Toyota Prius Engine Problem

tomzgod · 11-27-2007, 11:39 PM

I have been having an issue with my Prius which seems to be continuous. I still have my warranty thank god.

1st time, I took my car in the first time, they told me the spark plugs where wet inside so they cleaned/dried them up and reset the senor.

2nd time, They did some diagnostics and the car needed a new cylinder sensors. So they ordered the part and replaced the defective sensor.

3rd Time, They have no idea why the light was coming on, so they swamped out all the spark plugs and reset the sensor.

4th time, which is now. I will goto the dealer and ask them what the hell is going on?

I really love this car but it doesn't seem to be that reliable.

any advice? this is really annoying me.

a priori · 11-28-2007, 12:02 AM

I really hate to say this, but you may be looking at a Lemon Law claim.

If the fourth time doesn't do it, you immediately qualify under Illinois law. There may be a problem with your claim if you are beyond 12 months or 12,000 miles. Still, there may be time, and it would be worth the investigation.

If you don't want to go to a private attorney, I suggest you contact the Attorney General's office right away. Here is a link to Lisa Madigan's Lemon Law web page.

Let us know how this goes.

By the way: Have you always gone back to the same dealer? Is it the dealer where you purchased the car? Have you made any claim through Toyota?

usbseawolf2000 · 11-28-2007, 12:06 AM

Not sure about in Chicago but in NY I heard about the lemon law. Three strikes and the dealer is forced to buy/replace it.

galaxee · 11-28-2007, 12:10 AM

the problem here is that your dealer doesn't appear to know how to diagnose engine problems. what's the symptom here?

tomzgod · 11-28-2007, 12:43 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Nov 28 2007, 01:10 AM) [snapback]545071[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

the problem here is that your dealer doesn't appear to know how to diagnose engine problems. what's the symptom here?
[/b]

It seems the problem occurs when I am idle and with the heat on. I remember I was at Macdonald's ordering a coffee and the engine turned on, then turned off, then turned on, turned off again and the orange light lite up.

really have no clue other then that. I didn't do anything to my car, I just gas it up and drive.

galaxee · 11-28-2007, 12:55 AM

hmm, could be a lot of things. call up the dealership and ask what code they pulled from your car and let us know. it should be a letter followed by 4 numbers. (ie P1111)

don't let them tell you they can't give you the diag code.

richard schumacher · 11-28-2007, 04:41 PM

And try another dealer (but don't let the clock run out on a Lemon Law claim!). This one sounds as though they don't know enough about the design.

statultra · 11-28-2007, 06:07 PM

it might also be a camshaft oil valve, located under the valve cover on the left side ( if facing the front ), it would trigger a check light once the vehicle has warmed up. bad ignition coils, it could be so much stuff, u need to get DTC's

11-28-2007, 12:02 AM	#2
a priori Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chicagoland (West) Posts: 798 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 2	I really hate to say this, but you may be looking at a Lemon Law claim. If the fourth time doesn't do it, you immediately qualify under Illinois law. There may be a problem with your claim if you are beyond 12 months or 12,000 miles. Still, there may be time, and it would be worth the investigation. If you don't want to go to a private attorney, I suggest you contact the Attorney General's office right away. Here is a link to Lisa Madigan's Lemon Law web page. Let us know how this goes. By the way: Have you always gone back to the same dealer? Is it the dealer where you purchased the car? Have you made any claim through Toyota? __________________ Some knowledge may be readily grasped as it is apparent to even the most casual viewer, but most of us learn this only by experience after having ignored what was right before our eyes.

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11-27-2007, 11:39 PM	#1
tomzgod Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 4 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I have been having an issue with my Prius which seems to be continuous. I still have my warranty thank god. 1st time, I took my car in the first time, they told me the spark plugs where wet inside so they cleaned/dried them up and reset the senor. 2nd time, They did some diagnostics and the car needed a new cylinder sensors. So they ordered the part and replaced the defective sensor. 3rd Time, They have no idea why the light was coming on, so they swamped out all the spark plugs and reset the sensor. 4th time, which is now. I will goto the dealer and ask them what the hell is going on? I really love this car but it doesn't seem to be that reliable. any advice? this is really annoying me.

11-28-2007, 12:06 AM	#3
usbseawolf2000 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Whitestone, NY Posts: 1,453 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 14	Not sure about in Chicago but in NY I heard about the lemon law. Three strikes and the dealer is forced to buy/replace it.

11-28-2007, 12:10 AM	#4
galaxee running WOT until out of fuel Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: central NC/ western WI Posts: 8,932 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 5 Times in 3 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 20	the problem here is that your dealer doesn't appear to know how to diagnose engine problems. what's the symptom here?

11-28-2007, 12:55 AM	#6
galaxee running WOT until out of fuel Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: central NC/ western WI Posts: 8,932 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 5 Times in 3 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 20	hmm, could be a lot of things. call up the dealership and ask what code they pulled from your car and let us know. it should be a letter followed by 4 numbers. (ie P1111) don't let them tell you they can't give you the diag code.

11-28-2007, 04:41 PM	#7
richard schumacher ichorous liquor Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: United States Posts: 3,992 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	And try another dealer (but don't let the clock run out on a Lemon Law claim!). This one sounds as though they don't know enough about the design.

11-28-2007, 06:07 PM	#8
statultra uber-Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: cape coral, FL Posts: 572 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	it might also be a camshaft oil valve, located under the valve cover on the left side ( if facing the front ), it would trigger a check light once the vehicle has warmed up. bad ignition coils, it could be so much stuff, u need to get DTC's