Argh, help me reduce my hypervigilance so I can enjoy driving

[patsparks]

Funny thing is regadless of the technology in these cars the engine still works on the old suck, squeeze, bang, blow as car 100 years old. Rule 1 with a missfire is check for spark and check the resistance of the coil/s if there is no spark. Always do the easy stuff first. Where did the mechanics go wrong?

[hobbit]

I, for one, will chime in and say "go to your independent, and
if he doesn't grok hybrids yet HELP HIM TO DO SO". I therefore
disagree with
.
__ Toyota uses some proprietary diagnostic features. Only a
__ Prius-certified tech using Toyota equipment can make a complete
__ diagnosis. Naturally most of them work at Toyota dealers.
.
because the aftermarket *is* getting quite a bit better, there's
plenty of training material out there FOR FREE, and no reason
anyone who understands today's automotive technology can't study
up a little and add electric motors, inverters, and HV batteries
to their repertoire. A point diagnosis often comes down to
time-honored debugging techniques -- looking and listening, feeling
for heat/cold/vibration, getting a scope onto a signal or an output,
wiggle-tests, and maybe some parts-swapping as the last resort.
.
An auto tech will likely do one of those dig-deep-into-the-
hybrid-innards problem tracking procedures less than 20% of
the time -- most often they'll be dealing with routine issues.
They just need to learn the Prius quirks, same as an owner
would, and be as facile with the vehicle's operation.
.
_H*

[morpheusx]

Originally Posted by patsparks

Funny thing is regadless of the technology in these cars the engine still works on the old suck, squeeze, bang, blow as car 100 years old. Rule 1 with a missfire is check for spark and check the resistance of the coil/s if there is no spark. Always do the easy stuff first. Where did the mechanics go wrong?

Funny you say this, I've been driving since 1994 (16 y/o) and in those days I could usually call a friend or two who knew just basics about a car, and used the question. Well what's it doing? Ok that sounds like its a problem with... If i were you I would start here, if that doesn't solve it do this. And while you are at you might as well change that too. If that doesn't take care of it give me a call tomorrow and I'll take a look. Next thing you know I learn and then even learn about things that weren't my problems.
Today its even easier you use "the google" and "car type does this..." Hey look there are a bunch of people who have the same problem. All is well.
As advanced as engines and cars have become they are just like Pat says basically the same as they were 100 years ago. Most mechanics diagnose by first getting the codes, then by something they have already seen.