I was sitting idle in car and smoke started coming out of the hood of the car. It almost smells like burning plastic. I also noticed that the engine didn't kick in which usually does after a while of being idle. When I popped the hood I could hear a light humming sound. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Rob Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
Assuming you didn't need the Fire Department, unless you're a dig mechanic/electrician is suspect you need to get it to a Prius dealer. Now, having said that, I am not familiar with you model and others, like @bisco can help. Other than that, welcome to Prius Chat!
Damn, I was hoping it would be something simple and inexpensive. Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
That may still be the case. I just wanted you to know we are not ignoring you, but I'm in UK with a 2016 so not well placed to know the answer. However, I did call another member in Boston MA who may be able to point you in the right direction. Good luck!
Uh, Oh! You let the smoke out: These symptoms are not enough to diagnose what happened. For example, there is an inverter coolant pump; a radiator fan; a power steering motor; an electric power brake; an electric air conditioner compressor, and; a pump for cabin heating. The engine compartment also holds that large set of power inverters as well as the transaxle that has two large electric motors. I'm going to recommend starting a new thread in the Gen-2 forum: Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting | PriusChat 1) Your initial symptoms. Include the weather, driving, e.t.c. 2) Where is the car now. 3) You technical skills and background: Little to none and only an apartment parking lot to work on it. Have a volt ohm meter, crescent (i.e., adjustable) and vice grips and driveway. My metric tool box weights almost as much as my SAE tool box in my heated and air conditioned garage. 4) Briefly describe your situation in terms of GOOD, FAST, CHEAP, you'll have to pick two. Our Prius cars are operated by a large number of control computers. We tell them what we want to happen and they do the 'mechanical dance' that makes it happen. So high on the list will be a code reader, ~$50, that with a Windows OS laptop, ~$200, will read the error codes from the control computers. One last thing, these are generic instructions I would use with any car that 'lets out the smoke.' So I'm encouraging posting in the forum specific to your car with the 'gear heads' who have similar model cars. They will do a much better job of helping to fault-isolate the problem and recommend next steps. GOOD LUCK! Bob Wilson
