2007 Prius Incline Issue

Okay that's a good guess I guess smell coming through what vents The vents that blow your air conditioning and I'm guessing you're in the fresh mode so wow I would hope you're inverter pump and any of that coolant business up front is not getting so hot that you have to smell it in the cabin It should smell like antifreeze like all other antifreeze the red stuff doesn't smell special smells like ethylene glycol if you will If you don't know what that smells like I don't know stop at a shop and just ask somebody to stick their head in the window they'll tell you pretty quick that could be your inverter throttling back because it's getting heated if that's the case the little green car on your multifunction display should be read and you should have check engine red triangle something should be on. The second thing I would think be thinking about is old hybrid battery now in that car your battery is what 14 years old plus something The average lifespan of a hybrid battery is 8 10 is stretching it. You're past all of that It was in the last two years you had a battery rebuilt You might be okay they generally can possibly go three years.

 

Does the triangle light come on? That will, if it's the inverter cooling system.

You say the check engine light comes on. Is that the only light that comes on?

What are (you knew I was going to ask this) the trouble codes when it comes on? That information is needed, and you may need to arrange access to a scan tool so you can get it.

 

You should check all your fluid levels to make sure they are not too high or too low

 

exhaust system restriction / catalytic converter getting clogged
maybe restricted intake airflow
engine misfiring under load

 

If I'm not mistaken that is the engine control temperature sensor out of range maybe your car froze I don't know I can't see from here or the temperature sensor is just wore out. I guess it's possible other things could be going on too but that looks like a start.