Car repair dilemma

kissenger

kissenger

kissenger

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10 Apr 2008
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Sorry for posting my second thread of the day, but I have a dilemma I could really use some help with.

My '06 Prius got a red triangle of death coupled with a high engine coolant temperature warning today while I was driving to work on the M5. I decided the best thing to do would be to take it to my mechanic who's worked on it before. Well, he's just called me and he can't diagnose the fault, and having looked at it myself earlier nothing obvious is wrong with it.

Anyway, he's said the only thing he can recommend is I take it to a hybrid specialist, but the only ones I can find online are Toyota themselves and I really don't want to spend that kind of money on it.

So what are my options here? Obviously I'm not going to sell it privately because of this issue, and I checked that well known company that buys any car and they offered a pittance (£1000 when it's valued elsewhere at £3000). Is my only realistic option to part-exchange at a dealership?

Sorry if this is all a bit vague and wondering but my head is mush right now
 
LiE said:
Take it to Toyota.
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It's complicated, but I have previously had this car at Toyota and they said it was more or less a write off because of an engine coolant leak :eek:

That was about 6 months ago and I ended up taking it to my mechanic who patched it up for next to nothing and it's been running fine since then. I initially thought (assumed, as you do) that it was a return of the same problem, but having checked the coolant reservoir, it hasn't lost a drop, so I don't think it is.

Anyway, that's why I don't think it's a good idea going back to Toyota — that, and the fact it will cost me an arm and a leg going to them.
 
there must be a mobile diagnostic guy near you who could stick on a computer for £50 at least that is not much to chuck at it.
 
Could be fallout from that original issue, and you're now just starting to see the end results.

You can always call up Toyota and ask for the price of a fault finding session. They can give you a report on what's wrong, and then you can speak with your mechanic to see if he knows/comfortable doing the repair. You don't have to pay for their OEM parts then.
 
Get a code reader off ebay (or bluetooth dongle version plus app for your phone).

It's often cheaper than paying to have the codes read a time or two.
 
Uriel said:
Get a code reader off ebay (or bluetooth dongle version plus app for your phone).

It's often cheaper than paying to have the codes read a time or two.
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While that works to some degree, for more complicated faults, then all you will get is a generic code e.g. "cooling system fault" (* completely made up), whereas Toyota's official diagnostics will read slightly more e.g. "cooling system fault - inverter pump voltage low" (* again completely made up message).

Even just checking the above links, states more or less the same thing that certain fault codes on these cars, can't be accurately diagnosed with generic code readers.


(Note - I 100% agree with having a cheap bluetooth reader and something like Torque - as it provides a starting point - but it isn't 100% conclusive.)
 
Is there no Toyota equivalent to INPA for BMW or VCDS/VAGCOM for VW Group cars?

These systems give proper verbose manufacturer specific error messages, rather than the generic ODB-II codes.
 
Armageus said:
Quick google suggests inverter coolant pump is a common failure:

https://priuschat.com/threads/red-triangle-light-on-thinking-its-the-inverter-coolant-pump.156586/
http://diylk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/toyota-prius-water-pump-change-inverter.html

Sounds reasonably easy to identify (or rule out) as removing the coolant cap, you should be able to see turbulence if running.
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I had the water pump and coolant replaced as recently as November by my local Toyota dealer. I assume that's the same thing as the inverter coolant pump. So I should be able to diagnose that myself if I notice a lot of turbulence in the engine coolant reservoir when revving the engine?

FWIW, I've just got back from the mechanic's and he said it was hard to diagnose because he wasn't able to drain the coolant (don't know why, I thought that was pretty easy). He said if I'm lucky it might just be air in the coolant pump. He told me to top up the coolant and leave the cap off overnight, and then give it a blast on the motorway.

Needless to say, that doesn't fill me with optimism :( But I'm hoping that because the coolant isn't depleting in the tank, even after long journeys, it might just be that.
 
As far as I know (and I don't have a Prius - just a quick Google), but there are two pumps - a normal one for the petrol engine and a separate one that cools the electric inverter.
 
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