Dead Prius

[weesa20]

So I was on my way to the mountains today and my 2005 Prius engine died at highway speed. Computer stayed on and I was able to get out of traffic on the battery system. Engine would start and idle but not go into drive and I had all kinds of engine warning lights on. Had it towed to my Toyota dealer and they will look at it tomorrow morning. PITA- only car I've ever had towed to a shop and it is also the newest I ever had die on me! Bought new in Aug 2005, just turned 35,500 miles, have the extended Platinum Warranty as well. I filled it up about 10 miles before it died so I wonder if a got bad fuel...

A

[Betelgeuse]

Oy. Sorry to hear about your problems. Given that it died shortly after getting fuel, I think that "bad fuel" is a good guess. . .

I remember there was some problem with some (very early) Prius engines stalling at highway speeds, but I think those had no problems starting up again after powering down, right?

If you can find out what codes the dealer pulls, that'll help us (well, not me, but the smart people on this forum) work on this mystery.

[KTPhil]

Did you get the "ECU flash" recall work done before? If not, now is the time! Have them check the steering for another recall while they are at it.

[weesa20]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(KTPhil @ May 15 2007, 06:48 PM) [snapback]442800[/snapback]</div>

Did you get the "ECU flash" recall work done before? If not, now is the time! Have them check the steering for another recall while they are at it.
[/b]

The only recal work that I know have was the steering shaft recal. I have not had any info about other problems.

Oh, and last week the #5 JBL premium 6 CD player died and they had to replace that. It's been a bad month for my Prius. It now has offically surpassed my '03 Chevy Trailblazer for more problems in fewer mils! (only one problem w/ the TB and it has ~46k on it) So much for Toyotas being more reliable...I think that is a thing of the past and they have been living on reputation for a while now!

A

[mpgFanatic]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(weesa20 @ May 15 2007, 07:26 PM) [snapback]442824[/snapback]</div>

...So much for Toyotas being more reliable...I think that is a thing of the past and they have been living on reputation for a while now!
[/b]

And I think you are just frustrated. I feel your pain but there is no need for gross generalizations based on one or two service incidents.

[JimN]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(weesa20 @ May 15 2007, 06:26 PM) [snapback]442824[/snapback]</div>

The only recal work that I know have was the steering shaft recal. I have not had any info about other problems.

Oh, and last week the #5 JBL premium 6 CD player died and they had to replace that. It's been a bad month for my Prius. It now has offically surpassed my '03 Chevy Trailblazer for more problems in fewer mils! (only one problem w/ the TB and it has ~46k on it) So much for Toyotas being more reliable...I think that is a thing of the past and they have been living on reputation for a while now!

A
[/b]

If the current problem has an external cause then this Prius has had as many dealer trips (perhaps not warranty trips) has the Chevy. If it turns out that the cause is a problem with the Prius then IMO weesa20 has made a fair call. It doesn't matter to me if there are a million other (insert car model here) that are completely trouble free if mine is the one in the shop.

Recently I discovered that I was missing fasteners (1 each side) in the guards that are in front of the front tires. Either Toyota didn't insert them or they fell out. If they were missing at the factory, QC didn't notice nor the two mechanics at the dealer that did the oil changes. If they fell out inside of 12,000 miles what kind of crap assembly is this? This is no less irritating (but less time consuming) than the comparable BS problem I had with the Intrigue. The reputation for quality rides on every vehicle, not just most of them.

[donee]

Hi Weesa20,

Yea, if the 2005 Prius has not had the reprogaming (stored in flash type memory - called a Reflash by most nerds and geeks), that would explain what happened. Has happened to a bunch of people including one lady in the middle of the golden gate bridge. The old 2004 and 2005 software is apparently too sensative to the variablity in time it takes to restart the engine under some circumstances, and just gives up too quick. Many people have had the Reflash with no furter problems.

Do not be down on the Prius. Had the same kinda problem with my 6 month old Saturn SL2. Pull into a toll gate, and then in cripple mode on the way out. Kinda scarry merging onto a 70 mph experssway at 35 mph because that is as fast as the car could get going in a 1/2 mile. Best guess was the lock-up torque converter. Happened a few more time, and I took it into Saturn. Each time they said they did not find a problem. But it stopped after one the last trip to Saturn for the problem. I think they pulled the wire to the torque converter lock-up solenoid. No problem with it for rest of the 4 years I owned it.

[KTPhil]

"If they fell out inside of 12,000 miles what kind of crap assembly is this?"

I'd be willing to bet those plastic guards have a few scratches in them from parking stops. It doesn't take much to knock the fasteners out if you hit the stop, but the plastic is flexible enough you may not feel it from the driver's seat.

[pola]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(weesa20 @ May 15 2007, 04:22 PM) [snapback]442792[/snapback]</div>

So I was on my way to the mountains today and my 2005 Prius engine died at highway speed. Computer stayed on and I was able to get out of traffic on the battery system. Engine would start and idle but not go into drive and I had all kinds of engine warning lights on. Had it towed to my Toyota dealer and they will look at it tomorrow morning. PITA- only car I've ever had towed to a shop and it is also the newest I ever had die on me! Bought new in Aug 2005, just turned 35,500 miles, have the extended Platinum Warranty as well. I filled it up about 10 miles before it died so I wonder if a got bad fuel...

A
[/b]

WHAT WOULD BAD FUEL BE ?
What kind of fuel should you use ?
thanks,


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(weesa20 @ May 15 2007, 04:22 PM) [snapback]442792[/snapback]</div>

So I was on my way to the mountains today and my 2005 Prius engine died at highway speed. Computer stayed on and I was able to get out of traffic on the battery system. Engine would start and idle but not go into drive and I had all kinds of engine warning lights on. Had it towed to my Toyota dealer and they will look at it tomorrow morning. PITA- only car I've ever had towed to a shop and it is also the newest I ever had die on me! Bought new in Aug 2005, just turned 35,500 miles, have the extended Platinum Warranty as well. I filled it up about 10 miles before it died so I wonder if a got bad fuel...

A
[/b]

WHAT WOULD BAD FUEL BE ?
What kind of fuel should you use ?
thanks,

[Betelgeuse]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pola @ May 15 2007, 10:10 PM) [snapback]442987[/snapback]</div>

WHAT WOULD BAD FUEL BE ?
What kind of fuel should you use ?
thanks,
[/b]

There are a few ways that fuel can be "bad," but the most common would probably be if water got in the tanks at the gas station. Note that this can happen anywhere and there's no reason to believe that one brand of fuel is more or less likely to have this happen (although, I'd probably avoid the specific station where you got the bad fuel).