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Prius under the hood

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Technical Discussion' started by MrPrezident, Jan 16, 2011.

  1. MrPrezident

    MrPrezident New Member

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    I'm new to learning about cars in general. I just got a 2011 Prius and now I've been fascinated about how it works. I haven't found anything completely listing the components under the hood for the 3rd gen Prius. So I thought I'd post here and check to see if I've correctly identified everything visible.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    1) HSD coolant?
    2) wiper fluid
    3) Air intake muffler?
    4) HSD
    5) Air filter
    6) Inverter
    7) Inverter coolant
    8) Brake fluid
    9) ECU?
    10) fuse box?
     
    #1 MrPrezident, Jan 16, 2011
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Pry #4 up and you'll see it's a piece of show-biz plastic, over the engine valve cover ;)

    I believe #1 is the regular coolant, for the circuit that runs through the engine, and #7 is the coolant for the electric motor circuit.

    #10 is indeed the fuse box (there's another under dash), and there is an electrical contact point in there you can use for connection positive jumper or charger clamp, under a little red lid. Just to left of the orange cable is a little metal "tit" sticking out of the side of engine block: a good connection point for negative jumper or charger clamps.

    *8 is brake fluid, but level check is at a second bottle, further back under the cowl. There's a little plastic door in the cowl that flips open if you need to top up brake fluid.
     
    #2 Mendel Leisk, Jan 16, 2011
  3. MrPrezident

    MrPrezident New Member

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    I know you can't see in the pictures, but #7 actually says "inverter coolant" on the label.
     
    #3 MrPrezident, Jan 16, 2011
  4. adamace1

    adamace1 Senior Member

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    Just change 1 to ICE collant
    and 4 to ICE


    and your good to go. And any orange cable may have very high voltage in it.
     
    #4 adamace1, Jan 16, 2011
  5. MrPrezident

    MrPrezident New Member

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    The HSD includes an ICE as well as two electric motor-generators. That's why I put HSD instead of putting ICE. You may be right about labeling #1 as ICE collant, but would have thought there would be some coolant for the motor-generators as well, and I don't see any special motor-generator coolant, so I was thinking that maybe that coolant is used for cooling all three motors in the HSD.
     
    #5 MrPrezident, Jan 16, 2011
  6. adamace1

    adamace1 Senior Member

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    The other/inverter coolant goes into the trans where the electric motors are. So 1 is just the ICE coolant.
     
    #6 adamace1, Jan 16, 2011
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I guess I'm just trying to dodge the technogab, ie:

    motor = the electrical bit
    engine = the gasoline bit

    I hate how "ICE" replaced "engine". A perfectly legitimate word in the english language supplanted by a esoteric 3 word acronym for the same effing thing ;)
     
    #7 Mendel Leisk, Jan 16, 2011
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  8. Coprius2010

    Coprius2010 Junior Member

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    Question? I haven't been able to find a light for under the hood...concluding...there isn't one. Is that right...or is it hidden somewhere? I asked about this for future updates...
     
    #8 Coprius2010, Jan 16, 2011
  9. Troyroy

    Troyroy Member

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    No please......no light for under the hood.....it would just be another possible cause for drain on the 12 volt battery. Something that it doesn't need.

    Carry a good flashlight........as all car owners should do
     
    #9 Troyroy, Jan 16, 2011
  10. MrPrezident

    MrPrezident New Member

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    What about #9? Is that actually an ECU? and if so, aren't there multiple ECUs in the Prius? Which ECU is that?
     
    #10 MrPrezident, Jan 16, 2011
  11. MrPrezident

    MrPrezident New Member

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    Also, where is the radiator?
     
    #11 MrPrezident, Jan 16, 2011
  12. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    Yes, that is the engine ECU and yes there are MANY ECUs through out the car. You should see what is behind your glove box and behind the driver's side dash.
    The radiator is where it is on the other cars under that black trim piece in front of the engine/ICE. In addition to the main radiator there is an inverter radiator that sits in front of the main radiator just behind the upper, smaller grill opening.
     
    #12 spiderman, Jan 17, 2011
  13. donee

    donee New Member

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    Hi Prez...,

    There are two radiators in the Prius. One radiator is a two sectioned unit, having one section for the engine, and the other for the inverter cooling. The second radiator is the Air Conditioning coolant radiator.

    They are located under the black plastic piece towards the front of the engine compartment.
     
    #13 donee, Jan 17, 2011
  14. Coprius2010

    Coprius2010 Junior Member

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    I agree....to a point. In an emergency or freezing conditions....get under the hood quick and out-of-there. At least give you an off/on switch option.:cheer2:
     
    #14 Coprius2010, Jan 17, 2011
  15. dureel

    dureel New Member

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    Is the layout the same (or very similar) on the Gen II? If not, do you know where I can see a diagram for the Gen II?
     
    #15 dureel, Aug 8, 2011
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