Sudden rush of failed inverter-coolant pumps or ?

I bet it is what you imply.
1) This is the start of a HOT summer in the northern hemisphere-USA and Canada-where most 2nd gen Prius "live".
2) The 2004,2005,2006 are at 60,000+ miles, so they have enough use on them to wear out whatever marginal part- bearings maybe?- that is causing the failures.

Maybe someone could start a survey- year miles location/climate so we can get some sort of idea on what drives the failures.
I would be curious to see if the premature failures are concentrated in hot places-Vegas,Phoenix,Tuscon,New Orleans,DFW,Gulf Coast,Fla.

I did notice a couple of 2008's-Vegas girl and someone else- had failures.Vegas is plenty HOT- hell on earth hot.
This "summer" has been hotter than usual in NOLA. I think summer begins June 21 or so?? but it has been very hot since mid May.

Some of Australia is pretty hot isn't it?? I know the interior can get terribly hot, but the coast is more moderate,right? How is it where you are?What time of the year was your failure?

Charlie

 

I'm surprised that regular readers of this forum have not clued in to replace the pump. I suppose it is time for a poll, if for no other reason to encourage people to get this repair done before the pretty triangle lights up their dash.

Addendum: Poll posted

 

A combination of hot temperatures, some owners not complying with the LSC that is offered and some not checking their coolant level or looking for turbulence in the reservoir. A total laissez faire attitude driving across a desert or high desert will definitely get you in trouble. Years ago I crossed the salt flats with my family in a VW 1300 bug (Kafer) at high noon, all windows open, two children under 5. I stopped at every opportunity to tank up the car and the passengers. Even tho we started 6PM the night before, then stopped in Reno to eat, then stopped down the highway because of ignition problems ( a pinched capacitor wire at the clamp of the distributor) Finall got to Salt Lake City around 2 PM the next day. I felt like a Pioneer going Eastward.

 

Funny.

"1) This is the start of a HOT summer in the northern hemisphere-USA and Canada-where most 2nd gen Prius "live"."

I guess I live in the coolest part of "Canada". It's just now getting into the mid 20s C. We will get into the 30s on a "hot" day. I don't remember ever seeing 40C. Got up to 36-38C a few years ago.

I was quick to get the pump replaced on warranty. So you see why I think this is funny.

BTW, I use the A/C (cooling part) maybe two weeks of the year.

 

I live in a fairly hot climate and my pump made it to 130,000 miles. I had it replaced as part of the TSB just to be safe. I guess I got lucky.

 

We were just lazy.
My wife and son drive the Prius-
When we got the recall notice I suggested they bring it in- but then just sorta forgot about it.

 

Heat or just age.
So hot so far this year here even my car with a good pump and 4 year old 37,000 mile coolant was not happy.
But four years is a long time. Way to long for Inverter coolant apparently.

My non recalled stock pump was struggling with what I thought was good condition oem sllc coolant. It had poor turbulence.
My mpg's were tanking for no apparent reason so I took some of the inverter coolant out and looked at it in a clear glass and it looked bad.
I changed it with new coolant and my mpg's immed. improved.
Plus poor turbulence went to very strong turbulence.
It looks like its boiling now. But its not as the plastic can is warm.
I have been noticing for a few years some sort of dried up salts around the rim and on the cap and on the Inverter reservoir tank
rim. Not good. Some corrosion there.
Which led me to replace the fluid. Its so easy to replace the coolant too.

But now a few hundred miles later I have good turbulance and excellent mpg's but I see those same salts on the cap again.

I suspect the aluminum there using for the heatsink section of the Inverter is pure aluminum which has a very high corrosion potential.
As high as zinc. Most automobile coolants never encounter
that pure of an alumium which requires a superior anti corrosion additive. Aluminum cyclinder heads are probably
not as pure to make them tougher and less expanding with heat.
Could probably use an anti corrsion additive in this application.

I put some Waterwetter in the inv reservoir when I bought the car
4 years ago as I always use it but I think it wore out.

Check this out: http://www.redlineoil.com/content/files/tech/WaterWetter Tech Info.pdf

 

That spec sheet on Redline looks good, I think I will try it, Thanks Ed.

 

I used Red Line Waterwetter in my GF car that had old coolant and the needle went down a bit. Good stuff for rust too.

 

Yeah it has stopped throwing that pink fluff around the cap too. I put about half a pint in and Its running very cool. Even in Fla 99 degree stop & go I don't think the inverter is getting warmer than 105 degree's. I can keep my hand on the bottle for quite awhile without it being uncomfortable.
My mpg is very good.

This coolant loop is the heart and soul of this car. If there's any issue either with aged coolant or poor flow you will see your mpg's tank. I bet every rise in Inverter operating temp one degree is worth 1 mpg loss.

I am going to change this coolant every time I change the oil. Every 10K. Its cheap, quick & easy and protects the most expensive parts on the car. The Inverter & trans.

 

Hmm. interesting stuff about the Waterwetter. So it inhibits rust AND have better thermal transfer?

 

My inverter pump died 2 months ago with 22K on it. This is on a 2005 Prius. The recall took care of it.