My 04 Prius spits and error after I have driven it for a while on a warmer day. I get a Triangle warning light, engine check light, (little circle in parenthesis) and a VSC error indicator. I took it into the dealer and had a scan done on it - they said it looked like an inverter\heat malfunction. I will probably just replace the entire inverter assembly but I noticed in the service manual it says that you should replace the "PCU box" along with the inverter as a pair. Does anyone know what the PCU box is or were it's located? Thanks in advance,
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(statultra @ Jul 4 2007, 02:54 PM) [snapback]473136[/snapback]</div> brand new and I blead the air out also. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva @ Jul 4 2007, 02:59 PM) [snapback]473137[/snapback]</div> Salvage car
sometimes there more air inside the system run the pump and shut it off and bleed it out, keep trying i got the same issue with two of my prius's 05 and a 01 .
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Crumple Zone @ Jul 4 2007, 03:13 PM) [snapback]473146[/snapback]</div> Is there a way I can run the pump without driving the car around? At what location did you get more air out, the radiator or the valve at the end of the hose going to the electric motor? Thanks again,
Did you get from the dealer what DTC's were coming out? Certainly don't want you to experience the frustration of replacing an inverter and find out it is an inverter cooling problem.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FL_Prius_Driver @ Jul 4 2007, 06:19 PM) [snapback]473230[/snapback]</div> I asked for the DTC's but all they told me was that it looked like the inverter was overheating. I will take it back tomorrow and have them rescan like they were supposed too.
Salvaged cars are included in the emission control warranty, according to the manual. In CA states it is 15/150 if I remember right. The inverter is one of the covered items. Of course if the inverter was previously damaged in an accident then that would make them question. Good luck.
When hobbit was doing an inverter examination (http://techno-fandom.org/~hobbit/cars/ginv/), one thing he noticed was some gunk in the inverter cooling channels. Take a look yourself at his work. If your dealer is claiming an inverter cooling problem, then there should be some way to see what the flow is. The rest is physics and "physics" is not broken. Take a picture to the dealer of hobbits inverter picture (assuming he did this to help people like you). Ask "Anyway to remove crud like this?" can only lure the dealer into getting the smart technician involved. You want the smart technician. I may be wrong, but the flow should be measurable if the car is running. Looking at the NHW11 service manual, there is a water temperature switch that closes between 118 to 131 F. It looks like this temp switch turns on the radiator fans. The rest of the design is a pump and a radiator. If nothing else, make sure the radiator fans work and that the inverter cooling fluid flows.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FL_Prius_Driver @ Jul 4 2007, 06:19 PM) [snapback]473230[/snapback]</div> Good Call! I got the DTC printout this morning and it was indicated as an inverter cooling problem. I checked the fans and they were OK. THE INVERTER WATER PUMP WAS BAD! TIP: a good way of checking the inveter water pump is that you should see coolant recirculating in the resevoir when the car is on! Thanks for all of our help!
If the engine running initiates the inverter cooling pump ........you can run the engine by putting the engine in drive and stepping on accelerator (and proceed to drive right thru the garage door) Seriously, keep foot on footbrake, set emergency brake and THEN step on accelerator. The RPM will be limited by the computer and will cease when the computer is satisfied with charge. You may or should have a green battery at that point, I assume then, the inverter pump can be bled. Leave some items on, like lights and AC and charge should bleed down and then you can start a new cycle. If I'm totally wrong let me know ( on the concept ) Not ever having bled the pump I would be interested in the details, location, etc. Andy
Hi Andy, The original posts date back to July 2007. However, to answer your query, the inverter coolant pump runs whenever the car is either IG-ON or READY; hence no need to force the ICE to run. The pump is near the driver's side headlight. I suggest you download repair manual info from techinfo.toyota.com when/if you decide to perform this procedure. It is quite time-consuming.
That's funny I did not even look at the date, no not planning to work in that area, just gathering knowledge. Thanks Pat.
