Help: Dealer maintenance trouble

[jglance]

Hey all,

I'm a newbie to this forum, but I need some advice on my Toyota Prius and I would really appreciate your imput. My story is this: last Sunday I was driving my 2002 Prius (184,445 mile on my car and I've owned it since new) home from LA to Riverside. I was a really hot day, and I was running the air, when I lost all power in the fast lane. I was able to get it safely off the fwy. The main hybrid warning light was on as was the brake light and check engine light. I had it towed by to Riverside where I live and left it at Riverside Toyota. Paul, the service rep. calls me on Monday to say they checked out the car and I need to replace the inverter/convert to the tune of about $4,976 (4,252 for the inverter/converter plus taxes and labor). I told him that it was a lot of $$ and let me get back to him. I check around at 2 other dealerships that quote me $3,500 for the inverter/converter so I call back and talked him down. I finally get him to $3,698 for the part, at which point I approve the work to go ahead (this was yesterday). He tells me they should have the part in today (Wednesday) and he'd let me know when the car will be ready for pickup but probably this evening.

Now this is where this goes from bad to worse! He calls me this morning and tells me his technician thinks that when the inverter/converter fried, it damaged the electric motor and it's going to be several thousand $$ more to fix. I tell him if that's the case and he's sure, to stop work that I don't want to get the car fixed and I'll scap it instead (we're now talking upward of 10,000 in estimated repairs)!!! He says well, I still expect you to pay the over $4 grand for the inverter/converter work. I tell him that I'm absotutly NOT going to pay him $4 G for a car that doesn't run not in this life time. And that I would have never had the car fixed if he had given me that $$ amount in the original estimate. So what are my rights here? Can he hold me over a barrel or keep my car if I don't pay??

All you thoughts on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

[GatorJZ]

Assuming without knowing that California law is similar to other states, the shop has a valid mechanics lien on your car IF they complied with applicable statutes regarding estimates, etc. If they haven't yet performed the original work, you are probably OK. If they have performed the work, they are entitled to be paid UNLESS you can show they were negligent in not finding the additional damaged components at the outset. Just because they didn't initially find it, doesn't necessarily mean they were negligent. Sometimes additional tear down is required in order to determine the extent of repairs necessary to fix the car. In light of the amount of money involved, you need to go see an attorney with some expertise in this area. The mechanics lien laws are usually very pro-consumer and if they didn't do everything correctly, you may have an out. Good luck.

[pewd]

Originally Posted by jglance

So what are my rights here?

Thats a question for your attorney; the law varies from state to state.
So I'd suggest you start by talking to your attorney.

Then you might consider calling Toyota customer care, see if they can get you some help with the repair costs.

HTH

edit: Gator beat me to it. Great minds think alike....

[jglance]

We, I've got good news and bad news:

bad news:

Toyota of Riverside confirmed that the electric motor was damaged when the inverter/convert fried. The cost of fixing both is to expensive, so essentially my long and up until now happy life with my 2002 Prius is over.

Good news:

Toyota of Riverside has done the standup thing and told me that they'll release the car to me at no charge, which I don't have to tell you is a huge relief. Paul Sinclaire the service rep. at Toyota Riverside called me back yesterday afternoon to give me the news. All my worst fears about how this sinario could have been playing out were untrue, so good on them!! He was very nice and very understanding about my situation. I think when it's time to get a new car I'll go to Toyota of Riverside.

One last thought:

I've had my Prius for more than 5 years and I've clearly put a ton of miles on her, and until now it's been by far the most reliable car I've ever owned. Toyota makes a really great product and I really still do believe in the technology. I just wish that these parts weren't so expensive. It really is shocking. Electic motors are not complex items, I just don't understand why it should have been $5-6 grand to replace. I know the inverter/converter is a very complex part, but really $3,500? I hope Toyota can figure a way to bring the cost of these parts down or a lot of Prius owners are going to be in for a very big supprise. And I'm really sad because I already miss my car.

[ceric]

Well, that is I welcome competitor like Honda to drive down the price (the whole vehicle and parts). Today, Prius has no real worthy competition today.

[jglance]

You're right, Toyota really has no serious competition in the hybrid market. Or for cars in general in terms of quality. My wife owns a Honda Civic si (ono-hybrid), and it's an OK car, maybe? It's fun to drive, but it's nothing interms of fit, finish, build quality and quality of materials, paint finish, etc. The Honda just seams a little cheap. Her honda may live to 185,000 miles but it won't look to good at the end (cheap paint and clear coat and very thin body work). My older Toyota has (had) more than 3 times the miles and still looked great. Damn, going to miss that car. It's sad, really, I thought she had so many miles lef in her (Prius on my wife).

[Bob64]

Originally Posted by jglance

I just wish that these parts weren't so expensive. It really is shocking. Electic motors are not complex items, I just don't understand why it should have been $5-6 grand to replace. I know the inverter/converter is a very complex part, but really $3,500?

I'd suggest trying to find some used parts... the most expensive part of it is the LABOR... Which may be cheaper if you find an independent hybrid auto shop that can do the job...
This is what replacing the MG2 in the prius consists of:
Rebuilding a Toyota Prius Transaxle -- Art's Automotive, Berkeley, CA


Perhaps steve of autobeyours can hook you up with some cheap salvaged parts?

[Patrick Wong]

Originally Posted by Bob64

I'd suggest trying to find some used parts... the most expensive part of it is the LABOR... Which may be cheaper if you find an independent hybrid auto shop that can do the job...

The Art's Automotive website discourages installation of a Classic salvage transaxle: "...Chief among the lessons learned: it's probably best not to install a used transaxle in a first generation Prius because MG2 failure seems to be a fairly common problem."
Replacing A First Generation Prius Transaxle

I'm glad that the OP was not stuck with the inverter bill. The dealer probably decided that the OP could not be expected to pay, hence the dealer would be stuck with a non-functioning 2002 that has close to zero market value in its current condition.

[tochatihu]

Sounds like this car has little or no future. If you sell the useable parts, add up all your expenses over the almost 185k miles, you could calculate the total ownership costs in cents per mile. I would like to know that number.

[sgort2]

I wonder how many other 1st gen. Priuses have had this problem, the EXACT same thing happened to me on Monday, car lost power on the freeway, took it in to Toyota of Carlsbad they assessed a failed inveter coolant pump, possibly failed inverter, and failed transaxle. The repair is estimated to cost ~$10K and Toyota corporate isn't willing to do anything even though the car is only 2500 miles past warranty.