Coolant pump makes continuous noise

[macowi]

I have my third i-MiEV/C-Zero (2018) (1st: i-MiEV 2011, 2nd: C-Zero 2013, 3rd: C-Zero 2018), and I notice that the coolant pump near the engine runs continuously when the car is ON. Coolant is continuously pumped around. It makes a constant (annoying in the interior) humming noise until the car is turned off.

Anyone recognize this? Has anything been changed in the pump control or DC/DC converter in the later years of construction?

 

[JoeS]

macowi, welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear about your problem. I don't recall this ever being discussed on this forum.

I was hoping that someone experienced with this would chime in.

I cannot imagine that continuous running of the coolant pump is normal, nor that Mitsu would have made such a design change so late in the car's production run.

Looking at the Mitsu workshop manual, they devote a full section (14) to the cooling system. Sadly, the only two faults they identify are a coolant leak and overheating, although they do offer a procedure for testing the water pump relay which is located in what Mitsu calls the "Relay Box". I think it's the fusebox under the bonnet below the brake vacuum booster (LHD cars). A stuck relay could result in continuous running of the pump.

There is a temperature sensor located externally in the forward right corner of he MCU inverter. It has a connector that can be disconnected. Their testing procedure involves removing the sensor, immersing it in water and they offer the following readings:
0°C 5.1kΩ-6.5kΩ
20°C 2.1kΩ-2.7kΩ
40°C 0.9kΩ-1.3kΩ
60°C 0.48kΩ-0.68kΩ
80°C 0.26kΩ-0.36kΩ

I wouldn't bother going to the trouble of removing the sensor but would simply try to probe it in situ. I think that a shorted sensor would result in continuous running of the pump.

The cooling pump running has always mystified me, as, even when the car is cold, it cycles when the car is charging and before the coolant has even had a chance to warm up. So, speculating, I think there also a separate timer for the pump, independent of temperature. Anyone?

So, may I suggest that you get out your multimeter, and good hunting (and good luck)!

 

[macowi]

Thanks JoeS for thinking along!
As first I tried to replace the coolant temperature sensor with a new one, but that was unfortunately not the solution.

I did discover something else when I connected Car Scanner: the temperature of de heater ('Water temperature HVAC') is consistently about 20 degrees Celsius higher than the ambient temperature. I compared the values with my brother's 2011-Ion on the same moment (screenshot below).
I wouldn't expect the heater to have anything to do with the water pump, but you can't be sure, so as first I will try to replace the sensor.
If anyone has a suggestion let me know

I found another topic with a problem like mine: https://myimiev.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=42657#p42657

 

[disar]

hi! Did you solved your problem?

 

[miggols99]

I noticed the same on my 2015 i-MiEV.
When I took a test drive in another 2014 i-MiEV, turning the key to "READY" the coolant pump was constantly running in that one also, so perhaps it is an intentional change?

To be fair the noise is only really noticeable when you are stopped - when you are moving it is drowned out by road noise etc.

 

[disar]

Hmmm, maby you are right. I checked it only in <2013 cars. All parameters are the same, but water pump works cyclically. Maby in all of 2013+ cars water pump works all the time in ready mode.

 

[Peter Vanhoutteghem]

Hello, is anyone still on this thread. I recently started having the yellow car with exclamation mark lighting up, both after driving about 10kms or during charging. There are no symptoms: car starts, runs and charges normally. I am 95% certain it is related to the coolant pump not running properly (it sometimes "whines" while running. If during charging the pump operates, yellow alarm does Not go on.
Question is, is the pump dying (which I hope) or is the electronics which drive it failing.
Does anyone know if electrical measurements can be with the plug in the socket?
Thanks

 

[MickeyS70]

I am 95% certain it is related to the coolant pump not running properly (it sometimes "whines" while running. If during charging the pump operates, yellow alarm does Not go on.

Hi Peter
These is still a 5% chance it’s unrelated, therefore I would suggest to make certain by trying to read out the DCT codes with an OBD dongle when the yellow light is on.
Regards
Mickey

 

[Orleans]

This is possibly the sound I'm hearing on mine too. Not as knowledgeable as the rest of you, but whenever the air conditioning or heat goes one, there's an immediate hum that then seems to climb in pitch in steady increments. Doesn't otherwise seem to affect the car, though.

 

[Orleans]

Oh, I should clarify that mine is a 2012. Had it two and a half years with no real issue except this and the yellow exclamation/car light comes on when it's in D but not other gears. I've also never invested in a dongle. Which is the best one for the I-miev? Thanks.

 

[MickeyS70]

I've also never invested in a dongle. Which is the best one for the I-miev? Thanks.

IMHO the OBDLink LX is still the most versatile Bluetooth dongle for Android as it works reliably with all the cars and apps I have tried, but it doesn’t come cheap. To read/clear DTCs use it with “Car Scanner ELM OBD2” for Android.


For more info see below:
https://myimiev.com/threads/smartphone-tablet-apps-for-i-miev-c-zero-and-ion.4936/

 

[hjdlsnbc]

To read/clear DTCs use it with CarPlay for Android.

CarPlay is in general a Apple product and have nothing to do with car diagnostics. I checked the link you posted, but cant find any information about CarPlay for Android.

 

[MickeyS70]

CarPlay is in general an Apple product and have nothing to do with car diagnostics. I checked the link you posted, but cant find any information about CarPlay for Android.

Apologies, I meant Car Scanner for Android, post edited