That's right, I obliterated this turkey coming home from working uber in Tahoe. I hit the turkey 6 miles from home so I nursed it home.

Woke up the next day and the inverter reservoir was empty, the inverter cooler/radiator was damaged...see pic.

The bad news is that I live 20 miles from town and have very limited funds. Good news is that I have a beater jeep that can make it into town.

So I took the cooler out. [IMG]<a href="http://tinypic.com?ref=8vq9dz" target="_blank"><img src="http://i67.tinypic.com/8vq9dz.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>[/IMG]

I am going to buy a new one from Toyota, install, and fill with fluid. The only catch is that I cannot run the inverter pump to flush air pockets bc I don't have a scan tool. So I am going to see which mechanics will run the pump down the hill for me.

What do you guys think of driving it for 20 miles after R and R?

Georgia Hybrid, I love your two cents, and boy do I need those cents now.

 

2011 Camry hybrid btw.

 

Any local mechanic with a Snapon scanner or a Techstream scanner can do it for you. Just follow the sticky on changing the coolant in the inverter and you will be fine. Others have changed it by cycling the ignition on and off several times but that carries with it an inherent risk that you need to understand. The odds are you will not damage the inverter but then again, you can toast it if anything goes wrong.

Best thing to do is pay a tech to come by your house after work with his scanner, hook it up and run the pump to purge the system and let him make $50 or so for 15 minutes of work. That sounds like a lot but when you pay upwards of $6,000 to $10,000 for a scanner, you have to get your money back for it.

 

cycling the ignition on and off several times but that carries with it an inherent risk that you need to understand. The odds are you will not damage the inverter but then again, you can toast it if anything goes wrong.


I live too far out of the way for a mechanic to come to my place. So...I'll do just that, I'll cycle it numerous time until I feel comfortable enough to drive it down the hill. Then I'll stop by one of the local mechanics that'll run the inverter pump.

You're the man Georgia!!!

 

Next time, try using a shotgun with #2 shot to get your supper. Cars mess up too much meat.

 

Stupid turkeys. A shotgun would've been cheaper too.


Midas down the hill will burp the system for 30 minutes of labor. $45 ish

 

Update...


Wife n I drove down the hill to pick up the parts, then next stop was Sacramento to get Toyota spec coolant, but that didn't happen.


Our jeep broke down... two months after a head gasket replacement, so we were stranded, had to walk 7miles, but that's another story.


Within our epic journey we made it to AutoZone picked up the cooler/radiator, but had to settle for generic autozone coolant.


Made it home via tow truck, installed radiator in Camry, and started it. Reservoir emptied and had to refill, so that made me happy, cycled ignition about ten times. tomorrow we will head to Midas to burp the system.


I cringe that I do not have Toyota coolant in the hybrid, but I didn't have a choice.


How worried should I be.


Keep in mind if this car don't run, I can't work, wife and I stranded, and the world will implode.

 

You should be OK for a few weeks but I would drain that coolant out when things bet better and the jeep is fixed. After draining it, replace the coolant, burp it and then drain again. Fill the second time with Toyota long life pink and you should be good to go. Generic coolant does not have the same properties, it will just not provide the same additives that Toyota spec coolant has.

Their are several different types of coolant on the market (OAT, Hybrid OAT and IAT) and your "universal is just that, it will work with the others but should not be used to replace them.

 

Thank you for going out of your way to give me this information and easing my mind. You are really heaven sent.


I would love to repay you in person sometime. Here is to hoping I run into you and can repay you!!!

 

I really wouldn't be worried about coolant. Prestone loud and clear says "can be mixed with ANY color coolant" infamous Dexcool included. So as far as you used something that says same, you'd be awright.

How is turkey?