2010 Orange Triangle "Check Hybrid System"

The dealership will connect a scanner to the car and check for trouble codes. If you do not have any warning lights on the dashboard when you take it to the dealership, they probably will not find and codes, and you will be charged ~$185 for the scan.

Tomorrow morning when the car is cold, try starting the car and see if you have any warning lights. If you do not have any warning lights, definitely do not take it to the dealership. If you do have warning lights, take it first to an auto parts store (Auto Zone, Advanced Auto, etc) for a free scan to check for the trouble codes and then post them here in this thread.

It sounds like you have had other problems with your car. Can you please describe what those were? The present problem may be related to the past problems.

 

Technalogia.... no good for college

 

The description for code P261B is "Coolant Pump "B" Control Malfunction." This is for the engine water pump. This code is activated by the ECM (engine control module) when the water pump is rotating slower than 900 rpm when it should be rotating much faster than that. The water pump normally rotates at 2600 rpm or higher when the engine is running.

When this code is active and the engine coolant temperature goes higher than a certain temperature (I can't remember the exact temperature at this moment), the ECM will shut down the engine to protect it from overheating. The coolant temperature that this happens at is lower than the 248F, which turns on the high coolant temperature warning light on the dashboard. So, when this code is present, you have no indication why the engine shuts down, but it is happening to protect the engine from overheating. This is exactly like what you described in your original post.

In most cases, when you have the P261B code, the engine water pump needs to be replaced.

What is the level of the engine coolant in the plastic reservoir located near the right front wheel? If it is below the minimum level line on the reservoir, you should add coolant.

The Gen 3 engine has a history of head gasket problems happening from 150k to 210k miles. The engine cold start misfires (rattling) is the first indication of engine coolant leaking past the head gasket into cylinder #1 or #2. How has the engine coolant level been during the last two years? Have you needed to add coolant? Your mileage of 130k is lowered that when you normally see the head gasket failures. You can do a search on this Gen 3 forum for a huge amount of information about the failing head gasket in these engines.

Edit: As an experiment, when you are done driving your car for the day, open the hood of the car and slowly loosen the plastic cap on the engine coolant reservoir. Use a large rag so you do not burn yourself. The next morning, before you start the car, tighten the cap again. This should reduce the cold start misfires if the misfires are due to a failing head gasket.