2002 Prius needs new steering rack at 98K?

[tochatihu]

Does tighter and tighter mean that more effort is required to steer? If so, this means that the power assist is offline. There should also be an error display. Re-starting the car should bring back power assist at least temporarily.

Toyota does not replace this system piecewise - it's the whole thing and now you know their price. Used ones are available and you might consider that option.

Kauai is a beautiful island but perhaps expensive to get heavy things shipped in. Also I imagine that you have one and only one Toyota shop in Lihue, so you pretty much have to deal with those guys.

[ca02prius]

I'll be interested to hear what tochatihu has to say about this. In my case, I'm still struggling with the shuddering that now occurs when turning the wheel quickly to the right, and I'm wondering whether it's worth it to take it back to the dealer who can now claim no responsibility, as I had the rack & pinion replaced by a non-Toyota mechanic. I'm still awfully attached to the car, so I've been very careful to turn the wheel very slowly whenever turning right. Don't know how long I can keep this up, though.

The fact that your dealer couldn't find anything wrong after several visits MIGHT give you some leverage, but I don't know. How many miles do you have? Any other issues? Might it still be under some sort of warranty? I do hope you get a response from someone knowledgeable. Are you as attached to your Gen1 as I am? (Don't know why I can't get excited about the newer models, but they're so ubiquitous here in CA to the point of being boring!)

[tochatihu]

ca02, if you're wondering how the shop will respond to the current situation you might as well take it in and find out.

There is a computer (ECU) associated with the power steering assist, but I really don't know if it is typically replaced along with the electromechanicals. AFAIK there has been no clear indication from Toyota that they ever altered the ECU program for the 01-03 model.

I was all set to report that www.car-part.com has a bunch of these (as takeouts) but at the moment I see only one listed. LKQonline is another potential source.

[ca02prius]

Thanks, tochatihu. As you can see, I haven't given up on this yet. After reading a re-reading several posts, I think I'll ask the dealer again (or the other one in SJ) and/or call Art's Automotive in Berkeley, even though they are a bit of a drive. I'd hate to spring for another ECU only to find out that's not the source of the problem. It's so easy for each shop to blame the other, though I wish I knew if I had any recourse at all with Pep Boys. It doesn't seem like it since I refused their "offer" to replace the ECU for another $800+.