying again.
     
  6. drone13

    drone13 Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2020
    140
    115
    0
    Location:
    SoCal
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Good catch @dolj It needs to be in Ig-on (2 button pushes foot off brake). Not accessory mode as I said. But the video I linked did show this if you watched you would know this. But good lookin' out Dolj.
     
  7. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,518
    14,127
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    You can actually drive it like that if you go slowly. (After closing the bleeder valve, of course.)

    Where in Florida are you? If you can get it to Tampa Hybrids, it’ll be a TON cheaper than a Toyota dealer. (Disclaimer: I work there part time, but only because I like the shop so much that I’ve bought six cars there and, when they were short handed and offered me a job, I said I’d come in a couple days a week.)
     
  8. newtothisprius

    newtothisprius Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2022
    59
    12
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Yes,
    4 hours away :(
     
  9. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2012
    7,818
    3,952
    0
    Location:
    Wellington, New Zealand
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Unless you are going to get a minimum set of tools and the required knowledge to use them, you are not going to be able to do very much work yourself.

    A stethoscope can be improvised by simply getting a ~20" length of ⅜ dowel (or something metal would be better) and touching one end of it to the pump and the other end to your ear.

    You are also less likely to get help if you are not willing to do what it takes to follow the advice. Nothing you've been asked to do is particularly hard.
     
  10. drone13

    drone13 Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2020
    140
    115
    0
    Location:
    SoCal
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Sometimes it's just as easy to disprove a component as to find the actual culprit through process of elimination and this is a valid diagnostic approach. How about just removing the bleed valve entirely? Just yank that sucker out and see if you get flow. Even with Ig-on it isn't that much pressure that you can't screw it right back in if you get good flow. If you now get flow, screw the valve back in and find something, pencil eraser or something that will block excessive fluid leak when you remove the valve. Then blow through the valve. If it's clogged get a small wire strand or something to rooter it open.

    If coolant doesn't flow with the valve removed then you need to look elsewhere. At least you'll know not to question the bleed valve and we can move on from that.

    Buy a large drip pan for your local auto parts store. The one I bought 10 years ago is 4'x3', cost $10.99 and is very handy for many of the maintenance and repair jobs I do. But it's not a necessity if you don't mind cleaning after.
     
    jerrymildred likes this.
  11. newtothisprius

    newtothisprius Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2022
    59
    12
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I appreciate everyone commenting on this. Unfortunately I didn't have the equipment to try everything and without a car to go to these places, it was unfortunately going to take too long. I had it towed to Toyota and they determined that it had too much air and after that they were able to bleed the inverter. It's one of those things where other cheaper mechanics just won't work on a hybrid and it ends up costing a lot more to fix this car if you aren't as handy as some of you awesome peeps are. Thanks again. I appreciate everyone's responses.
     
  12. drone13

    drone13 Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2020
    140
    115
    0
    Location:
    SoCal
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    The good news is the problem is fixed. The Prius is a strange beast and sometimes it's better to go to a hybrid specialist shop or the dealer that's seen this issue 100 times before. But the problems behind you now and that's the important thing so you can enjoy your Prius.
     
  13. Andrew Vanis

    Andrew Vanis Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2018
    12
    3
    0
    Location:
    Albuquerque
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    JUST had this issue - solved by squeezing hoses to/from inverter pump.

    The condition I had was - no flow out of bleed tube (level went went to level in tank no problem) and new pump was working (could feel the vibrating). I di dfill the pump before putting the top hose on.

    was researching this issue, cam on this topic (and a few others) and decided to squeezing the hoses to see if I could detect any type of pressure to verify the pump was not just spinning but actually pushing coolant. That squeezing mush have primed or something the pump or dislodged an air pocket or something but immediately the flow through the bleed tube commenced.
     
  14. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2020
    10,127
    1,745
    0
    Location:
    Durham NC
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    You should not need anything to do anything with the coolant in the inverter change the pump tighten the hoses slide the clamps whatever. Fill up the reservoir with the proper fluid turn on the car like you're going to start it the inverter pump starts to run if you poured the fluid in while the car was off and you poured it in slowly You noticed that you could see it eating up some of the fluid as you poured it in It's going down to the pump going to the other hose whatever now it's full push the start button on the car get out close the door go over and look at the reservoir and see if it's gone down see if coolant starts to move If it does not the hose that comes out of the pump heading back under the inverter or over to the back of the car I hope the lid is still off just start milking that hose a little bit squeeze squeeze squeeze squeeze squeeze In a second or two you should hear the impeller which is sealed and mag drive type start to pull water and it will slow down and make a funny noise now water's moving you look in the jug you see water very slowly moving with this type of pump make sure your jug is on the full line Go for a ride .