2010 Prius Transaxle Failure

yes, they could be mistaken. it's definitely worth getting a second opinion.

you might also want to shop around for a salvage transaxle. it's fairly rare, so should be easy to find one. you just need a mech willing to install it.

you should ask them for the codes the car through, not sure if metal shavings is the proper way to diagnose.

 

well, even in this day and age sometimes there are no codes for mechanical failures. metal shavings and noise can be all there is. obviously there is no harm in second opinion and pricing used trans-axle.

 

If she drove it there she can drive it somewhere else to have it checked....and you might want to go with her. At your age you know women are still taken advantage of in this industry.

 

How many miles on the car?

 

First post said 160K.

 

At 160k miles, there could be a high possibility of transaxle failure. My 2005 had a failure at 150k. I would think the dealership has the DTCs to backup their diagnostic, just ask them.

 

Yep...Toyota recommended lifetime ATF and brake fluid, 100K antifreeze and 10K oil...not for my car.

 

A few questions for your friend and the dealership service writer:

What kind of sounds?
What driveability symptoms are demonstrated other than these sounds? For example, any warning lights on, lack of power, etc.?
What would happen if she just drained and replaced the transaxle ATF? How many more miles could she drive the car without having a failure?

If it is determined that the transaxle must be replaced, then as previously suggested, a used unit would be the best way to go since the cost of a new transaxle is in four-digits.

 

Murmur = whining sound when slowing?

 

I hear some sounds beneath my car at around 15-20 mph during acceleration. It sounds like a vibrating piece of metal, such as a loose heat shield. The sound goes away at higher speeds. I haven't had a chance to poke around underneath the car yet, but plan to do so at the next oil change. I'll give an update if I find anything.

As mentioned, get a second opinion.

 

this could be absolutely nothing but a loose part such as rrxing mentioned. i would ignore it, or at most, have a mech put it on a lift for a look see. never heard of a bad tranny diagnosis without codes or drivability problems.

 

I suggest that your friend should have the transaxle ATF drained and replaced. Then she should just drive the car and not worry about this unless:
1) she starts to notice driveability issues such as lack of power
2) warning lights relating to the hybrid drivetrain appear
3) the noise gets much worse. If the current noise level is muffled by road noise then it can't be very bad.

 

Regarding the purchase of a used transaxle, ideally you would select a low mileage donor, one that was hit in the back, not the front. If the transaxle did not suffer accident damage then it is a reasonable bet.

There are no long-term guarantees of course, that is why a used part is relatively inexpensive to acquire. The salvage yard typically will offer a short guarantee - like a 30 day period - but the owner has to absorb labor costs, which typically will cost much more than the used part.

 

Based only on what you have communicated, this noise could be any one of many other things...half shaft, wheel bearing, caliper/rotor, steering, loose hardware, ect... Any high cost repair quoted from a Dealership should be verified, especially when given to a woman who does not know cars. This rule of life applies in NY too.

Have you gone with her to another shop for that second opinion yet. This is what you need to do "first" if you want to help your friend.

 

What specifically was that "diagnostic process"? Did it unambiguously indicate trouble in the transmission? Did extraordinary amounts of metallic particles exit with the old ATF?