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warning lights dealership wants $95 to diagnose...

Discussion in 'Generation 1 Prius Discussion' started by 131, Jul 30, 2015.

  1. 131

    131 Junior Member

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    All three warning lights went off yesterday just before hitting 130,000 miles. The warning lights consist of an exclamation point inside a triangle, check engine light, and what looks like a thermometer inside a car icon.

    What is this, what does this mean, the manual states take to dealership immediately. Of course the dealership won't give me any idea what the cause is, they only state it'll cost $95 for diagnosis. They won't give me any ballpark figures of repair costs.

    HELP!!!!!!!!!!
     
  2. Munpot42

    Munpot42 Senior Member

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    Either spend the $95 or find an independent shop, or maybe, just park the car.
     
  3. Beachbummm

    Beachbummm Senior Member

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    2003?
    main battery is probably bad...
    time for a new car
    just spend $95
    of course they will not give you an estimate because you didn't pay for the diagnoses..
     
  4. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

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    ~ $100 is a pretty standard diagnosis fee.
     
  5. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    Until they hook it up to the computer, they know about as much about it as You or I.
    And I'd be hard pressed to give you an estimate on total repair cost based only on a christmas tree display of dash lights.

    Also in the dealers defense, diagnosis does mean rolling your vehicle into the shop and running diagnostics. Maybe not the most labor intensive process, but it does take shop time and space. I think $95 is reasonable. I've read threads where dealerships wanted more.

    If you at all want to keep the vehicle given the combination of those symbols, I'd drive it as little as possible, and get diagnosis as soon as possible. The only thing you know for sure is you have some problem, and the danger would be in potentially making it worse by ignoring it and continuing to drive.
     
  6. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    Buy a scanner and read the codes yourself. When someone you know needs diagnostics offer to charge them something less than $95 to do so. It won't be long before the original cost is recovered.
     
  7. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    You could start by checking all engine compartment fluids, especially the engine and inverter coolant fluid levels. Remove the radiator cap and look inside to make sure the radiator is completely full.

    Then, get Mini VCI if you want to be self-sufficient regarding retrieving diagnostic trouble codes on Toyota vehicles.

    How could the dealer's service writer reasonably quote you a repair cost, lacking any clue about what is wrong with your car? The root cause could just be that a fluid needs to be replenished, or it could be that the engine needs to be replaced. Obviously there is a big difference in cost between the two possibilities, and there are other possibilities such as a failed inverter coolant pump.

    The dealer's diagnostic charge is normal business practice - the dealer's service dept expects to be paid for tech time spent on your car.
     
    #7 Patrick Wong, Jul 31, 2015
    Last edited: Jul 31, 2015
  8. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    Kelly bluebook value + $95.

    Bob Wilson
     
  9. 131

    131 Junior Member

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    Thanks Patrick!!!!
     
  10. 131

    131 Junior Member

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    There was a new guy at Auto Zone who didn't really know how to read the codes, said nothing was showing up. Came back and said his manager told him it meant the battery was dead?! Um, I may not be mechanically inclined, but even I know a car won't start at all if the battery is dead! A female employee then said I had to pull all of the fuses and test each one to figure out which one was blown to replace. A friend of mine is an ME, he pulled the fuses and found none were blown, cracked, etc. He blew out the air filter, told me to replace it, and add quart of oil. The weird thing is, after that the warning lights stopped for a few days, until yesterday afternoon a mile from home. I will check all the fluids, get the oil, pull the fuses and see if that resolves. I'm just praying it's not the main battery. I had to replace the other battery, which was about $125 about two years ago? I have to look at my records, I swear the dealership replaced the water pump about the same time. The car's 12 & 1/2 years old, with just over 130k miles. I'm trying to get it to last as long as I possibly can and back to walking, riding ten speed until I can get this resolved. Lost job, that's why it's sitting in the garage until I can afford repair.
     
  11. 131

    131 Junior Member

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    Follow up from all the warning lights going off. There was a new guy at Auto Zone who didn't really know how to read the codes, said nothing was showing up. Came back and said his manager told him it meant the battery was dead?! Um, I may not be mechanically inclined, but even I know a car won't start at all if the battery is dead! A female employee then said I had to pull all of the fuses and test each one to figure out which one was blown to replace. A friend of mine is an ME, he pulled the fuses and found none were blown, cracked, etc. He blew out the air filter, told me to replace it, and add quart of oil. The weird thing is, after that the warning lights stopped for a few days, until yesterday afternoon a mile from home. I will check all the fluids, get the oil, pull the fuses and see if that resolves. I'm just praying it's not the main battery. I had to replace the other battery, which was about $125 about two years ago? I have to look at my records, I swear the dealership replaced the water pump about the same time. The car's 12 & 1/2 years old, with just over 130k miles. I'm trying to get it to last as long as I possibly can and back to walking, riding ten speed until I can get this resolved. Lost job, that's why it's sitting in the garage until I can afford repair.
     
  12. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    I take it you don't regularly check the oil.

    Thing number first:
    Top off all fluids.

    You can get the oil and the coolant for less than $20.
    You might also vacuum out the engine air filter until you can get another one.....on line....and install it yourself.
    I know this all sounds expensive, but your car is already about two years past its 'sell by' date, and there's no such thing as retroactive maintenance.
    That means that when you get a job, you're going to have to start playing catch-up.

    Youtube videos are free since you're already posting here.....therefore you already have web access.

    Let us know what codes you come up with, or post a picture of the warning lights.

    Good Luck!
     
  13. 131

    131 Junior Member

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    So far, so good. Went to dealership today for oil change, they said they didn't see any leaks, anything wrong, etc. The warning lights haven't went back on since yesterday morning. I'll keep watching, I hope they don't activate again.

    By the way, for everyone who had a 2003 Prius, how many miles did you get with your main battery? The dealership said they usually go after 100,000 miles and cost $5,000 to replace.

    At 130,000 they also recommend an engine cabin filter and fuel injection cleaning.
    Seems like an automotive store would be cheaper for the cabin filter?
     
  14. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

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    I use the FRAM CF10285 cabin filter. Bought 'em at Walmart, but are available most anywhere (on or off-line.)